Home School at the Skunkboy House

Home school is going really well for us this year.  It helps that Johnny has taken on a bigger role, but I feel like (being in our 3rd year) we are all starting to learn what works and what is less successful.  Some of the approaches we've taken in the past, like having strict text-book only curriculum and very rigid schedules have almost felt like home school failures, but when you learn from those things they turn into growth. 

{Before I go any further, I would like to say this: I believe home school is a huge decision.  It's not right for every parent.  It's not right for every child.  You can read why we home school here.  I'm definitely not preachy about it-- I really think public and private schools are great.  I often feel overwhelmed blogging about home school because I feel like I'm giving advice to parents I've never met.  I hope by sharing some of our experiences, those who are curious get a few answers and those who might be on the fence about home school can weigh our successes and failures.}

We decided to go sans-curriculum this year.  I honestly feel insane saying that, but this has been our most successful year so far.  As I've mentioned before, Hope is a great hands-on learner.  I bought a lot of books this year that really get her hands in the subjects we are studying, so she has a better chance of retaining the information.  We LOVE science experiments, nature studies, and book reports where you incorporate visuals.  I bought this human anatomy doll for fun, and Hope has a great time with it.  You gotta love educational toys, am I right?  Some of our favorite hands-on books are: Biology for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments That Really Work, Awesome Hands-On Activities for Teaching Literary Elements, The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science, Nature in a Nutshell

Over the years math has been our biggest challenge.  I apologize for it all the time, but Hope inherited my math skills.  I'm no math wizard.  This is our first year with Saxon Math, and though she isn't IN LOVE with it, there is definite math comprehension happening.  This is a big success for us.  I love how repetitive Saxon is, that way once she learns something, it doesn't slip away when she is moving onto the next.

I know a lot of you are curious about how we divvy out school responsibilities.  Moving to Springfield and being out of the house 3 days a week made it impossible for me to home school on those days.  Fortunately, Johnny works mostly from home, so he just stepped right in and made up for my absence.  I love this.  I love that A) my husband is willing (and able) to take on such a big responsibility along-side me, and B) that Hope gets to learn from both of us.  We each have our strengths and weaknesses and it's good to be a team.  I will mention, I decided to cut back on my hours at A Beautiful Mess and work only 2 (longer) days a week.  This was partially because I didn't want to be gone so much, and partially because I need those hours for Skunkboy.  Johnny still takes on that extra day as if I'm out to work, but instead I stay in my studio and sew up a storm.  He's awesome.  We have a true partnership as the leaders of our family, and that is an amazing feeling.

Living in Springfield means we have A LOT more home school opportunities than we've had in the past.  We are meeting more and more great people who home school, and places such as roller rinks and the art museum (among others) have special classes and times designated just for home school kids.  Hope just finished taking an art history class at the art museum and is starting a pottery class next week.  I'm just a liiiiiittle bit envious.  ;)

I know socialization is a big worry when someone mentions home school.  In addition to play dates and nature studies with other home school friends, Hope has gymnastics 3 times a week, an art class every Tuesday, and kids' church on Sundays.  I mentioned in my initial home school post that Hope is naturally a very shy girl, so it is important to me to keep her around other kids and adults.  Even if she was crazy outgoing, I believe I would still feel the same way.  As a girl who works from home, I know first-hand staying home and holed-up too much can make you feel trapped, cagey, anti-social, and more than anything: grumpy.

A lot of people ask if we will be home schooling Poesy.  I honestly have no idea.  Poe is the almost-opposite of Hope and I am completely clueless.  We will probably just watch her personality and her needs develop and make a decision when the time arrives.  For now I have my hands in the air on that one.

Guys, I still feel overwhelmed at times, wondering how I can hold my child's education in my own hands and be confident that I'm doing the right thing.  I have days of confidence and days of worry, but every day I know the decision I made was out of love.  I will do my best, with everything I have available, to make sure this kiddo gets the education that is so important and so needed, along with a showering of love and encouragement.  Kids are special and they need to feel that way, no matter what school they attend.

For more ideas, your local library is a GREAT resource for expanding on a subject you are studying.  Also, if you have other home school parents around, trading books is fun and a good way to discover new things!  Having someone you can talk to about your successes and failures is really important.  Parents need encouragement, too!  If you have any questions for me, you can leave them in the comments here and I will answer what I can, as well as keep them in mind when writing the next home school post.  :)