08/03/2022
Dear Homeschool Parent,
Do you get caught up in 'school' mode sometimes and just have to get that list of subjects checked off, no matter what it takes? I am sorry to say I do all too often, and I'm here to encourage you today to relax a bit 😄.
It's difficult to unlearn habits you've had and seen around you for so long, but we can adjust and maximize the benefits of educating our children at home!
To some homeschoolers, most days are just like school brought home, and that's fine if that's your goal. My conversations with many homeschool parents however tell me otherwise. It sounds like most of us long for a more relaxed and enjoyable learning experience for, and with our children; the kind that moves learning from the category of 'chore' or 'must -do', to that of interesting and exciting! This doesn't seem to come easy though.
On a recent morning, I found my LO busy reading one of his 'Cat in the Hat's Learning Library' books on trees. I said to him, "Honey, it's time for your work. We need to do spelling", but he wasn't really interested and asked to please finish reading his book. I asked a second time some minutes later and got a similar response, and right before I asked a third time, it dawned on me that I was in my 'check off the box' mode and had to rethink what I was doing.
Yes! It's important to have structure and schedules and all that, and yes, kids need to know that they sometimes have to do things even when they don't feel very much like it because that's life, but this morning was not that moment.
My son was excited about what he was learning and what was I about to quench all that for? After all, isn't the best way to learn spelling through reading 😄? So I readjusted and got into learning about the trees with him. He got some more books to read and learnt a LOT of new and exciting things that day. We didn't check off Math or Spelling, but he had an interesting and exciting day and honestly, it was a nice day for Mama too! So, what do you do to ensure learning stays exciting in your home, and 'school' does not become a bunch of subjects that the kids can't wait to be done with so they can play😆?
Continued in comments section
