Thinking of Homeschooling?

atheist homeschool

It doesn't happen very often in the things that I read, so when it does it's worth a mention. The Washington Post actually posted a pro-homeschool article!

Thinking of Homeschooling? Me Too.

My dear friend Edith-ann shared a link with me and I was incredibly surprised to see a positive post about homeschooling, not that homeschooling doesn't deserve it. It's just that most media focuses on the negative, as media tends to to. It's refreshing as he#* to have an honest news source report some honest homeschool stats. More than postive, actually. The author of the article, Allison Barrett Carter writes With the help of the Internet, home schooling has become normalized. In fact, with all my clicking and reading, I find myself excited about it.

That's how I still feel about homeschooling: excited. 

As the parent of two teens who are successful in their lives, I love the way the homeschool lifestyle has helped them to create their own sense of identity. It's a benefit of homeschooling that makes me swoon. Self Identity.

Elizabeth and Dr. Robollo 

As it happens, Elizabeth has been dually-enrolled at the community college and has just gained enough credits to graduate from homeschooling. Last night was the party. It was such a wonderful celebration of Elizabeth's accomplishments. But more than that.

One of her college professors was here at the party telling me about what a remarkable individual Elizabeth is, strong in herself, capable, unique. This professor told me that she can tell homeschooled students because of their maturity, passion, and dedication to their projects.

And that's a nice thing to hear.

A Note to Myself at the Beginning of Homeschooling

atheist homeschool

Dear Me, Sweet, Well-Meaning Me:

You've done it. You have committed your beloved family to a lifestyle of homeschooling. Are you sure you have read EVERY SINGLE BOOK on homeschooling out there? Have you stayed up night after night reading every word on the world wide web that has ever been written by a homeschooling parent, looking for the magic bullets? Have you sweated through the Rainbow Resources book and every other homeschool material compendium out there?

OK, now forget all of it.

Your homeschool experience will not only be entirely unique, it will change dramatically over time. Many times.

Those "how to" books can be encouraging (though most are only anxiety-producing) but they can't, in reality, tell you HOW TO. Those secrets will come to you by trial and error...and success. Those paths you take will be completely road-less-traveled stuff. You will talk to everyone, read everything, buy every book. In the end, you will toss most of it out and listen to the kids, you will listen to your own intuition, and you will, finally, trust the process. 

Trust me, no one else has the answers for you. There is no right way. There are no silver bullets. No set of "musts" will help you. Somehow, through your fears and anxiety, the right things will happen. In spite of doubt and tears, your family will flourish whether you are book-heavy or free-and-easy, scheduled or unschooling. 

Living life provides.

For your first year as a homeschooling parent, that last paragraph will paralyze you at times. Sometime during your second year, you will realize that it is happening. That thing that was promised. You will be homeschooling with complete freedom and you are CAPABLE and competent. You won't need anyone to tell you what to do. You will realize that homeschooling is happening! And then you will LOVE that last paragraph.

Without sitting and learning each little phonic, your son will learn to read in his own time. Without forcing your daughter to write, she will create masterpieces. Without sweating over each practice problem and every lesson in the Saxon book, both of your children will understand math far better than you ever did. Without creating stress and tears and endless boredom, the kids will become amazingly educated people who are able to delve deeply into subjects and come up wiser and better educated than any spoon feeding ever did. No tests. No drills. No practice problems.

Which curriculum? Relax. Materials matter less than relationships and time and passion. Stuff to learn is everywhere! Great writing, nature, film, life events, community activity, travel, and all matter of experience will far surpass the benefits or shortcomings of any curriculum you will ever purchase. So spend less time polling everyone you know, incessantly reading book reviews, and organizing lesson plans. And spend more time with the kids with questions and answers and friends and debates and play and experiences and participating and downtime. 

Before you are able to blink your eyes twice, the days of potato prints, blow paint, and glitter will be over. Suddenly you will realize they are no longer interested in circle time or play dates or creating castles on the front porch and the learning posters will be replaced with grown up art on the walls.

So enjoy each day, and keep learning! 

With Utter Confidence in Me,

Homeschool Curriculum: High School

atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent 

I get alot of questions from friends and readers about what materials we use here at the house. Homeschooling parents tend to be amazing researchers and I'm sure that most of the questions come to me from parents who want the best for their kids. I'm happy to share the materials that we use with an important caveat.

I truly believe that every family homeschools differently and the materials that we have here at our home are our choices among the seeming infinite choices out there. Also, my homeschool philosophy might be a bit extreme for many homeschooling families. Although we have textbooks and lessons and assignments I lean to the unschooling side. That might seem contradictory, course books and instruction and unschooling, but I assure you that it is so.

John enjoys having structure to his lessons so I provide him with lesson plans, skill training, reading expectations, and other stuff. But what he actually accomplishes is almost never what I plan for him. The learning here is quite child/teen-led. 

But I'm happy with so many of the materials that we use here. The internet plays a tremendous role in our day. But here are the books and materials that answer the question:  What do YOU use?

• The Language of Literature, Grade 9, McDougal Littel
• Biology textbook and workbook, Grade 9, Prentiss-Hall
• Civics, Grade 9, Prentice-Hall
• Java: A Beginner's Guide, Herbert Schildt
• Physical Science: Concepts in Action, Prentice-Hall
• Missouri's Rules of the Road book
• The History of US, Joy Hakim
• Puzzle Baron's Logic Puzzles, Puzzle Baron
• Key to Algebra, Key Curriculum Press, Julie King
• Concise Guide to Writing, Axelrod and Cooper
• Introduction to the Short Story

High School

The high school years, the teen years, can be a wonderful time of growth and stretching and productivity. Don't fear it! Read the newspaper, science journals, watch the debates, follow the weather, take driver's ed classes, travel, attend lectures, visit every museum you can, read classic novels, watch stage plays, spend time on college campuses, dig into every single library available to you, create unique internships, expose your teen to unique people and ideas, research dissimilar values and ethics, watch foreign films and listen to unfamiliar music, lay hands on as many types of handiwork as possible. Use whatever resources you have available and create your own set of high school materials. 

You can do this!

Homeschool: Tricks for Improving your Day

atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool

Having one of those days?
How about a bad week?  Rough month?

Listen, I'm here to tell you it happens.
It happens to all of us. We are all human and humans have bad days. We have times when we can't live up to our own ideas about what our day should look like. We let little things add up. We simply can't get ourselves or anybody else motivated. We get into a slump. Public schools have gotten wise to this and they give teachers day-long Teacher Days and seminars and things to help them improve their approaches and attitudes every so often.

In a homeschooling family, somehow, it just feels worse because of that no-break-24/7 thing.

I know what your house looks like.

Laundry is everywhere, piles of clean, piles of dirty, piles you can't identify. Dishes are a few days behind. Nothing in the frig for dinner. Crabby kids. Crabby Mom. Tears? Shouting? And what's that smell?
It's normal and it happens in every single family.

How you act under these circumstances may very well become a lesson for your children. Should I freak out (that release might feel great and well-deserved, for a moment), take a nap (who can argue with the rest), or drive away in a huff (as I did recently)? Or should I sit down a moment, get myself together, and gather the troops?

How do we Reclaim our Zest?

When a slump happens (or a battle, or lethargy, or other challenges) it's usually because people are feeling bored or resistant. What is needed is a change of venue. A change of plan. A change of attitude. A chance to reconnect.

So let's look at some idea for how to change the way the day is going.
.

• Get everyone together, grab a water bottle, and take a walk.
  Yes, it CAN be as simple as this. Walking stimulates the body to action. Walks can happen in the neighborhood, at the park, in the zoo, at the mall, down stairs in a pinch. Hold hands if you possibly can.
  
  Taking a walk in a familiar area can make a person feel a sense of belonging. (Look how orange those leaves have gotten!  What happened to this little garden?  There is that man walking the dog we always see!) Walking someplace new can be a wonderful activity of discovery. (What is this seed pod? What a surprise to find a creek here! Where does this little path lead?)
  
  Any age, little ones or big ones like mine, can find their attitude changed on a walk. We have done this many times.  I usually bring a camera when we do this: Crazy Photo Shoot Day. Crazy Home Video Day. Nature pics.
  .
• Put some music on and dance.

  

  Dance Moves

  
  Don't laugh! It's true! Music and dance get the body moving and lifts the spirits of even the downest teenager. Open the blinds, crank up the tunes, and dance together and apart. Make sure to add in some unfamiliar music for fun. Square dancing, Romanian folk music, 40s Swing music, the Foxtrot, Medieval music.
  
  Music tames and terrible twos (and twelves) and soothes all other ages as well. We have done this one so often that the kids will do it themselves with no prompting from me. Sometimes it only takes one song to change everything!
  .
• Grab a favorite book and start reading aloud.
  The kids can be doing other things, including sulking, while your voice brings everyone together and gives focus. We have often done this one with poetry where each person reads aloud from the poetry books. But Rick Riordan works well too! Cook books, map books, large table top books, riddle books.
  
  We have often done this silly reading game:  each person has their own book of choice. Each person reads, one at a time in a circle, one sentence from their book. Sometimes the funniest things happen!
  
  Take an entire week and read. Read at the park. Read in the backyard. Read at the coffee house. Read in bed. Read under in a fort. Read comics. Read joke books. Read the newspaper. Read National Geographic. Read favorite children's books to your teens.
  .
• Put the books away and sing, draw, or play board games.
  

  

  Talking on the bed

  Anytime I am in a rut, finding a place for creativity and play always brings delight and comfort. The same for my kids.  My son John recently asked for a sketch book so that he could entertain himself while being on a long road trip.
  
  But let's not forget the creation of new things. Make up your own songs. Create a new board game. Write a skit. These activities can keep you busy and can keep the creative juices flowing all day...all week!
  .
• Get in the car and go. 
  Where? Keep it simple. Try the library. Go to the next town's park. Visiting water is always right. Creeks, ponds, streams, rivers, oceans. There is so much life in the water and the discovery never ends. Short of water destinations, animals, friends...you are limited only by your imagination. Drive around the block twenty times...or just until the giggles start. Above all else, CHANGE what you are doing.
  
• Pinterest and other online file sharing sources.
  
  

  

  Lunch with Aunt Linda

  Look for a cool craft or science experiment and do it. Watch a documentary. TEDtalks. Google Earth. News sources. Online cams. Online magazines. The options are almost endless. Internet surf together and discuss all you see! If you have a PC, you have the world at your doorstep. Read the same news story on different news sources...very interesting.
  .
• Take a blanket outside and do lessons there. 
  Yes, just this simple movement can make all of the difference in the world.  There is something about clouds overhead, freedom to run, tickling grass, and sunshine that changes everything for the better! I have pulled this little trick out of my hat numerous times. The kids know, when I grab the blanket, their eyes light up and they start smiling...and so do I.
  .
• Teen and Tween girls and baths are always nice.
  (Moms love them too...and so do boys.) A little TLC, some soothing music, a colored and yummy-smelling additive, and even the crankiest tween/teen will feel comforted, loved, and energized.  This little trick has reset my daughter quite a few times...always with lovely results. It remind both of us that what we are doing is child-focused and that my goal is to give her what she needs.
  
  Want to improve it even more? Give her a hair wash or a back wash...and a kiss on the head. A book to read.
  .
• A pot of tea, a plate of cookies, and thou.
  Call a break in the procedures and sit down together. Talk about plans, vacations, fun things. Just let the frustration slide off of you by slowing things down and taking a break. A cuppa is always a nice habit to get into anyway. Taking a few minutes to shrug the stress off, enjoy sparkly cookies, sparkling conversation, jokes and riddles, and a laugh or two.
  .
• Boys appreciate activity. 
  
  

  

  Painting

  Of course, girls too too. If possible, get them moving in any way possible. Slide down the stairs on their bottoms. Wash windows. Build a fort with cushions and sheets. Make a bowling alley with cups. Play "Mother May I."  Make an obstacle course. Create a highway for the Matchbox cars. Exercise. Add movement anytime in any way you can.  Can you say "tickle fight?" How about "Pillow fight!" Wash the car. Chalk lessons on the sidewalk. Jump rope with songs. Fitness trail Trivia Quiz. Garden. Look for insects. Help an elderly neighbor with chores. Your imagination is the limit.
  .
• Teens need contact with friends.
  Alot of contact with friends. Arrange visits with friends frequently. Allow your kids to IM, FB, and other social media sites. It is essential for them. Hand them your calendar and have them fill up a day or two with plans with their friends. Spend some time planning an event...maybe just a celebration dinner! Send out an SOS and an invite to other friends and family--and warm up the calendar with plans.
  .
• Invite someone over. 
  
  

  

  Visiting friends

  Even a visit from the neighbor can break up the rut of a day. In fact, as a kid, I remember going over to "help" neighbors with chores. But, even better, get on the phone and plan several play dates and fun events. Get the kids around the phone and get excited! Some other mother might be overjoyed to do a "kid swap" every so often. Because, remember, everyone has days like this...
  .
• Veg.
  Take the day off. Heck, take the week off. No one is watching. No one is grading you. No one is judging you. No one is comparing you to anyone else. (If they are, Ignore them!) Pop some popcorn, grab the coziest blanket, and watch a movie, TV, documentary, cartoons, or, in our case, Korean dramas for Elizabeth, Scrubs for John. Sometimes we all need to veg.
  
  Every single person on earth has days...several days sometimes...when they need to just VEG. If either Mom or child needs to take a break, remember, loving is far more important than lessons. Don't worry about comparisons, judgments, or mess. Somehow, you will find the vegging becomes quite productive when it leads to a happier day!  And...
  .
• Control/ALT/Delete  Everyone jump back into bed and start over!
  .

Time Out

Didn't Work...

If none of these things work, maybe things are more serious and Mom needs more. If it's a bad day for Momma, getting away, getting rest, getting support is essential. Even if it's just getting a breather in your room with the door closed. The kids will learn that moms need time on their own to reflect, to rest, to regain composure, to read a book, and yes, just to breathe. When I need it, the kids know they can find me in my room reading...

Taking care of MOM is essential. This is for homeschooling families or any family. If Mom is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or ill she needs some additional help. Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends and families. Nearly every homeschooling parent I know would be more than happy to lend me a hand if I needed to take a break. I hope you have that resource as well. If that's not enough, please seek help. No shame, no judging, just acceptance and strength. Because that is what it truly is: it is strength to know when to ask for help. Homeschool or not.

This is a piece I borrowed from a couple of years ago

and rewrote and added new pics.
It all still applies.

Top 10 Homeschool Parent Pet Peeves

homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist 

I'm definitely the Homeschool Supporter. I'm the person who is very vocal and willing to shout my bias for homeschooling from the rooftops but there are a few things that, in my opinion, are tremendous growth areas. I've been a homeschooling parent for over twelve years now and I know many homeschooling families internationally so I have a unique perspective on the homeschool environment. If you are a homeschooling parent I welcome your comments below, including your additions to this list.

1. Socialization
   That's right. I said it.
   If I never hear this question again it will be too soon. Not to say that I don't take the question seriously; I have written about socialization here on this blog about two dozen times. I shall summarize by saying that every single homeschooling parent that I know takes this issue seriously. We have found that socialization and socializing are different for homeschoolers. Not inferior, different. We are far more deliberate in our friendship-making because our children don't sit in a classroom with thirty or more students of the same age five days a week. We make every effort to locate and help nurture connection. Our efforts would surprise you.
   
   Also, I find it necessary to mention the fact that socialization is a very serious issue for public school kids. I wrote an entire blog post about it but I will spare you that. Go to Google and type in Bullying and Public School. Go ahead. I'll wait.
   .
2. Gifted or Spectrum
   It is often assumed that a homeschool child is either brilliant, on the autism spectrum, or both. We've gotten used to it, the general populace trying to figure out exactly how to characterize homeschoolers. I appreciate the efforts of the general citizenry trying to identify popular themes in the homeschooling community, however inaccurate that effort is.
   
   It is true that many homeschooled children are quite accomplished, many are on the autism spectrum, and many identify with both labels.
   However, most homeschool kids are your average kid.
   So, yes, they are brilliant.
   .
3. Go to School
   
   Any parent of a child in any school of any ilk can report problems with the school, the teacher, the curriculum, the school district, their child's behavior, bullying, etc and we listen and understand their struggles. Unless someone specifically asks, I never ask Is this a good time to consider homeschooling?.
   Any homeschool parent who complains about any issues they are having will invariably hear the question, Is this a good time to consider sending them to school? unless, that is, if the homeschooling parent is talking to another homeschooling parent. Then we just offer support.
   .
4. The Pop Quiz
   Every single one of us can report a time when we are in public or at a family gathering and someone decides to give our kids a little pop quiz.
   How much change should I give you? How do we factor integers? Where is Estonia? What does ignominious mean?
   
   We have been pop quizzed in restaurants, grocery stores, the homes of family members, the mall... Is this a homeschool thing? Do people quiz public schoolers?
   .
5. Homeschoolers are Religious: NO SCIENCE MATERIAL
   Do you know what? This is true. I don't know the percentages of homeschoolers who are Christian vs. secular vs. atheist, but from the amount of secular curriculum and materials out there I would assume the ratio is quite high. I know this because it is impossible, sad, frustrating, annoying and wrong that homeschool families cannot locate secular science materials. All secular materials are sorely underrepresented in materials available to the homeschool community.
   .
6. We are Targeted
   Because homeschooling has gained such momentum, publishers are finally putting out far more materials than ever in the past. And that's nice. But in reality we are being targeted with lower-cost, poorly-written materials as well as tons of materials published just to make a buck.
   .
7. Expensive Curriculum
   
   And speaking of curriculum, so many people feel pressured by their insecurities and good intentions. Unnecessarily expensive curriculum is offered to parents who feel overwhelmed by the flood of materials, who assume that cost equals quality, or who are bewildered by the recent deluge of materials now on the market.
   
   While there is great stuff out there, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what to use and what to spend, especially in the first few years of homeschooling.
   .
8. Secular Homeschoolers, Atheist Homeschoolers
   The vast majority of homeschool families are Christian families, Christian families who have also been overtly defamed by the Duggars and other families in the news who make homeschoolers look like a circus full of clowns or like a group of abusers.
   
   Secular homeschoolers are so in the minority in some places that families living in some parts of the south or in some highly rural areas cannot find like-minded friends. In fact, some secular families are openly smeared and ostracized. I know several families who are hiding the fact that they are atheists or secular homeschoolers simply because their Christian community will not handle that reality well.
   .
9. Homeschool Stereotypes
   It's normal, I know. It's easier to simplify things than to truly understand. But stereotypes are always wrong. So much of the criticism leveled at homeschoolers is so inaccurate, yet naysayers can be incredibly vocal. We are often called names like weird, odd, and forlorn. Living outside of the box is an honest expectation for families who choose this lifestyle.  Homeschooling parents learn to cheer lead whenever the need arises.
   .
10. Homeschool Pet Peeves
    The very exercise of mentioning pet peeves or criticism of homeschooling feels like a total betrayal of homeschooling in general. My sincere efforts toward honesty require that I mention that I am far more likely to defend than criticize homeschooling. And that's normal.

One of my favorite
hidden atheist homeschoolers.

Families that have chosen the lifestyle of homeschooling have many and varied reasons for making this decision. Personally I've seen the village and I don't want it raising my children. Also I am convinced that my children are better educated, better prepared for life, and much happier than I think I was after eighteen years in the public school system; of course that was way back in the day.
I think that they are better educated, better prepared for life, and much happier than some of the kids who are struggling to get schooled under the common core. Homeschool and public school kids are all unique and being schooled in their chosen way. Let's just support each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
Maybe Homeschool is to Blame

OY!!! The NEA Has No Respect for Me

A Very Damaging List Against Homeschooling

Putting the Children First: Karen Loethen's Thoughts

Homeschool: SPLURGE!

atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist 

So many of the homeschoolers that I know are people who are counting pennies and living frugally. I also know people who are able to put out the jack for amazingly expensive trips and gadgets for their brood. I sit somewhere in the middle there.

Most families never really sit and talk brass tacks with their kids when it comes to money, but why not? Budgeting is a wonderful, ongoing homeschool lesson. How to spend the money we have, how to use the resources available to us. Here are some other idea that so many of us are working hard to balance and weigh how to spend finite cash. 

When homeschooling, families are sitting at the budgeting table, it can be difficult to figure out what needs to be in the cross hairs when cash is running low. This post is simply my thoughts on what is essential to this homeschooling family and what we found to be unnecessary splurge bait. I think it's totally possible, acceptable, and adequate to actually spend nothing on homeschooling. Somebody else might have a completely different list of splurge bait.


The public library is still a viable source of materials for a complete education. It is completely possible to educate yourself thoroughly through books from the library.

But if you do have some cash to spend, here is my list of essential purchases for a homeschool family:

• World Travel
• Horses
• A Fabulous Computer System
• A Smart Phone
• A 3D Printer
• Membership to all of the Best Clubs

OK, not really. My actual list for essential splurges for OUR family has been:

• Computer and printer
• We LOVED edhelper.com back in the day but I'm sure there are better membership websites for homeschoolers. I hope you will post your links below.
• Netflix! Though youtube.com is amazing and free.
• A car
• Co-op Fees, Camp Fees, Gymnastics Classes, Wall Climbing lessons, Korean Lessons, Community Theater fees, and the like.
• A Trampoline, a Decent Bicycle, Play and Exercise Equipment
• An Amazing Topographical Map that I bought from an auction held by a school district
• We have also splurged on several online courses from Coursera and The Great Courses
  

Of course I have spent cash money on books; I've spent many, many, many dollars on books. Most of it unwisely and unnecessarily. Probably most of us do this. Almost every homeschooling family I have ever known has a fabulous, fabulous library. Many of us have shelves and shelves of books that are amazing to have, but not particularly essential.

If I had it to do all over again, honestly, I'd skip the amazing personal library. So many dollars spent on books that were never used by the kids, however awesome I thought they were.

I'd love to talk about curriculum because I know that this is important to so many readers. But I've never felt it essential to own this type of material. I've seen many books and book sets from many publishers but I simply can't speak knowledgeably about them, sorry. In fact, stopped keeping up with every new set of materials coming out.

My own decision was to spend dollars on math and science books as well as on grammar and writing textbooks. We've used the library for literature, science, history, current events, music and art, and almost every single other thing. Seldom do I purchase workbooks, but I have bought science lab workbooks from time to time. 

Why Frugal is Possible

The internet is such a treasure trove of materials, I don't even know where to begin there. More and more websites are available for homeschoolers, students, and teachers; over the years I have become overwhelmed with the numerous free and low cost sites. Also I have made about a thousand worksheets and other materials on my own by using our decent printer and a word processing program. And homeschoolers are well-known for sharing resource materials, supplies, repurposing resources, and passing along used books. And don't forget the yard sales!

 

Our homeschooling ended several years ago, 

so your frugal/free ideas would be appreciated! 

Please share them in the comments.

Bottom line: homeschooling frugally is very possible. Figure out your own essentials based on your own family and ability. I'm a huge believer in passing along my books and extra materials to homeschoolers coming up behind me. Share the love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You Might Also Enjoy:
Stressing Over Homeschool Materials...NOT!
Homeschooling on a Single Income
You Must be so Patient

YOU are Your Best Gizmo

homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool

YOU, yes you.
In the homeschool game, HECK, in life, we find so many gadgets and gimmicks on the market to make things better, faster, quicker. It behooves each of us to be critical thinkers in the marketplace because they know that we are nervous. They know that we want to do better. They know that we are desperate for the magic bullet.

I'm here to tell you the absolute truth, the secret that you have been looking for, the ultimate brass tacks. 
YOU are the best tool at your disposal.

Your curiosity, your passion, the light of your knowledge, your enthusiasm, your questioning, your leadership, your imagination, your thirst. No book, video, website, or gizmo on the market can even come close to comparing to what you have to offer this world, to what you offer to your children. You are actually the best thing in the world that you offer them.

Yes, professional teachers have learned crowd control, education theory, classroom management, teaching strategies, mechanics of teaching. These people learn ALOT! But the best among them are the teachers who bring their own sparkle, their own curiosity, their enthusiasm, their passion. Think about your favorite teachers of all time. Aren't they the ones with a sparkle in their eye? With a yes attitude? Wasn't your favorite teacher the one person who showed you personal attention, who believed in you, who encouraged you to be a better you, who showed you how to learn the material?

It was not the teacher with the best textbook or the best classroom or the best up-to-the-minute materials. It was the person who looked you in the eye and cared. I believe I remembered this truism after a conversation with my sister Linda...not too long ago...

YES

Yes of course, learn how to teach writing skills. Learn what type of approach works best for your child or children. Learn better methods for teaching math stuff. Learn more about scientific principles and such. But don't bother to figure out the best way to lecture, to create workbooks and paperwork, to organize projects, to create quizzes and tests, or to test materials because these things are absolutely unnecessary. Because it won't be your lecture skills that draw your kids in. It will be YOU, your excitement and your sparkle.

Who cares what grade level your child is working at? Your children are working at their level. A secret: all children are working at their levels! Who cares what score they get on their math quiz? They either understand or they do not understand the material. Very few homeschooling parents or kids need a quiz to know that information. (Though I understand the level tests when figuring out where to start in a book!)

YOU can do this. Sweet, well-meaning, researching, capable YOU.
Sure, the learning curve can be steep at times, but the kids will see your efforts and know that no one is born knowing everything, that everything we do or become is a result of the passion and effort that we bring to the project.

Trust me.
Trust YOU.
You've got this.

Agree or Disagree?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You might also enjoy:
Stressing Over Homeschool Curriculum...NOT!
Do You Need a Homeschool Strategy? 
How to Homeschool
Top Ten Habits of a Happy Homeschool Mom
Thirteen Things I Wish I Would Have Known About Homeshooling When I got Started

Stressing Over Homeschool Curriculum....NOT!

atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent 

Have you ever heard the old joke about how, if you go to a fight a hockey game will erupt? Go to any homeschool event and sit with one or more homeschooling parents and a conversation about curriculum will erupt. The tiresome, never ending, fretting conversation about curriculum. Have those parents be secular and the conversation is almost always about secular science curriculum. Even harder: atheist homeschool science.

I have stayed out of those conversations for almost a decade now.

I don't want to know what you are using and I don't want to explain why I am using what I am using as compared to what I have not selected to use. I don't want to know about the newest, shiny gimmick. I don't want to hear about the most recent apps.

My conversations about what materials we use happen with my son only; absolutely no one else gets input. When determining materials John and I consider four things: John's learning styles, my teaching style, our ability to afford the materials, and what we want to cover.

I have absolutely no need to look at every new gimmick that comes out onto the market. With the number of homeschooling families growing so quickly the amount of available materials has also grown at a phenomenal rate over the years we have homeschooled in this family. So many of my beloved friends who homeschool have kept up with so many of the newest materials being revealed each year. I have watched families change curriculum choices again and again and again.

I know! I get it! You want to do your absolute best.

If I may be so bold, my best advice to you when you hear the ravings about the wondrous results a family is getting from their curriculum:  IGNORE THEM. Be happy for them, congratulate them, and move along. There is absolutely no need for competition, nothing works for everyone, and just relax. Once you have selected your homeschool materials, close that door, put your head down, and get to it. 

Nothing brings more stress to homeschooling moms and dads than those fears that they are missing something magical, special, 

new and improved, or perfect. But you are missing nothing. Every single homeschooling family is unique and all of those choices are unique as well. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other posts you might enjoy:

Thinking About Homeschooling? Here is the Info You are Looking For

Secular Homeschooling Materials

Do You Need a Homeschool Strategy?

How do you Know What to Teach?

Curriculum for our Atheist Homeschool
Parents Need to Deschool Too: Part One

Homeschool: College Prep, Note Taking

atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool 

With my kids in and nearing college it occurs to me that I haven't written much about specific ways that I have worked to prepare the kids for college. Having been to college ourselves, my husband and I have spent over 12 years between us in college, we have thought about essential skills for success in college. Let's talk about note taking.

We didn't start learning about writing lecture notes in the kids' teen years, we started this in the so-called elementary years so that it would become second nature for them. We started out by learning about outlining. I created simple outlines and then lectured to them from that outline so that they could see that most talks are organized in outline fashion for the speaker and that the listener, if they can recreate that outline, can use that lecture framework to recall all of the important information from the lecture. No need to record long sentences spoken by the lecturer, only the need to figure out important key words to represent the main ideas.

We then moved on to viewing lectures together (some in real life and some online). Each of us would write our own notes for the lecture and then we would compare our notes and talk about what we wrote and why, again with the reminder that we were attempting to recreate the lecturer's outline notes, always improving our listening skills. Being able to remain an active listener while creating the note document is a learned skill.

Another type of note taking is a regular part of our lessons as well. Each week we do biographies on lesson days. Each lesson day we do three biographies: an ancient, a middle age, and a contemporary person. These biographies create a different type of note taking practice. Each entry into our notes would include identifying information (name, dates, location), accomplishments or important life events, impressions, and connections with others.

Why to We Take Notes

Knowing the purpose of note taking helps the process. Understanding that note are being written down to aid in recall, to jog your memory, to reinforce the learning helped the kids to be more effective note takers. So many students write notes without understanding what they are doing or why they are doing it. We spend time talking, still, about the process of note taking, it's challenges and it's purposes. Note taking is a truly challenging process because the listener is trying to actively listen and participate as well as to create a written document of the lecture at the same time. Concentration is stretched to its limits!

We also talk about understanding the purpose of preparing for the process of taking notes. Reading or preparing for the lecture, preparing the paper for notes, getting into a listening place, figuring out how the notes from before this lecture fit in the grand scheme of the material, figuring out what to write and how to continue to pay attention, identifying key points of the lecture, documenting examples/charts/graphs, reviewing notes, keep a log of vocabulary/important figures/major events...all of these skills can be learned and improved upon with time. More effective note taking strategies are a regular part of our lessons.

When I was in school all notes were written in notebooks with, GASP, ink pens. Today's students have the added bonus of being able to organize their notes on their PCs and laptops, cool note taking apps, spell check, format to create outlines, highlighting, locating references, sub documents, synthesizing notes, sharing information, etc. 

I've read research that suggests that handwriting notes improve recall over typing notes on a laptop, but I'm sure your kids will have their own preferences...mine sure do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

My College-Aged Homeschooled Dau

ghter Gives Advice to Homeschooling Parents

OY!!! The NEA Has No Respect for Me

Global Climate Change is a Hoax

Thinking About Homeschooling? Here's the Info You're Looking For

atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschooling atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist homeschool atheist 

This blog post is for parents who are considering whether or not to homeschool their kids. I created this series of posts just for you.

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 1 of 5

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 2 of 5: Your Homeschool Fears
Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 3 of 5: Benefits of Homeschooling

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 4 of 5: Negatives of Homeschooling

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 5 of 5: SOCIALIZATION

The Case Against Homeschooling
A Case Against Homeschooling, Really
In Retrospect

How Do I Homeschool?

Reasons Why You Should Not Homeschool
Thirteen Things I Wish I Would have Known about Homeschool When I Got Started

Putting the Children First: Karen Loethen's Thoughts

If you take the time to read through a few of these posts I do hope you leave a comment or two to let me know if they have been helpful.  Thanks.

Not Exactly Down Time

homeschool unschooling

Okay, two things.

I've been feeling quite the need to rest with my new cardiac arrhythmias to figure out and we've had guests in town for the past week. The heart stuff is well-tended after by my GP and by my cardiologist and I'm feeling quite comforted by the results of the many, many, many tests that we have run these two weeks or so. No need to worry, Dear Friends.

For this variety of reasons, no proper lessons have happened under this roof for about ten days.

HOWEVER, I want to tell you about some of the things that John and I have been doing together that has been so interesting and fun. We are doing three things. The first one is sharing favorite videos with each other. Really spending time in each other's online worlds and with each other's favorite things.

I recommend this. It is delightful, informing, and so interesting knowing exactly what is going in to the ears and head of my kid! He watches some pretty excellent Youtubers!

Friend's Visit

Second, John John and I have been watching Crash Course World History by John Green together. When we do this we watch each episode twice:  once for the entertainment value (which is considerable) and once to take notes and to really hear everything that goes by so quickly in John Green's inimitable reparte. We then Wiki everything we don't know, research the people, places, and events mentioned, and follow our own interests until they run out. It has been fascinating!

And third, we have watched several episodes of Penn and Teller's Bullshit.  Unless Penn's irreverence really offends you, these shows can be phenomenal.  Truly.  Today we watched an episode on gaming, season six, I think, that was great. We both felt truly informed after the show. We also enjoyed the episode on Wal-Mart.

Our very beloved friends from Pennsylvania have returned home, alas, and we are missing them already. But a return to our "usual" best friends is very welcome as we have been missing them too.

And I have put out this new episode of "The Secular Parents" entitled Deconversion Stories.  

Leave comments on you tube if you watch it....

 

It can feel quite alarming when you are unable to stick with lessons for one reason or another, but I've been reminding myself not to worry, living life is lesson!

And we humans are truly able to learn all of our lives! As homeschooling parents, as parents of a child participating in any form of education, what we truly want for our children is to catch the bug. We want them to WANT TO KNOW MORE. We want them to continue life long learning. And that's why I'm so confident that our not-exactly-down-time is not really down time...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may also like these posts:
Do You Need a Homeschool Strategy?
Dear Me: Being the Mom
Unschooling:  Our Fall-Back Mode
Natural Learning
How to Homeschool

What are Homeschool Kids Like?