Home School Rocks!

Another year of home school has begun for us!  This is our fourth year homeschooling.  Our style this year is an eclectic mix of curricula and materials, classic children's literature with a heavy influence of Waldorf rhythm, focus on nature, arts & crafts and festivals. 

We've begun this year with so much enthusiasm! It's nice to feel this excited about home school after such a challenging year last year (for me). This past spring I wasn't even sure I wanted to continue and we put Michael's name into a lottery for a really good charter school in our area. As soon as I gained a sense of peace about homeschooling, Michael did get into the charter school. It was offered to him just a few days ago. I went to meet with the teacher and realized through the process that he is one lucky boy to be able to work at his own pace at home.  Reading has not come easily for him, so we are using All About Reading this year.  He really enjoys it and it's nice to see marked improvement. So, we happily gave up his spot at the charter school and have realized truly how fortunate we are to be following our own path.

I haven't been able to keep 4 year old Owen happy with drawing or playing while we work, so he is doing "school" too this year and having so much fun with it.  He can't seem to get enough. His excitement is boundless and contagious.  He still does not quite understand when it's his brother's turn, so I'm working on finding quiet things for him to do while we work.  I'm thinking some of that pumpkin pie spiced play dough is in order.  We will be doing a Fall circle time, my boys have insisted!  I'm so excited to pull out the songs we sang last year and the before and the year before that, they are like old friends now that come to visit each year. 

I feel much more at home with our eclectic home school style now.  I feel like I'm finding my groove as a teacher & even that balance between formal school and child-led interest.  It feels so good to be letting go of the things that do not work for us and embracing the things that do! 

Until next time...

Please read this post as simply our experience, our journey in schooling and not a judgment call on any form of schooling.  I truly believe there are infinite ways & methods of learning both at home and in a school building.  There is no one right and perfect way.