Homeschoolery

Interactive Science – All Ages

JillLorraine — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:21:18 +0000

Biology

No Stress Homeschool – Ages 0 to 6

JillLorraine — Sat, 27 May 2023 20:08:18 +0000

Whether you’ve made the decision to homeschool right from the start, or sent you child to kindergarten only to realize it wasn’t right for your family, this magical season of crayon drawings and picture books can actually be the most stressful.

It’s hard to believe, but there is an intense pressure that can come with those first few years as you scramble to learn all you can about being a home educator, become hyper aware of the expectations of those around you, find yourself drained and exhausted by the demands of managing one or more littles, and struggle with seasons of serious doubt.

But you can manage the fear, the anxiety, and the stress by making just a few changes in your thinking about early education, and lean on the expertise of pioneers and experts in child development.

It is also important to note, that when you’re dealing with littles, the more intensely you focus on hard deadlines and goals, the more likely they may be to pick up your stress and resist your best efforts to get them to show your uncle that they know all the countries in Africa at age 5 and you’re the best homeschooling mom ever.

Play Hard

Choosing to educate at home means you have the freedom to give your toddler and young child an abundance of the very best thing they need for their development. That thing is, of course, play.

There is abundant research on the subject, so when you’re feeling like you’re out of your element, bookmark some of the following links to understand more about how play helps your child thrive:
https://www.nifplay.org/play-science/summary-of-key-findings/

https://www.nifplay.org/play-science/scientific-disciplines-researching-play/

I know it feels like you’re not doing anything important snuggling up with a three year old and reading their favorite book again, but these first few years are so foundational to the people they will become. You will have more than enough time for math and science and all the other things. Enjoy these first five or six years and know just by being with them you’re giving them what they need.

Create a learning-rich environment.

There are, of course, many different theories about what early education should look like, but I lean a bit on Maria Montessori for this one, without being exactly Montessori. She believed in fueling children’s natural curiosity by providing them with real world objects and accessible tools to explore. Looking at how your environment is set up, and whether you have provided enough to satisfy your child’s need for exploration is a great way to destress from the confusion of traditional school’s early education standards.

A note about early education in traditional school: keep always in mind that school as we know it is designed to meet the needs of many children from diverse backgrounds. The focus on adding more and more to early education is not based in psychology or science, but in sociology. In the desire to level the playing field and provide to children what they might be missing at home. It isn’t unimportant, but it isn’t especially relevant when compared to a home education environment.

Do not focus on academic goals.

Feeling overwhelmed by the education goals of those first few years? Wondering why there’s so much pressure for academic achievement, when you remember kindergarten as a whimsical time of shapes, colors, and crafts? You’re not alone. Even some top researchers are beginning to question our push to cram so much into those early years, finding that the net benefit over time isn’t what we thought it was. And keep in mind, early education is meant to help kids who might fall behind due to socio-economic situations.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of wanting to prove that you’ve got a good handle on your child’s education by making sure they can do all the things that traditional school kids are doing, but if you spend some time making sure you are in the right head space, with the right support network, this becomes far less important.

There are also schools of thought that believe academic focus is harmful to kids. But if you still want to be ready, consider offering simple, fun, and easy activities, such as phonics games and videos to prepare them to read, math concepts through normal activities such as cooking. In the least stressful way possible, you’ll soon see what your child is ready for.

The No-Stress Homeschool Path

JillLorraine — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:30:02 +0000

Setting up for No-Stress

Surround yourself with the right support network.

Let go of homeschooling stereotypes

Learn to ask “why”

Rethink age expectations

Learn from the best

Learn more about setting up for no-stress homeschooling here.

Ages 0-6

Create a learning-rich environment.

Do not focus on academic goals.

Spend quality time with your littles and play hard.

Setting Up for No Stress Homeschooling

JillLorraine — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:29:10 +0000

Surround yourself with the right support network

Homeschooling can be a lonely place when you’re new, especially if the concept itself is new to your own family and friends. It is essential that you take the time to find the right people to surround yourself with. Here are some things to consider as you set up your support network:

Look for other homeschooling families that are aligned with your reasons for homeschooling, and your overall philosophy, not your religion, politics, or homeschool methods.
Stop answering questions from people who are not supportive of your decision to homeschool.
Find a healthy balance of non-homeschooling connections, mentors, professionals, and community resources.
Make sure you have at least one person who will cheer you on when you’re low, someone who will challenge the way you think, and someone who can be a lifeline of support.

Let go of homeschooling stereotypes

We all have ideas about what it means to homeschool, a picture that comes to our minds of the perfect experience. While it is amazing to have something worthy to aspire to, understand that your life homeschooling is going to be very much like your life without homeschooling – but with homeschooling. The things your family already prefers will likely be the things you engage most. The way your family functions on a normal week will be very similar to what you achieve when it comes to your homeschooling achievements.

Don’t compare your own, real life, to the instagram version of someone else’s life.

Learn to ask “why”

“Why am I doing this particular activity?” “Why am I making my kids do it?” “Why am I measuring myself in this way?”

When you begin to ask “why,” you realize that most of the things we associate with school have very little to do with the education of your child. Schools are not made to give one child the best education possible. They are designed to manage the educational needs of an entire community. Much of what seems like school is really necessary for the organization and tracking of large groups of students, and if you ask the question “why,” you may find there are many expectations you can let go of.

Rethink age expectations

Similar to asking “why,” when we look at age expectations we find that the theory behind such goals has more to do with what is best within the structure of traditional school, not what is best for your individual child. During class time in a school, an entire group of students from diverse backgrounds with diverse aptitudes and challenges has to get what they need so they can move on to the next thing. The only way to do that is to lock in very clear goals that apply to everyone. To do otherwise would be chaos in the classroom.

But you know your child. And if your child falls behind one year, they can catch up the next. If they are ahead one year, they might slow down the following year. There’s no testing or tracking required because you only have your own children to pay attention to, and you usually know what they know. There’s no need for failure, as you aren’t concerned with one class or one grade level before they move forward, beyond the power of your assistance. Your child will still be there with you next year, and you have the power to make any adjustments needed for their success.

Learn from the best

Educational theory exists, as mentioned, to manage the educational needs of a community, as much as to help individual children succeed. Some of the brightest minds of our time question the way we are educating the future generation.

Disconnect yourself from echo-chambers of ideology. Exploring ideas outside of school systems will help you see your children as not just temporary students, but lifelong learners who can seamlessly transition into the world. This helps tremendously when you get to the teenage years, as you learn to coach your kids to self-directed goal setting and independent work.