So, young grasshopper – what have you learned?
Hello, everybody out there in TV Land!
Long time no blog, I know. We went full-gear into homeschooling and while there were definite rough patches, I think it’s going well. Things I’ve learned in the last couple of months:
- When you start, everyone asks “what’s are you going to do?” Well, it’s pretty much like it sounds. I’m going to teach. him. at. home. The next comment is usually, “Gosh, I could never do that.” On good days, I just smile and let it go. On bad days, I want to say: Really? Seriously? You couldn’t handle kindergarten?
- I don’t trust the County for review. Nothing against the actual reviewers, you understand – I hear there’s plenty of very nice, non-invasive and encouraging staffers out there – but there’s also enough of the Overstepping Legal Bounds variety to set off this sort of brouhaha – and by “enough” I mean “any number greater than zero”. This is why I signed up with an umbrella group. Speaking of umbrella groups, mine is lovely. Knowledgeable, supportive, friendly, inclusive, non-judgemental – all that good stuff.
- When removing a child from a schooling environment where they have not had a successful experience, both of you need to step back and take a breath. We definitely had days when my “OMG am I teaching him enough??” neuroses got the better of me, and The Boy (not surprisingly) stonewalled. Just like in school. Which is why we took him out in the first place. The difference: I caught on. They never did.
- By set out bite-sized bits of learning everywhere, I’m comfortable knowing some of it’s gonna get eaten. He’s naturally curious kid – which is part of what drove his teacher crazy – but he tries everything. I think it’s more important he retains his natural curiosity intact than learn how to line up properly with everyone else.
At my annual review, the reviewer told me, “Everything counts for everything.” Which is not to say it’s unschooling: it’s everything schooling.