www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
both those related to learning and to
other parts of life, always take prece-
dence over the specific subject matter
they;are;covering.;At;least,;that’s;the;way
I see it!
For;example,;if;some;of;my;goals;are
to help the children learn to love learn-ing,;to;enjoy;communication;with;oth-ers,;in;both;written;and;spoken;form,
to;have;a;“can-do”;attitude;in;difficult
subjects,;then;I;will;know;it;is;important
to pull back and re-think things if they
start;hating;to;read,;whining;whenever
they;sit;down;to;write,;or;say,;“I;can’t;do
it!”;as;soon;as;they;sit;down;in;front;of
a math book!
Of course there are some things that
are;difficult;to;accomplish,;and;we;want
our children to learn to be able to set
their own goals and work diligently to-wards;them,;but;it;is;hard;to;get;to;that
point when the materials and methods
are simply not working for them.
After;all,;isn’t;that;exactly;what;drove
some of you out of the public school?
Above;all,;don’t;be;afraid;or;feel;inad-
equate. You really are the best person to
work;with;your;own;children,;because
you love them more than anyone else
ever;will,;you;understand;them;better,
and you will be with them longer than
any other teacher.
Just;remember,;you;don’t;have;to;have
all your ducks in a row at the beginning of the school year. You don’t have
to have a work space that looks like a
public school. You don’t need to try to
do every single subject every single day!
You have the flexibility to determine
your;own;schedule,;to;try;things;out;a
little;at;a;time,;and;to;throw;away;what
isn’t working and find new materials to
replace the old. It may take a while for
you all to get comfortable in this new
setting,;but;as;long;as;you;keep;asking
yourself questions, you will gradually
find the answers.
Remember, also, to consider your
own needs as you make plans for the
rest of the family. One of the mom’s
main roles is to establish and maintain
the emotional stability of the household. You shouldn’t feel guilty for making sure your own needs are met so you
can stay sane and in control! Above
all, relax and enjoy it! Childhood is
short and you don’t have to accomplish
everything this year!
Mary Hood, Ph.D., and her husband,
Roy, homeschooled their five children
since the early 1980s. All have successfully made the transition to adulthood.
Mary has a Ph.D. in education and is
the director of ARCHERS for the Lord,
Inc. (The Association of Relaxed Christian Home Educators). She is the author
of The Relaxed Home School, The Joyful Home Schooler, and other books,
and is available for speaking engagements. Contact her via her website, www
. archersforthelord.org.
Just start from where
you;are,;set;some;goals,
and use your mother’s
instincts to know when
things are working and
when they aren’t.
