Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Almost summer break

Just because summer break is coming up doesn't mean we have to "check out". I know just as well as others that the nice spring mornings where the sun is shining, the weather is warming, the flowers are blooming and birds chirping can make us all just wanna blow off school and go play outside. Well there are a few solutions.

Have school outside. Take out a blanket and sit on the ground with all your supplies or gather around the picnic tables and enjoy the beauty and warm sunshine while doing school. There are opportunities a plenty to learn even more when you're outdoors.

Do what's only necessary. Not that all we're doing isn't important, but think about it. We're homeschooling. We have the freedom. Choose a rainy, chillier day to catch up on those things you passed on before on the nicer day. It's spring...we're gonna get chillier again and it will rain. April showers bring May flowers and in May well it still rains plenty. Get outside, go on that walk, you have all day. It's the beauty of homeschooling, we have all day.

Or take that day off altogether and know that, Hey! you're homeschooling, there's a certain freedom in that. We can still catch up later. Go outside, take that walk and make it a day of play learning. As homeschooling parents, as parents, we never stop teaching our children. Teach them the names of the flowers, trees, birds. Let them know the wind is caused by the sun. Make a rain gauge for the next rainfall or wind chimes for the breezy days. You're a homeschooler you have some freedom.

As parents we never stop teaching our children. That's why homeschooling really does come naturally for us. When we throw in the curriculum and objectives and schedules, the ease of it becomes a bit more rigorous for some of us, but seeing your child finally get that concept or master that shortfall is so rewarding. Sending them to a "school" only makes it so we hear about it and don't ever experience it. We have a benefit like none of the other parents. To be the all to our children. They were given to us. We are just supposed to do our best.

Summer is almost here and we don't even have to stop teaching then. But we get to get away from the routine of curriculum. We still do math and reading over the summer. It helps my children keep momentum for the next school year. Plenty of field trips and lots more fun. Have a fun finish of the school year and enjoy your children this summer. They grow up so fast and before you know it they're graduating from HS and on to college or jobs, where we can see the fruits of all we've been teaching them. Enjoy your summer.

1 comment:

rhozebug said...

Rachel,
Getting out in nature is such a wonderful way for children and adults to learn not only about their natural surroundings and the interplay of nature, but about themselves as well. When we disconnect from nature we also disconnect from ourselves. It is such a beautiful classroom outside!
Like your blog.
Anita Nelson

All about Applemama

I'm a homeschool mother of 4 wonderful children. My girls are 11, 4 and 2. My only son is 8 and full of energy. We live in rural PA, and have 8 chickens, 5 rabbits, 3 cats, 3 ducks, and one mouse.

We were married here 11 years ago and moved off to FL - then to VA - and now back here after my husband's job was uprooted and not transplanted. He found a job to work in his field (at least somewhat) and we are taking a wonderful opportunity to move back to where we met. We have old friends here and enjoy reconnecting with the church where we were married. We love it and are making many new friends.

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