Home Schooling: 7 years and counting...
- Sparrow Home School
- Dec 16, 2017
- 3 min read
As 2017 comes to a close, it means we have been home schooling for 7 years. 2018 marks the start of our 8th year. I often sit in amazement at where 7 years has gone, time really has flown. My eldest was 7 when I starting home schooling, he'll turn 15 next year. My youngest just turned 10 late this year. We still have a few years a head of us.
I've learnt so very much these last 7 years (and will learn even more as we go along)...
We all have a built-in thirst for knowledge (what each of us thirsts for is different and that's cool).
Kids need lots of time and space to follow their passions and interests (and they are really great at following their interests, they naturally gravitate towards a range of resources to learn more about what they want to know). What they love, is important. Listen to them.
Learning does not stop just because it's the end of the day, week, term or year. To assume learning only takes place in a certain building, during certain times of a 5-day week, is so very inaccurate and limiting.
Home schooling not only provides personal growth for the kids, but for the adult(s) as well.
Just because you think a resource is interesting and exciting, does not mean the child will. As frustrating as this can be at times, trying to force it upon them means upset for all. As I say, 'find the resources that fit the child vs trying to squish the child to fit the resources'.
So much can be learnt from conversation, discussion and debate.
There are so many cool board games and games in general out there that teach and underpin a range of concepts.
Being at home for an entire day, following each of our respective passions, enjoying discussions, watching the odd You Tube, laughing together, all the while in a our PJ's, is indeed a gift.
Going on lots of excursions to learn about stuff, is brilliant. Why read about it in a book when you have the chance to see it, touch it, smell it and have a go?
Pinterest is addictive.
Just living your life, is overflowing with life-long learning opportunities and happens automatically.
The emotional well-being of my children will ALWAYS trump academics.
Home schooling is a privilege and a joy that I hope I don't take for granted.
Hanging out with my kids is also a privilege and a joy that I hope I don't take for granted.
I'm doing OK at this home schooling gig.
And the list goes on (it's a pretty long and exciting list)...
I'm already pretty much organised for how we are going to tackle 2018. The kids have chosen how they want to learn more about science and history (nationally and world). Discussions between them and myself sorted out maths ('but how does that fit into my life' for Master 14 and 'still building concepts' for Master 10) and literacy (lots of blogging, reading etc). I've got some ideas for geography and some other bits and pieces. Lots of time for following personal interests which include Lego, wood working, coding, Minecraft builds and so much more, and we've got the outline done. So much will pop up throughout the year as it always does. I've lost count of all the excursions we've done this year.
I'll leave it here with a very, very brief pictorial snapshop of a FEW of the things we've done this year. It does not nearly cover all the excursions, stage productions, hands on learning and socialisation we do (to put it all in would make for a MASSIVE blog post)... It does not include all the blogging, reading, the pondering of math equations etc.
I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe, be merry, be kind...
~ Sparrow Home School
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