Home School Highs + Lows – An Update Six Months In
It has been six months since we started to home school our daughters. This was not a decision taken lightly, and to be honest, it was never in the scope of our wildest imaginations. My husband and I both had a traditional education, and my husband is an elementary school teacher as well. But, the global crisis we have all been hurled into invited us to take one huge leap of faith.
This post will review some of the things we have learned so far about transitioning from a traditional education into home school. I will also cover some of the most common misconceptions that may be holding you back from jumping into the ring, as well as how healthy habits can make all the difference in setting up your family for success if you choose the road less travelled.
Something you should know?
“The nationwide homeschool population has been growing at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past several years.”
The Highs + Lows of Home School
Now don’t get me wrong, the transition to home school hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. I go over how the journey has been going for me here . And, both of my girls do mention the friends that they miss seeing on a daily basis. So yes, this new way of life does take some getting used to.
Shifting Schedules
Prior to the pandemic both my husband and I had a schedule that took us out of the house. That meant each day was run by the clock and the need to be somewhere at a specific time. As most parents know, having a solid routine is necessary to keep everyone healthy, happy and on time. Our schedules ran like clockwork.
Home school (and remote work) allows you the opportunity for a bit more freedom. At first, I was concerned that a regimented schedule would be crucial to stay on task for the day. That’s basically how I’ve lived my life up until this point. But, I discovered that with that approach (the regimented routine) I was just pushing way too hard and morale was low.
Taking a step back and becoming more aware of everyone’s drive, interests and moods brought on a realization. While a rhythm is necessary for the day, a regimented schedule is not. Each day is different and a rhythm allows you to roll with the punches.
When I followed the regimented schedule I would often worry if we would complete all of our tasks for the day. In hindsight, I was clutching onto the routines of a traditional education… Now, we have a lighter workload and easily complete all of our weekly tasks.
So, while a rigid routine may not be needed, uncovering the learning styles and needs of your child(ren) is absolutely vital. It will help you create your daily rhythm to ease the transition to a shifting schedule.
1:1 Support and Self-Paced Learning
It’s no question that public school classes are getting larger. My daughter was in a class of 20 in Kindergarten. At that time, I was told by her teacher that she is more engaged in smaller groups. So the opportunity for self-directed and self-paced learning through home school is a blessing. It is one of the reasons my husband and I value the home school model, which I share more about here.
Nora has grown immensely in her studies since the start of the school year. The 1:1 support has allowed me the opportunity to push her when she needs it, and to guide her more closely through material she may have a hard time grasping. My husband and I have also learned how to interweave subjects she is not too fond of with those that Nora enjoys. Home school has allowed for a more tailored approach, and has encouraged a new perspective on learning (for all of us).
Home schooling may not be for everyone but so far it is working well for our family. Remember to trust your intuition so you can turn down the noise of everyone’s advice and opinions. It is the best thing you can do to ensure your home schooling success.
Common Misconceptions about Home School
As a newbie to the homeschooling tribe, I thought I would run down a few of the questions I have been asked repeatedly over the last six months –
Are they going back to school next year?
I’m not sure if I get this one because of the pandemic or if it’s in anticipation of failure at this home school thing. But, this one gets under my skin, mostly because this is a question where the asker inserts themselves into your current reality but in a negative way.
At first my reply was “oh, I’m not sure yet…we are playing it by ear”. But, I couldn’t say that any longer after we bought our curriculum for next year. I think it’s hard for most to consider home school for various reasons. But as with many things in life my reasons for saying “yes” aren’t the same reasons you have for saying “no”.
Aren’t you worried about socialization?
At first? Of course. But, there are ways to socialize our children outside of a school setting. Which kids in the school system take part in too – sports, camps, dance, gym classes, youth groups, co-ops etc. I took it upon myself to start a local mom’s meetup group for all kids. We set up events on the weekends for those that participate in traditional school as well as, during the week for the home school crowd.
There are tons of ways to socialize your children as a homeschooler! But the best part is that we get to spend a little extra time together as a family. Time we never would have had if we took a traditional path. Strengthening our family bond is an invaluable benefit to home school. It’s time I treasure now and will always.
Worried about staying on track?
I already mentioned that Nora excels in smaller groups. And, the 1:1 support has her growing leaps and bounds above the progress she made in Kindergarten. Our home school curriculum strays from the traditional model. It is Waldorf inspired and the arts are interwoven throughout the curriculum. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Here’s another number to consider, 78%…
“78% of peer reviewed studies on academic achievement show home school students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools”.
ESTABLISH HEALTHY HABITS TO PUT YOUR DAY ON AUTOPILOT
Integrating healthy habits into our daily routine has helped set the tone for our rhythm. For instance, basic requirements for our girls are to get dressed, washed up and make their bed before starting the day (they also have other tasks that change with each day). However, the extra time at home allows them to see what is required to keep a healthy home, and why it’s important to do their part.
According to Science Daily about 40% of daily activities are performed each day in almost the same situations. In other words, for most of the day you are relying on your subconscious to guide you through your routine. Basically, you are on auto-pilot 40% of the time. Wouldn’t it be great if 40% of the time you were guaranteed to practice healthy habits?
We’ve also incorporated nature walks, quiet time for rest, and read alouds among other things, into our daily rhythm. We want our girls to nourish their body, mind and spirit as much as possible each and every day.
It is a gift to be able to encourage healthy habits early on so that they can be more self-sufficient when they get older.
Homeschooling brings about a new lifestyle, where you are in control of how to spend your time. You get to partner with your child on their journey through education. The benefit to this is you get a front row seat – you get to see what subjects they look forward to, which they excel at and you can mold the curriculum to better suit your child’s interests. In my opinion, home school unravels an opportunity for each child to create their own path and that is truly exciting to watch as it unfolds.
