Up until August, decisions and plans for this school year consumed me. It was as if making some decisions about my firstborn's education was the culmination and standard of measure of all my years of learning, reading, theorizing, and teaching. August came, decisions were made; life carried on. And it was all so totally, wonderfully uneventful.
Today we went to an assembly to celebrate the end of Luke's kindergarten year. August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May. These months passed and my son changed from young child to mature big kid, dare I even say young man. He amazes me. Two days at school was the right decision. He flourished. In spite of my doubts regarding the base curriculum, he is reading and writing. In spite of the early distress of playground chaos, he loves recess and has solid friendships. Three days at home with me was the right decision. We had so much fun (for the most part). He learned and did and drew me into deep conversations and we read and read and read (Charlotte's Web four times for starters!) and saw and tried and played and worked and hiked together. I'm regretting that I let the monthly photo records slip!
After many years of formal education as student, and then some more as professional, I am just about through my first AS PARENT. One down, 17 to go; and these 18 years (between three kids) are the pinnacle, purpose, and gauge of all my previous experience and preparation. It has been a huge year for Luke, but also for me. In homeschooling, I DID what I have overseen, observed, contemplated, and analyzed for years. It was freeing. It was not exactly as I had pictured. It was three days a week, not full-time. And the other two days were not just anything - they were a dynamic, incredible core of Luke's kindergarten year. He thrived at school (much to my surprise and delight). It was not what I had thought but God led us there and this year far exceeded my expectations.
The HEART at the school is remarkable; the tone set by the principal is reflected in staff and students and can be felt walking down an empty stairway. The teacher who started out the year giving up her lunch time to assure me that my sensitive boy wasn't too overwhelmed on that chaotic playground, spent the rest of the year loving and teaching and guiding him purposefully and perfectly. I sit here overwhelmed with thankfulness for Luke's teacher who poured herself into Luke and cared for him individually. Today she spoke of each child in her class individually, a minute of nice words to sum up 10 months spent truly knowing and investing in each. I didn't expect to hand him over twice a week and not need to ask and assure myself of all details, both academic and emotional. I expected to really do it all myself even if I wasn't the hands-on, go-to person every minute. I expected to have to guard over Luke's heart and mind very consciously. But these expectations were without factoring in a teacher who would take all of that on herself. Academics soared. Luke was engaged and excited. Socially and emotionally he flourished. A school teacher knows MY Luke and cares for his mind and heart like I do. On the at-school days, I dropped him off and picked him up. I was at ease. He was at ease. No need to ask my questions. No need. The whole year was beautifully uneventful in day to day operation, but ever so eventful when I look back - a five-year-old changed from little kid to young man. I cannot find words to express my gratitude to Mrs W for partnering with me in my son's education.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I Want A Perfect Option
I blame it at least partially on the time change, but it has been the kind of week where I think about sending my kids off to school A LOT.
I started my morning figuring out how many miles I'd be driving to the two Christian schools on my horizon. Both are 2 or 3 days at school and 2 or 3 days independent study at home options. School A is 11 miles from my house and 3 days per week: 44 miles/day, 132/week, 110/week if I didn't drive back home during school hours one day. School B is 21 miles from my house but only 2 days per week: 84 miles/day, 168/week, or 126/week. Keep in mind, this is with 2 younger siblings riding those round trips in the car and gas money on top of tuition. The tuition is very reasonable primarily because these are not full time schools, but still the costs add up and when I think of having multiple students in school not too far in the future, the costs really multiply! These are both schools I have a lot of respect for and seriously consider during weeks such as this. The biggest negative, for me, after the driving and money, is that the days at home are not really homeschooling. I love education! I want to be the one educating my children. I want to make curriculum choices! I want control! I'm excited about the possibilities. I just don't necessarily want my children 24/7 and I want them to have some other educational experiences . . . . so, not to re-do my "What I Want" post . . . . the fact that I'd like them to get some extra-curricular classes in a somewhat regular school setting once or twice a week is nothing new.
Later in the day I started googling local charter schools. Oh ya, that was after I searched for Christian schools in my town for the 29th time hoping I had missed something. I used to work for a homeschooling charter school and I know they are all different and they can have a lot to offer a parent like me. The school I worked for would be the perfect option if I lived in Temecula and I even looked at the possibility of commuting for some classes, but it looks like it would have to be twice a week and that is a lot! So, other charters that appear to offer homeschooling . . . . meaning parent-choice and freedom not just a lot of prescribed things to complete at home . . . . I say appear because, granted, I'm just looking at websites here; I'm in the very preliminary stages of a half-hearted search . . . . possible next step would be phone calls and tours . . . . Charter A with once a week classes about 20 miles from my house and Charter B with once a week classes 46 miles from my house. Both are strong possibilities right now. Classes once a week, if I stayed in that area that one day, would be 40 miles/week or 92 miles/week respectively. Charter B actually really excites me. Why can't it be closer to home?! I definitely need to do more research but my mind won't stop contemplating how I could manage an hour one way drive with a toddler and baby and then spend one day a week in a far-off city doing parks and whatever else I can think up . . . . hmmm. It is a good location for meeting family for lunch and such. Would I be able to do it? I probably wouldn't cook big dinners those nights. The school offers performing arts and other programs and I'm sure it would turn into more than once a week as my son got involved, but hopefully this wouldn't be a big issue until later in elementary school when the other two could handle the drive better and be in school some of the time too. For the drive I'm imagining audio books, learning songs, discussions, lots of good time at least for kids over about three . . . . that would be in the future. And as my husband pointed out, friends would be made that lived far away. There are definite cons. I don't know where my answer lies.
Is the fact that there is no perfect option God's way of forcing me back to 100% homeschooling? Although, 100% homeschooling in my eyes should include outside activities or classes in one form or another, so I think I'm still there. I had more passion for homeschooling before the reality of the hard work and craziness came about and now many days I'm ready to abandon ship but know I shouldn't leave what I think I'm supposed to do out of fear. Yet, I'm not 100% sure that it is what I'm supposed to do, so I look at schools and possibilities. I find nothing great. I go back to 100% homeschooling but look for the best way to get those outside activities and classes and find nothing perfect. Here I am. I pray for God's plan for my kids' education and for help with my daily use of time, need for inspiration and direction, my patience, and my willingness to work hard.
I started my morning figuring out how many miles I'd be driving to the two Christian schools on my horizon. Both are 2 or 3 days at school and 2 or 3 days independent study at home options. School A is 11 miles from my house and 3 days per week: 44 miles/day, 132/week, 110/week if I didn't drive back home during school hours one day. School B is 21 miles from my house but only 2 days per week: 84 miles/day, 168/week, or 126/week. Keep in mind, this is with 2 younger siblings riding those round trips in the car and gas money on top of tuition. The tuition is very reasonable primarily because these are not full time schools, but still the costs add up and when I think of having multiple students in school not too far in the future, the costs really multiply! These are both schools I have a lot of respect for and seriously consider during weeks such as this. The biggest negative, for me, after the driving and money, is that the days at home are not really homeschooling. I love education! I want to be the one educating my children. I want to make curriculum choices! I want control! I'm excited about the possibilities. I just don't necessarily want my children 24/7 and I want them to have some other educational experiences . . . . so, not to re-do my "What I Want" post . . . . the fact that I'd like them to get some extra-curricular classes in a somewhat regular school setting once or twice a week is nothing new.
Later in the day I started googling local charter schools. Oh ya, that was after I searched for Christian schools in my town for the 29th time hoping I had missed something. I used to work for a homeschooling charter school and I know they are all different and they can have a lot to offer a parent like me. The school I worked for would be the perfect option if I lived in Temecula and I even looked at the possibility of commuting for some classes, but it looks like it would have to be twice a week and that is a lot! So, other charters that appear to offer homeschooling . . . . meaning parent-choice and freedom not just a lot of prescribed things to complete at home . . . . I say appear because, granted, I'm just looking at websites here; I'm in the very preliminary stages of a half-hearted search . . . . possible next step would be phone calls and tours . . . . Charter A with once a week classes about 20 miles from my house and Charter B with once a week classes 46 miles from my house. Both are strong possibilities right now. Classes once a week, if I stayed in that area that one day, would be 40 miles/week or 92 miles/week respectively. Charter B actually really excites me. Why can't it be closer to home?! I definitely need to do more research but my mind won't stop contemplating how I could manage an hour one way drive with a toddler and baby and then spend one day a week in a far-off city doing parks and whatever else I can think up . . . . hmmm. It is a good location for meeting family for lunch and such. Would I be able to do it? I probably wouldn't cook big dinners those nights. The school offers performing arts and other programs and I'm sure it would turn into more than once a week as my son got involved, but hopefully this wouldn't be a big issue until later in elementary school when the other two could handle the drive better and be in school some of the time too. For the drive I'm imagining audio books, learning songs, discussions, lots of good time at least for kids over about three . . . . that would be in the future. And as my husband pointed out, friends would be made that lived far away. There are definite cons. I don't know where my answer lies.
Is the fact that there is no perfect option God's way of forcing me back to 100% homeschooling? Although, 100% homeschooling in my eyes should include outside activities or classes in one form or another, so I think I'm still there. I had more passion for homeschooling before the reality of the hard work and craziness came about and now many days I'm ready to abandon ship but know I shouldn't leave what I think I'm supposed to do out of fear. Yet, I'm not 100% sure that it is what I'm supposed to do, so I look at schools and possibilities. I find nothing great. I go back to 100% homeschooling but look for the best way to get those outside activities and classes and find nothing perfect. Here I am. I pray for God's plan for my kids' education and for help with my daily use of time, need for inspiration and direction, my patience, and my willingness to work hard.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
School hasn't always looked how it looks now in modern day America. The basic structure of public school as we know it had its beginnings right around the time of the Industrial Revolution and details have been changing almost constantly ever since. Generations and generations were educated in various other ways. And although there are many interesting tidbits to be gleaned by looking at education throughout history, age is my focus today.
The ancient Orthodox Jews did not begin formal schooling until age 12 or 13. This age happens to coincide with Piaget's findings (centuries later) on cognitive maturity. My parents started public school at age five, so did I, so do today's kindergartners, but things sure have changed. It wasn't that long ago that kindergarten was not viewed as an academic year. It was much more about play and arts and time with other kids, and I'm pretty sure the "Kindergarten Curriculum Contents" guide was not 81 pages long. In my own life time I have watched the formal teaching of reading, writing, and math skills get pushed down earlier and earlier in the public school classrooms. In my observations and research I do not see that the students are any better off for such an early push (and if anything worse off).
One of my college papers was on Vygotsky and the the importance of play to the overall brain development of a young child. In college education courses I had to research and articulate my thoughts on education. Recently I went out to our shed in hopes of finding some of the papers I wrote back then. I know that many of my beliefs haven't changed over the years and I could really use some of that studied, researched thought I put into those papers right about now. Sadly, the attrition rate, due mostly to rats and goats, has been pretty high in the shed. I couldn't find any of my old papers. I'm really mourning the loss because there was some good stuff there . . . . some jump-through-the-hoops-and-get-the-assignment-done stuff also but there were a couple of papers I remember vividly and very much wanted to re-read. I wish I had the paper in front of me right now, but I know that Vygotsky showed very powerfully how children need play, specifically imaginative play and interaction with people at different stages of development for optimal learning. When young children miss out on play time, their future cognitive development is affected. The things I researched and wrote about in college ring true to what I want for my own children. My goals of where I expected to see these things play out are what have changed. At that time I naively pictured myself spending the better part of my life teaching in a public school classroom. Today, I'm trying to come up with a picture of how it will all look in my own home.
Gatto says that if taught at the right time, basic reading, writing, and arithmetic can be learned in less than 100 hours. A leader at a seminar I attended said, "we expect our six-year-olds to sit in their seats for eight hours and tell our teenagers to go play." Now this is exaggerated, but the point struck me. I will expect my kids to be serious studiers but I do not see starting out that way. We will, and are, starting out with some academics but our kindergarten year will probably look much more like my parents' kindergarten year and much less like that of my son's peers. There is some fear in me here because I have a feeling that if you compare my son to other five, six, and seven-year-olds he will seem to be behind. However, I hope and believe that at age 12, 18, and beyond he will shine.
“I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings. We do not wish to see children precocious, making great strides in their early years like sprouts, producing a soft and perishable timber, but better if they expand slowly at first, as if contending with difficulties, and so are solidified and perfected. Such trees continue to expand with nearly equal rapidity to extreme old age.”
Henry David Thoreau
The ancient Orthodox Jews did not begin formal schooling until age 12 or 13. This age happens to coincide with Piaget's findings (centuries later) on cognitive maturity. My parents started public school at age five, so did I, so do today's kindergartners, but things sure have changed. It wasn't that long ago that kindergarten was not viewed as an academic year. It was much more about play and arts and time with other kids, and I'm pretty sure the "Kindergarten Curriculum Contents" guide was not 81 pages long. In my own life time I have watched the formal teaching of reading, writing, and math skills get pushed down earlier and earlier in the public school classrooms. In my observations and research I do not see that the students are any better off for such an early push (and if anything worse off).
One of my college papers was on Vygotsky and the the importance of play to the overall brain development of a young child. In college education courses I had to research and articulate my thoughts on education. Recently I went out to our shed in hopes of finding some of the papers I wrote back then. I know that many of my beliefs haven't changed over the years and I could really use some of that studied, researched thought I put into those papers right about now. Sadly, the attrition rate, due mostly to rats and goats, has been pretty high in the shed. I couldn't find any of my old papers. I'm really mourning the loss because there was some good stuff there . . . . some jump-through-the-hoops-and-get-the-assignment-done stuff also but there were a couple of papers I remember vividly and very much wanted to re-read. I wish I had the paper in front of me right now, but I know that Vygotsky showed very powerfully how children need play, specifically imaginative play and interaction with people at different stages of development for optimal learning. When young children miss out on play time, their future cognitive development is affected. The things I researched and wrote about in college ring true to what I want for my own children. My goals of where I expected to see these things play out are what have changed. At that time I naively pictured myself spending the better part of my life teaching in a public school classroom. Today, I'm trying to come up with a picture of how it will all look in my own home.
Gatto says that if taught at the right time, basic reading, writing, and arithmetic can be learned in less than 100 hours. A leader at a seminar I attended said, "we expect our six-year-olds to sit in their seats for eight hours and tell our teenagers to go play." Now this is exaggerated, but the point struck me. I will expect my kids to be serious studiers but I do not see starting out that way. We will, and are, starting out with some academics but our kindergarten year will probably look much more like my parents' kindergarten year and much less like that of my son's peers. There is some fear in me here because I have a feeling that if you compare my son to other five, six, and seven-year-olds he will seem to be behind. However, I hope and believe that at age 12, 18, and beyond he will shine.
“I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings. We do not wish to see children precocious, making great strides in their early years like sprouts, producing a soft and perishable timber, but better if they expand slowly at first, as if contending with difficulties, and so are solidified and perfected. Such trees continue to expand with nearly equal rapidity to extreme old age.”
Henry David Thoreau
Friday, October 7, 2011
Pros & Cons
PROS:
1) I know my kids better than anyone else. I know their strengths, weaknesses, learning styles, and biggest motivators and can meet their needs at a much better ratio than the 25:1 of a classroom.
2) Who they're with - Socialization and learning benefit by mixed age groups. I play a big part in who is an influence or role model.
3) DO what we're studying - hands-on, nature, community, museums, etc.
4) Implement methods, curriculum, philosophies I am excited about and believe will work best for our family. I have been inspired by some pretty amazing educators, writers, and homeschooling parents. I want to attempt to put all of this inspiration into action and not settle for less than what could maybe be the best! (Upcoming posts to address some of these to help me figure out exactly what putting it all into action might look like!)
5) Reading Gatto has turned me off of traditional schools for a variety of reasons. (Pink Floyd now playing in the background, "we don't need no education . . . . all in all you're just another brick in the wall.")
6) Lack of schooling options near our home that excite me, drive and money to do anything else.
CONS:
1) It's already really hard work and I haven't technically even started yet.
2) Kid feels like he's missing out on something. I would love for him to get certain parts of school and as he gets older I will definitely need to cover some subjects through either outside classes or tutoring/mentoring. For the time being and through the primary years, I suppose we'll do outside enrichment classes, but I wish they were all grouped together and included some play time.
3) It is very possible that I will actually go crazy . . . . pretty much with my kids all the time!?!? But how can I not at least try if I think I have a shot at giving them an advantage in their education? And, I do have to do something productive with my time, day in and day out, right? In a lot of ways pouring into my own kids seems like it has the potential to be a lot more rewarding than working some 9-5 job.
4) Very limited space in our house. The vision I have of homeschooling would definitely be easier to carry-out with a room for all the school stuff, spreading out projects, desks, etc, etc . . . . no idea what's going to happen with this one.
There they are, my pros and cons reduced to the simplest possible form in my mind. If you haven't read my "Disclaimer" post, you may want to.
Taking on my children's education is a huge responsibility; the weight of it overwhelms me. I do not doubt that I can give them a decent education. I want to give them the best possible education. I want to do the best I can in my part to help them live up to their God-given potentials and walk-out whatever grand callings and purposes He has for their little lives. If homeschooling is the plan, then with Christ all things are possible and I will be equipped as an educator and they will be equipped for their lives. So I guess it's not really doubts I fear but rather just the hard work!
1) I know my kids better than anyone else. I know their strengths, weaknesses, learning styles, and biggest motivators and can meet their needs at a much better ratio than the 25:1 of a classroom.
2) Who they're with - Socialization and learning benefit by mixed age groups. I play a big part in who is an influence or role model.
3) DO what we're studying - hands-on, nature, community, museums, etc.
4) Implement methods, curriculum, philosophies I am excited about and believe will work best for our family. I have been inspired by some pretty amazing educators, writers, and homeschooling parents. I want to attempt to put all of this inspiration into action and not settle for less than what could maybe be the best! (Upcoming posts to address some of these to help me figure out exactly what putting it all into action might look like!)
5) Reading Gatto has turned me off of traditional schools for a variety of reasons. (Pink Floyd now playing in the background, "we don't need no education . . . . all in all you're just another brick in the wall.")
6) Lack of schooling options near our home that excite me, drive and money to do anything else.
CONS:
1) It's already really hard work and I haven't technically even started yet.
2) Kid feels like he's missing out on something. I would love for him to get certain parts of school and as he gets older I will definitely need to cover some subjects through either outside classes or tutoring/mentoring. For the time being and through the primary years, I suppose we'll do outside enrichment classes, but I wish they were all grouped together and included some play time.
3) It is very possible that I will actually go crazy . . . . pretty much with my kids all the time!?!? But how can I not at least try if I think I have a shot at giving them an advantage in their education? And, I do have to do something productive with my time, day in and day out, right? In a lot of ways pouring into my own kids seems like it has the potential to be a lot more rewarding than working some 9-5 job.
4) Very limited space in our house. The vision I have of homeschooling would definitely be easier to carry-out with a room for all the school stuff, spreading out projects, desks, etc, etc . . . . no idea what's going to happen with this one.
There they are, my pros and cons reduced to the simplest possible form in my mind. If you haven't read my "Disclaimer" post, you may want to.
Taking on my children's education is a huge responsibility; the weight of it overwhelms me. I do not doubt that I can give them a decent education. I want to give them the best possible education. I want to do the best I can in my part to help them live up to their God-given potentials and walk-out whatever grand callings and purposes He has for their little lives. If homeschooling is the plan, then with Christ all things are possible and I will be equipped as an educator and they will be equipped for their lives. So I guess it's not really doubts I fear but rather just the hard work!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
What I Want
I want to send my kids to a school-type setting 1 or 2 short days a week. I want them to get the playground time with other kids and then maybe an art class and some other enrichment type activity. I want to do the core subjects on my own. This plan saves me from being with them 24/7. It gives them a taste of the good parts of school so they don't feel like they are missing out on something. Luke does feel this a little bit right now and that makes me sad. However, I feel a little bit better when I watch him play "school" with the rabbit. Floppy gets to hop freely around the house sometimes. He grabs her, sticks her in the little carrier cage, slams the door, and then laughs; lets her out, only to catch her again and repeat the same. I said, "I don't think Floppy likes that game" and he said, "Oh, we're just playing school."
Luke goes to a gymnastics class and Sunday school and by next year I'm looking to add another class or two to his life. I want him to have fun, learn from other adults, and work with other kids but I also think the core learning will happen best at home, as well at the tide pools, museums, library, grocery store, etc. I think if a school I was really excited about existed near our home I would consider it and I think it is possible I'll still decide on a school at some point in the future and drive for it.
I have started a list of my homeschooling pros and cons. I started blog-stormiong lots of topics I want to write about- mostly things that will make me re-examine, re-study, and remember the people and philosophies that got me so excited about homeschooling to begin with, details of which I can no longer pull together and articulate like I once could. My little starting point list of pros and cons is not ready to post and I think the reason is, I'm afraid of offending some random reader (not that I think my one-week-old blog has a big following or anything). None the less, there will probably be some sort a disclaimer post preceding my list post.
Luke goes to a gymnastics class and Sunday school and by next year I'm looking to add another class or two to his life. I want him to have fun, learn from other adults, and work with other kids but I also think the core learning will happen best at home, as well at the tide pools, museums, library, grocery store, etc. I think if a school I was really excited about existed near our home I would consider it and I think it is possible I'll still decide on a school at some point in the future and drive for it.
I have started a list of my homeschooling pros and cons. I started blog-stormiong lots of topics I want to write about- mostly things that will make me re-examine, re-study, and remember the people and philosophies that got me so excited about homeschooling to begin with, details of which I can no longer pull together and articulate like I once could. My little starting point list of pros and cons is not ready to post and I think the reason is, I'm afraid of offending some random reader (not that I think my one-week-old blog has a big following or anything). None the less, there will probably be some sort a disclaimer post preceding my list post.
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