Questions For Homeschoolers
Naturally Us comic Click image to see full size
Seeing the above comic made me laugh and reminded me that I haven’t done a weekend question in a while. It was put on hold so that a couple contests I was running could take center stage. But now that they are done I can bring it back. So if you have any questions or concerns that you would like to ask, feel free!
I’ll recap the rules: If you have a question you want to ask you can either leave me a comment or ask me using the contact form. Every Friday I will post your question, with no names attached so you can ask anything you want. Th question will be left open all weekend so that anyone can have a chance to add thir own ideas, thoughts, and opinions on your problem. I’ll recap everyone’s answers as well as share my own thoughts on Sunday. It’s a great way to get a variety of responses from people you might not normally talk to in this bloggy world. And it’s fun for those who have “been there, done that” to share their own stories.
In an almost related note, I have been working on putting together a list of site for homeschoolers. Sites that offer tips, advice, sugestions, and encouragement. I know there has to be many out that that I haven’t found yet! So if you know of a great one that you think needs to be added please let me know. I should have the list up in a few weeks, depending on how soon I can get to it. So if you have any great sites that you would like to see added please let me know!
*Ugh! How about once more with spellcheck. Mommy should not blog before coffee, that’s the new rule.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:20 am
That comic is great! I as laughing because I saw myself in it. My question would be a two part question. How do you do balance everything(the house, shopping, school, outside activities) and along the same lines, how do you balance different learning styles? In my house I know that I have 1 child who works best with a schedule and another who doesn’t like schedules at all. He does best when he is in charge more. I just want to know how other homeschoolers find a balance.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Good idea. I wish I had a question.
I guess I could share my thoughts on the above posted question. I’ve been hs-ing my kids for 7 years.
How to balance everything?
1. Realize life isn’t always balanced. Sometimes there are illnesses, problems etc.. and forgive yourself for inbalance.
2. Make lists, schedules, keep a date book and journal. When kids are at swim lessons or soccer,etc… doodle in these books, observe them, convince yourself that you’re doing okay.I almost never keep my schedules or find my lists but it makes me feel calmer and more balanced to mentally work through things.
3. Give the kids the style they need. If one needs structure and the other needs freedom then try to provide both. A chunk of freetime while you do bookwork with the other. Lots of “projects” for the freespirited kid that he can work on. Offer choice to both and possibly ones style (wow, a recycled construction project of an existing building?) will sometimes suddenly appeal to the other also and things will get simpler.
4. Good luck and balance takes years. Try not to overdo activities outside the home. 3 per kid seems to be too much for us, but less is too little. So we adapt.
October 5th, 2007 at 8:17 am
That cartoon is so accurate. I can’t count the number of Sundays when I’ve been making trying to find materials for the following week’s lesson plans and my son’s asked some question, but rather than seeing it as a chance to incorporate his interests into our plans I’ve viewed it as an interruption.
Last weekend, though, I was having such problems making plans that when he asked about snakes and bats I actually jumped at the chance to use those as our topics.
I guess if I have a question it’s this: what do you do when your child refuses to tune in (much less stop running around) while you’re trying to, say, read him a story or even try to explain the correct spelling of a word?
October 6th, 2007 at 10:00 am
The cartoon is sad, but true. My question is, How to choose the right curriculum with out costing a fortune?
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