Day Nineteen: Don't Make Me Do Workbooks!

The speaker's message resounded in me like a pounding drum and I was nearly taken with the simplicity and seeming authenticity of it all. However, what I know to be true of my children  also pounded in my heart--a competing beat vying for a place alongside this "new" philosophy. Near the end of the year, the homeschool convention is more than just an avenue for purchasing next year's curriculum; it's where parents can be redeemed from curricula that proved less than successful and they are encouraged in various seminars that there is more than one way to educate our children. So there I sat, with a couple of "unbudgeables" that have always worked for us but also some questions that just weren't going away. Was I reaching my children through each of their learning styles? Was I adding too many subjects? Not enough subjects? Since we have freedom as homeschoolers to choose our own educational materials, the task can be liberating and overwhelming at the same time. The message that blared charismatically from the podium seemed intriguing. It subtracted much parental work and focused on the main three areas of study for every child: writing, reading and math. I began to mull it all over as I drove home barely in time for supper.

spotting owls--our fave!

Later that week, however, somewhere between church and home, Oliver called out from the backseat, "Mommy, please don't make me do anymore workbooks. They don't teach me anything." The girls piped in with their agreement of his statement and for a minute, I sat silently rolling between the white and yellow lines, trying to steady my thoughts and my vehicle. Where did this come from and what exactly was he saying? Suddenly, I found myself in a curriculum debate with my children and although I defended their workbooks and tried to justify their value, I was amused by my kids' passion. Workbooks and textbooks have their place in our homeschool for two reasons: first, to cover all of our bases (details that might be missed in a unit study), and second, to maintain the flow of education during a lull in our thematic studies or a season when important things in life cause us to stop the afore mentioned studies. While they are essential for some families, for us, they are an "easy" fix for an educational blockage or deliberate break from the style we prefer.

Nine years of home educating, has taught me that as different as each of my children are from each other, they also change from year to year in their abilities and desires for how to learn. Although, I am ultimately in charge of their learning, I revisit our materials at the end of spring to see if anything should be changed up. This particular trip in the truck taught me that my kids actually care about the methodology. Oliver's realization that workbooks weren't working for him was a surprise to me and I am taking him seriously. He's not one to flounder or complain about a book simply because he is not in the mood for it. My heart drummed again with the same knowledge that beats rhythmically year after year: my children thrive under thematic learning. Once again, I was driven to plan and prepare an exciting curriculum not based on advice from keynote speakers or philosophical readings for home educators, but by my children's straightforward requests. 

Day Thirty-One: How Kids Feel About Being Homeschooled

When moms are wondering about which curriculum to use or how to incorporate science experiments into their day, kids are thinking about how they'd like to have recess or do some art. Not much changes from school to home in what children desire, but we have the opportunity to listen to them and make their education soar to spectacular heights that foster individuality, creativity and fun! Let's see what kids have to say about being homeschooled...

I asked several kids these three questions:

1. What is your favourite thing about being homeschooled?
2. What is your biggest challenge in your homeschool day?
3. If you could change something in your homeschool day, what would it be?

1. "My favourite thing about being homeschooled is that I don't have to get up so early and go to school.
2. "I have to do chores. (giggle)"
3. "If I could make up my own school day, I would work in my pyjamas and I would do spelling for five hours and then one page of Explode The Code and then I'd read a picture book and then I'd be done."
Molly, 11

1. "Math is my favourite part of being homeschooled."
2. "I can see my family more often."
3. "Sometimes Oliver and Molly are talking and I'm trying to do school. I would have the counter spot all to myself to do my work."
Emily, 9

 

1. "I can manage my time as much as I want."
2. "Distractions, kids being loud, and I want to organize my room when I'm in there doing schoolwork.  My mom sometimes interrupts me to do various things when I'm trying to get work done."
3. "I would like to have one curriculum for all my subjects so that the test and quizzes and exams are organized together instead of all over the place. I would also like scheduled outdoor activities after school since my siblings get to go out before I am able. I'd also love to have a dance studio in my home so when kids are still in school, I could use those hours to practice."
Meghan, 14

1. "That you can go to people's houses."
2. "Math. The funnest is Journal."
3. "I want there to be no math books."
Oliver, 7

1. "I like going outside."
2. "The books are the hardest part, except journals and going outside."
3. "Ben and me just want to do 3 things--journals, go outside and play and go sledding. Phonics, I would get rid of phonics."
Sam, 6


1. "I like doing the drawing part and reading and all my books."
2. "Phonics is the hardest part."
3. "I would change all the books, except journals."
Ben, 6


1.  "We have the privilege to not be influenced in a bad way and that we don't get taught evolution as though it were fact."

2.  "The biggest challenge for me is that I don't have as many acquaintances as I would have if I were going to a school building."

3.  "I would like to have my friends with me during my school day ~ learning the same things at the same time in the same room."

E, 11

1. "What I like the most about home school is that I am able to direct my own day and be able to get as much as I can done academically so that I can devote time to other interests."

2. "My biggest challenge is to know when it is time to call it quits academically."

3. "If I could, I would take one of my interests and make it into an academic subject."

F, 14
 

1. "I like to be able to work at my own pace and learn from a Christian perspective.  I also get more free time to pursue other interests."

2. "My biggest challenge with home school is keeping on track with my academics."

3. "I would not really want to change anything about my school day."

C, 16

1. "Getting to hang out with friends during the day." 

2. "Having to work with my sibling all the time. (Not getting a break.)"

3. "I'd like to go away every day"
Serena, 12

 

1. "That I can learn about the things I'm interested in."

2. "Being with my sister and working through differences." 

3. "Having computer time first, before I do school work."

Aaron, 8

1. "I like that there are not as many bad influences." (was in traditional school for a few years)
2. "I find that the curriculum is more challenging and sibling irritation sucks."
3. "I want more access to internet and technology."
Jake, 17

1) "It is more relaxing; no rushing in the morning to catch a bus, or worries about the latest fashions. I like being able to do schoolwork outside and go out to the store or on trips whenever we feel like it."
2. "No challenges really, once in a while it is tricky working with younger siblings."
3. "I'm fine with it."
Brooke, 15

1. "I like going places."
2. "There's too much pressure when Daddy is around."
3. "I would like more math manipulatives."
Caleb, 12

1. "I like Mommy as my teacher because she does the best projects and knows how to help me."
2. "None."
3. "No more poems or speeches."
Eden, 9

 

 

What can we conclude from this small sampling of homeschooled students? As each of the moms sent me the honest answers of their children, they commented on how interesting or surprising some of the responses were. As I know each of these mothers personally and that they absolutely look into the interests of their children, it's still amazing how much more there is to take into consideration. Sometimes, their immaturity causes them to want certain subjects to disappear from their day and while this is not possible, what is possible, is the wonderful opportunity to make all of learning an enjoyable experience. Mostly, our children love being homeschooled and for that, I'm thankful. In reality, there will still be math struggles and kids who just never want to write a sentence, but we can make a difference in our children's education by hearing their voices and searching for options that create an environment of joyful learning. I've been challenged! Have you?

 

Thank you, my lovely readers for "tuning in" to my 31 Days Of Homeschooling Goodness! I pray the Lord blesses you as you begin or continue your journey or simply learn about home education.

Changes in the Unchangeable

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." (Genesis 8:22)

What a comfort. As summer turns to Autumn, I can trust that these changes will continue on and never change! Thank You, Lord. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).