De-schooling Mom – Transition to Home School
Hi friends, I am so glad you are here! You know the drill, my family and I were getting into a rhythm and then it hit… A schedule change! I’m not sure why I am always surprised when it happens?! Anyway, today I want to chat with you all about the transition into home school life, and why de-schooling is a crucial element of that transition.
I researched many different approaches to education before taking the leap, and saying goodbye to a traditional education (for our girls). Ultimately, my husband and I decided a Waldorf inspired curriculum would be best. In case you don’t know, a waldorf curriculum integrates the arts throughout all subjects, and is inspired by the love of life-long learning. Evoking the use of imagination is at its very core, and for that, I am grateful.
Given that our daughter did have about 6 months of Kindergarten (thanks COVID), and 5 years of daycare, I thought the transition might be a little rough for her. Plus, bringing school into the home could have its drawbacks. So, I figured we might have to go through a period of de-schooling before jumping into our new curriculum.
De-schooling, is defined in the Oxford dictionary as “The action or process of transferring the function of education within a society from conventional schools to non-institutional systems of learning which are held to allow the student to develop more freely”.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that the one who needed a period of de-schooling was me…
That’s right, full transparency, diving into home schooling has been the most challenging for me (mom) because I was raised with a traditional education. I’ve had to let go of my ideals of what a school day looks like…of what life looks like…
TRANSITION TO HOME SCHOOL – PREPARE FOR THE FLOOD OF EMOTIONS
Letting go can be freeing but, it can also present its own challenges. Every doubt you ever had about taking the leap into a nontraditional education resurfaces. Especially when you see that big yellow school bus pass by your house in the first few weeks of school.
I’ll admit it, the first week of school was a complete flop! Our schedules were all off, my mindset was a little off kilter and we did not accomplish basically anything. Well, we did establish our early rhythm. But, given that it was a short week, a reset was in order. So, I decided to dust my shoulders off and better prepare myself for the restart in the week ahead.
It’s true, the urge to fill our schedules and have endless worksheets crept in. The anxiety and overwhelm lingered at every turn. And, I was filled with worry over the fact that I was doing it all wrong.
What’s even crazier is that (like I usually do) I gave myself little leeway for error. Believe it or not, we only finalized our decision to home school two weeks prior to the start of the school year!
How could I realistically expect myself to go from 0 to 60 in such a short period of time?
DESCHOOLING IS NECESSARY
Maybe you have found yourself in the same situation? Or, have encountered hesitation because you’re weary of the challenges that you may face ahead?
Well, this is where de-schooling is key. I think it is helpful for all of us who transition into homeschool. Allowing for a time to breathe, accepting the new rhythms of life and spending some time observing your kiddo(s) to determine how he/she/they love to learn.
One thing that parenthood has taught me is that kids are never the same! So, finding your groove to see how the curriculum you may have chosen will resonate with your kiddos will certainly take some time.
While I decided to continue with our lessons, I also chose not to be so rigid with the plan or try to be overly strict about sticking to the schedule. Yup, I loosened the reigns a little bit.
The beauty of homeschooling is allowing your child’s interests to lead the curriculum. For instance, if I had to take a guess, I think Nora’s least favorite subject is math (the apple didn’t fall far from the tree there). However, Nora loves listening to stories, observing animals in nature and recreating her favorite elements in watercolors.
Pro Tip: I try to schedule the day so that the subjects that require the most focus get her attention first, and then we get to work on the fun stuff.
No matter what you choose, it’s important to remember that learning happens every day, whether or not you are sitting around the table focused on a specific lesson. And, that my friend is something I think we may have lost sight of…
FIRST QUARTERLY REPPORT
No, I cannot believe we’ve already submitted our first quarterly report to our district. I feel like I just handed in our letter of intent and received the approval. This year continues to speed on by…
Full disclosure, I have no experience in education but, I did play “school” when I was younger, and you better believe my girls are getting the full experience that my imaginary students received back in the day! lol
Being held accountable for such an important under- taking and being scrutinized with the submission of this quarterly report terrified me! I mean, what if the district agreed with all my negative thoughts? What if our approach at home truly was not enough?!
Guess what?! Despite all of my negative thoughts, our first quarterly report was approved!! Yes, I did a little happy dance because I overcame the fear and saw sweet victory! And, I did breathe a sigh of relief when I received that acceptance letter.
The best part of submitting the Quarterly Report is realizing just how much ground we have covered. And, the portfolio of Nora’s work shows where she truly shines.
Pro Tip: Our district allows for either a letter/number grade submission for each subject or a narrative. At my husband’s request, I decided to submit a narrative. And, I am so glad I did. These reports will act as a benchmark in the months, and years to come. Having a brief detailed narrative on hand will allow me and the district to monitor her progress more closely.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Yes, fear and mindset have a huge impact on how the early days of home schooling take shape. There may be a flood of emotions you experience from the second you submit your letter of intent and beyond. That’s because deciding to home school is going against the grain.
Have you ever considered home schooling? Do you think you would transition away from a traditional education with the de-schooling approach?
What I have learned in my short time is that home school is a collaborative adventure, led by the wonder of learning, interests and imagination. Have faith in your intuition and follow your gut. You know what is best for your family and your child(ren).
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