Not Nice Spice
When the notion of homeschooling came like a drink thrown in my face, I reached out to local mamas at lightening speed. I asked if there were seasoned homeschoolers who would be able to guide me through the process and give me sea legs strong enough to manage the early days of change. You know you’ve found good people when a meeting is setup within a few days and the space is packed out. Funny how God had surrounded me with all the tools I would need for raising my children, I just didn’t know it was homeschooling. I was even more grateful to have seen and learn about old friends that have been homeschooling for quite some time! When I reached out to Melissa she didn’t hesitate, which was incredibly gracious considering that she has four cuties under her roof! Here’s our little Q&A that has helped me feel more confident as a homeschooling mama. There is power in encouragement! You can also check out Melissa’s birthing story, from Birth Stories Series. Birth Stories: Melissa & Isaac And if you're looking for a phenomenal photographer to capture these crazy life moments, check out her shots at Mel Duet Photography. Q. What ages & grade levels are your children?
A. My children at 8 and 4. Isaac is going into 3rd grade (he also will be doing 4th grade work) and Zozo is going into pre-k or K-4 here in Florida. They are both very different learners. I can sit down with Isaac and read over directions and give him workbooks and worksheets and he will do them no problem. Zoey is more hands-on. We do crafts and she likes to trace (but only for a certain amount of time, then she is bored). So she is more hands-on stuff. Isaac likes hands-on too, but he can sit and be interested in a documentary where Zoey cannot. She is okay for about 5 minutes, and then it is on to something else. Q. Why did you choose to homeschool? A. Isaac was 2 and asked for me to start teaching him. I always wanted to be a teacher and then once I got into college and found out the direction teaching was going, I switched majors. I decided I can be a teacher and teach my kiddos. It has been very challenging, but rewarding as well. Isaac was reading at 4, because he wanted to. Zoey turned 4 in April and has just become interested in reading. Q. Was your spouse supportive? A. August is very supportive. He knows it is what I want to do, no matter how hard it is. He has said that Isaac should go to school a few times just because of Isaac’s behavior some days. Isaac likes to argue sometimes, but what child doesn’t? Q. How have your children responded? A. Isaac loves to be homeschooled. This year we are putting him in Veritas for 1 day of science and art. That way he can be around children more and he can do more interactive things. I am not strong in science, and art goes by the wayside. Q. What do you cherish about homeschooling? A. I cherish my time with the kids. I do need a break from time to time. I need to get away because I am always with them. They are always with me, but I honestly love time with them. I get to watch them grow and discover every single day. Q. What is the biggest stressor while teaching? A. Biggest stressor is when they just don’t want to their work. Some days they do work for about 4 hours, and the days that they are struggling, I have learned to not push. We just take time off that day and go outside and have fun. They go to gymnastics, we have a pool, and a little play gym outside. On some days, they need alone time and they go to their rooms to rest or to read books. When Isaac has Isaac time, he goes to his room and reads chapter books. Q. Describe your homeschooling space. A. We do school anywhere. We do have a schoolroom with bookshelves, cabinets with all their stuff in it, a table, and a reading tent, but we also do school at the kitchen counter. Isaac will also have a desk in his room this year, so he can get away from his sisters if he wants to. They distract him, so a desk in his room will be nice. But all of our schoolbooks, blocks, learning toys are in the schoolroom. Q. Do you participate in co-ops? A. I do not participate in a co-op. A friend of mine here (also a homeschool mama who lives a few houses down from me) has been a part of 2 of them and has never done anything with the groups or whatever. So I just don't do them. Q. How do you manage schooling time? A. School time varies every day. Breakfast, play time, lay baby down, then start school. Isaac does workbooks and whatnot, so if it is a new topic, I teach him the new topic, we go over it and then he does his workbook pages. He is a quick learner. Zoey is a bit different in that regard. Q. How does technology play a role in your homeschooling? A. Technology does not play a roll. We do watch documentaries on Friday. It normally correlates to his geography. If we are learning about Africa, we watch things about Africa. This year may be a little different, but I have not decided yet. Q. What extra-curricular activities do your children participate in? A. Isaac does gymnastics. We also have a pool so he swims with his sisters, and also the neighbors. We don’t have anything set. We also go to the zoo, aquarium, the park, and different museums. We have not really ventured to the library because I am not ready to bring the baby and a 2 year old. However, that may change this year. Q. If you could change one aspect about your homeschooling experience what would it be? A. The kids listening—hahaha! I really wish someone would have held my hand the first year, but you learn as you go. Q. What do you wish you knew when you started homeschooling? A. I wish I knew everything—haha! I wish I knew exactly what to do—where to start and how to begin. I wish I knew whom to contact. I found out eventually what age they needed to be registered with the county and I figured out whom to email. I wish I had known it all to begin with. Q. For new parent beginning their homeschooling journey what advice would you give? A. Advice… ask around if anyone homeschools. Ask friends and family. Ask what others do. Ask how it works—are you allowed to have a portfolio, or do you need to test? Figure out where you need to register and what age. And good luck! Also, Target has good resources, as does Amazon. There are school supply stores in many states. A planner for yourself to help keep you on track— and just start! It is nerve racking, but just jump in. Q. What was your biggest learning experience? A. I am not sure if I have had any major ah-ha moments. I am always learning, and learning what helps each kid. Q. Any last thoughts? A. Zulily has great resources (I always look for them on Amazon first), reading books, an atlas, and Instagram has great homeschool people to follow. You will always buy more than you need. I realized that, and have a lot to get rid of and go through. Reuse workbooks that are not finished. You can always use them for review! Have fun. You will not know everything, but have fun with it. You will get frustrated and feel like a failure, but you are not. You have got this and you love your kiddos. Let them know it is ok to make mistakes and no one is perfect. Admit to them when you fail and let them know not to give up. If you find that homeschooling is not for you, you did not fail, you realized what your kiddos needed and what you could not give them. Just love them, and know that you are doing great
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Kate FrancesWhen you don't know what else to do, then it's time to write. Then write a little while longer for good measure. Archives
February 2020
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