Number Two: Learning Should Be FUN!!

The second thing I learned this year as a new homeschooling mom is this: 

Learning should be FUN!!!

When I first started teaching my son at the age of around 3 and a half, I would plan activities and print things out, and them my son would spend like two minutes on one activity and refuse to do anymore! I was frustrated. I have slowly come to realize that the way I was trying to teach my son was not the most effective way he was going to learn. I also have realized that children develop at their own pace. What my son may not be able to do now, he may be able to do in a month or two. At one point my son kept skipping the number four when he would count in Spanish. It seemed like weeks and weeks we would practice counting and he would just skip four. I was so frustrated, and he could sense that. He would just freeze and get so nervous. It wasn’t fun for him anymore. It was just me testing him and him realizing he wasn’t living up to my expectations. Once I decided to just relax and have fun, then that wall came down and he was able to learn better without so much stress.

From birth through about age 7, kids learn through play and experimentation. This is the stage when the LOVE of learning needs to be instilled in children. I have been enjoying reading books such as Free To Learn by Peter Gray and A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille, where I have learned more about the importance of giving children the opportunities to play and instill a love for learning in order for them to be able to essentially educate themselves.

Children are naturally curious and excited to discover new ideas. I have also been very surprised by the times when my son randomly shows me that our fun and free approach has helped him make connections. After beginning our new math curriculum (which I love), called RightStart Mathematics, my son surprised me when he said “Mami, ten is two, two, two, two, two!” I was so surprised and excited to see his little mind at work on a car ride.

We have also loved doing what some may call unit studies. A unit study is where we chose a theme and study that theme in as many subjects as possible for a week or two. I have learned that if you have a plan in mind, but when it comes down to it, nobody is excited about it, then ask your child what he wants to learn! I did, and my son came up with so many fun ideas like racecar week, ocean week, shark week, weather week, desert week, and dinosaur week, just to name a few. He is excited because he WANTS to learn about these subjects, which makes me excited too.

I want to spark my child’s creativity and enthusiasm for learning. We plan on fostering an environment where he can play, explore, and learn. If it’s not FUN for both of us, we will reevaluate and revisit the task later if we need to. This is one of the things I have learned this year. 

Number One: I am NOT Patient

There were always some preconceived ideas I had about homeschooling. It was pretty foreign to me. I thought that in order to homeschool I had to be super patient, organized, great at keeping my house clean, and be very knowledgeable. Basically I thought you need to have all the answers and know exactly what to teach at each grade level and how to teach it before you even think about starting to homeschool. Well, I've learned many things this year. 

Number one: I am not patient! But like it or not, I have daily opportunities to practice. 
I am not PATIENT!! I think some people may see me and think I'm super patient. I am actually prone to get anxious and frustrated easily when things don't go my way or how I expected they would turn out. I am so very blessed to be a mother of three beautiful children. I love them, and think they are the greatest blessing that Heavenly Father has given our little family. I believe motherhood is a blessing, not only because of the joy you experience from your little ones, but also for the many opportunities for growth and learning that it gives me. I have the chance to practice my patience EVERY DAY with my babies. And I still have a lot more to learn. People say, "You must have a lot of patience to homeschool". Ha, ha, ha! NO WAY!! There is MUCH room for growth for me in that area. You don't need to be perfectly patient to be a mother, patience is a virtue you practice and develop in the the process of being a mother.

How we came to the decision

It has been one year this month since my husband and I made the final decision that homeschooling was the right path for our family. It was a long process of several years that brought us to the decision. Why did we decide to homeschool?  About four years ago when my oldest son was only about one and a half years old I started really thinking about his education and what the options would be for him. We had just moved to a brand new state and I really wanted to look into a bilingual education. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out.

A year after that we moved again  in the same city, and I met a family in our new ward at church who was a homeschooling family. I was intrigued. I asked questions and thought it would be very overwhelming to be a homeschooling mom. I thought the mom of that family was probably super mom homeschooling all four of her kids and I could never do that! But I still had a lot of respect for her and thought it was interesting.

When I was pregnant with baby number three I decided my son should go to preschool for two days a week. We sent him and it gave me a little break, but it was hard to be consistent with the things we were doing at home. It just didn't feel like it flowed. It was difficult to get a routine going. He would also come home cranky and very tired. I feel like the whole thing of me pushing school at home and at preschool was just working him too hard for a little four year old. I kept getting thoughts and feelings (that I now recognize as promptings from the Lord), about homeschooling. But I felt so very inadequate and unprepared!! How could I have the time and energy to homeschool my son with two other little babies at home?

I had so many doubts and questions. I had a lot of encouragement from my husband and my sister telling me that I COULD homeschool, and that everything would work out. I prayed, and prayed, and finally felt like the Lord answered my prayer. I think i knew all along, I just needed an extra push of motivation to make the decision to do it.

I feel homeschooling has been a tremendous blessing for us! I don't believe homeschooling is for everyone, but I do believe that if the Lord lets you know that homeschooling is the right path for your family He will give you the strength, energy, knowledge to do it. Homeschooling is like motherhood I believe. You can never prepare enough, you just have to do it! Once you dive in the Lord will give you the answers you seek and help you accomplish what he asks you to do. I am so glad we made the decision! This year has been wonderful! In another post I hope to write about all the many lessons I have learned as a newbie homeschooling mom this year.