Comments on yarns of the heart: Advice for First Year Homeschoolers

Always good to have my instincts reinforced- trust...

2009-02-19T20:48:03.507-06:00

Always good to have my instincts reinforced- trusting the process is sooo difficult in the beginning (where I am). Thnaks for the thoughts.

Hi! So nice to meet you through our mutual reader...

2008-07-17T12:13:49.738-05:00

Hi! So nice to meet you through our mutual reader, Lillian!

It does sound like we have a lot in common. I read your "About Me" post, my second child and oldest daughter is also very serious about theater, and she's drawn in the rest of the family.

We've been pretty eclectic homeschoolers, more structured with my two oldest, since it suits them, but they're both starting public high school this fall, and I'm looking forward to doing more of an unschooling year with my two middle boys. It feels weird not to be ordering curriculum, but we already own so many good things that we never seem to have time for. I'm looking forward to playing educational games, doing science experiments, reading books and looking things up on the internet instead of just trying to get them through the assigned work.

We knew a couple of artists who lived in a church in a small town in Ohio, where I grew up. A couple times a year they'd open it up to the public. It was so cool! I'd love to see your place.

Blessings!

Jeanne

oooh - I love, love, love the term "organic school...

2008-07-16T14:50:57.661-05:00

oooh - I love, love, love the term "organic schooler!" Great post.

I always tell people to RELAX! Those who are new ...

2008-07-07T21:46:26.915-05:00

I always tell people to RELAX! Those who are new to homeschooling think they need to do school at home, for several hours a day, but I tell them to ease up. I find that there are days when my kids are in the zone, and days when there is no way we're going to get anything done. I go with the flow. Hard and fast doesn't really work with us. Some days consist of a lot of home ec - that would be baking cookies!

Great advice! I often wonder how many folks give u...

2008-07-07T13:10:09.339-05:00

Great advice! I often wonder how many folks give up after the first year, because they try to do too much or are frustrated by a program that isn't working for their children. It took us three years to finally discover how each child learned best and how to go about teaching them so that none of us felt like pulling our hair out:)

Just to reinforce your thoughts on homeschooling. ...

2008-07-07T09:04:28.655-05:00

Just to reinforce your thoughts on homeschooling. Each year of homeschooling that we have done in our four years is a little more relaxed than the previous year. I'm a "let's get things done" personality; I like my to do list and lots of structure. But, I've found that we enjoy the learning process more if we are more spontaneous and dive into things that we find interesting at the time. So now we "chase rabbits" through our set curriculum and discover new paths along the way. It's much more fun!

Thanks for posting your thoughts on homeschooling!

Excellent post, and right on--almost exactly what ...

2008-07-06T23:11:34.832-05:00

Excellent post, and right on--almost exactly what I tell new home schoolers every year. :)