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Actually Write About Homeschooling?

Posted on Jan. 16, 2006 at 6:05 AM

Now that I have a homestead blog to write about the house, the animals, the fruit trees and the garden, I am trying to decide exactly what I want to do with this blog. The address alone should make it quite obvious but so far I am not sure I have actually written about Homeschooling … other than about waiting on books to arrive by UPS.

My views on homeschooling do not seem to be the popular ones whether in a real life situation or on message boards. I am of the “better late than early” camp. Whew, there it is … I have written it for all the world to see! lol I do not believe in this philosophy of teaching because of laziness but because I feel it is in the best interest of children … at least my children.

I have seen so many children burnt out on “school”. Both public schooled and homeschooled children. I find it so sad to hear or see the sigh, dislike or hate of learning in children. When a child has started their formal academic learning at the tender age of 3 or 4 it seems that by about age 13 they are tired. Many seem to make it through grade school okay but at the junior high level, when learning should be exciting and new, they cannot muster up anything but a sad attempt at doing what they have to. No extra spark for learning more about the subjects given to them … just enough energy and interest to get the needed work done so they will not fail.

I have attempted and succeeded in putting a fire in my children, they love to learn. At 14 and almost 16 I love to see their desire to know more about the subjects that come their way. I know that there is no use denying the fact that some children are much more academically inclined than others, it would be silly to deny it. Some children, and adults, soak up books, articles, internet research … they could live at the library - provided it was a good library filled with good books! But … can you start a sentence with but? :) … I believe that any child can learn to love learning.

Reading - the most important tool needed for the one who loves to learn. Teach it when the children are young or wait until they are older? Why not teach reading in the preschool years? Why not give my children the gift of learning at a very young age? I believe that what is a wonderful gift to one who is ready can be a heavy burden to one who is not. Reading a burden? No way! Yes, I believe that giving the ability to read things that one cannot understand is a burden. I did not want my small children to be able to read the billboards in our rather liberal city or the fronts of the icky magazines in the grocery store, the pictures on both are bad enough. I also wanted our children to develop their imaginations, not copy what they had read. I guess my dislike for most children’s books written in the last 40 years or so also helped me to want to protect their minds! I do not want my children reading the accounts of silly stuff that teaches you nothing. Most modern children’s books include way too much foolish behavior on the part of the main characters. I much prefer old reprints full of character and valuable lessons and books that teach about something “real”. Those types of books take a little more maturity to understand.

When both of my older children were still very little a good friend recommended I read some books written by Raymond and Dorothy Moore. If I remember correctly they are the ones who made the phrase “better late than early” well known. I found, and still find, it very interesting that children who start their formal learning later in life catch up very quickly to their peers. Most learning with ease, what it took others many years of struggle to grasp.

I once read that most of what a child learns up to or through (I am not sure which it was) the third grade they would learn at home anyway in an informal setting. Colors, numbers, days of the week, simple math, telling time, all these things and many more have been learned in our home without a schedule, calendar or list to tell me which day to teach it on. My children’s curiosity is way to big to be kept down! lol

I do not deny that very young children can learn a great number of things. They can learn to read well, do higher math, write, play instruments among other achievements. Do I think it is best for them to do so … no, at least not in this house. I believe that character and responsibilities (chores) are best taught first with a health dose of play and the informal teaching of a variety of things.

I feel my older children are finally at an age where I can say “Hey! If you are interested, here is what we did and it worked!!”. For years I felt I was in a constant state of learning and tweaking how I/we did things. Sometimes questioning and wondering if the choices I made years ago were good ones. What would be the fruit from those choices? Would I regret my decisions? Well, here I am years down the road and do I regret those decisions? No. I am sooooo glad I made them! And, since I have a seven year old and a five year old … I am making those same decisions once again. :)

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Posted by KayinPA on Jan. 16, 2006 at 7:43 AM - Link

I agree with you! It does depend on the child! My oldest thrives on "schoolwork" she loves workbooks, books etc, but not my 2nd...she loves to DO..to help mommy clean, laundry..she is one I know would burn out if I pushed her early. She loves the idea of school, but when it comes down to doing it..so I dont push. It is definitely better to let them start later than to burn them out early!

AMEN!!

Posted by Anonymous on Jan. 16, 2006 at 10:37 AM - Link

What a great post! I was beginning to question myself about our better-late-than-early decision so I started reading the book, Christian Unschooling, for encouragement. I'm really enjoying it as I have all the other books that encourage me to wait for maturity (the Moores, Joyce Herzog, Vicki Goodchild, etc), to build a love for learning vs filling them with facts. Thanks for more encouragement!!

I goofed!

Posted by Mama2Many on Jan. 16, 2006 at 10:40 AM - Link

I somehow wasn't logged in when I posted the comments above! Sorry 'bout that.

You Are Not Alone!!!

Posted by momatpeace on Jan. 17, 2006 at 6:28 AM - Link

Ü

I too am a "better late than early" home educator.

I discovered this the hard way. I did read the Moore's book... and I'd read the Pearl's material that spoke about waiting -- especially with boys. Then I started my dd at age 5 in Kindergarten. Why???? Oh peer pressure probably. She wanted to start... but since I'd never schooled anyone before... I didn't have concrete reasons to tell her why she really didn't want to start. ha ha ha... I ended up "flunking" her in the 2nd grade at church, and slowing down at home. So she is older than the rest of her S.S. pals... but I like it that way! And in the 4th grade -- she is doing great with her reading and flying through her math. Probably wouldn't be doing that with 5th grade material.

My 6yo is now in kindergarten and I'm really loving that. No pressure!!! The law in Iowa says we don't have to test until age 7... so that makes it a little easier to be slow here.

No preschool here... but my 2 year old can count to 10. How? I didn't teach her, and my 4 year old knows his shapes and colors. Funny thing... I found that out at the doctor's office. He said, 'OK -- do you know your colors?" 4yo said, "No". Then dr. started asking him "What color is this?" He knew them all...even orange and purple. WOW -- it is amazing what they learn when they are not "learning"!

So we do not do formal sit down school here until the age of 6 -- only because we have to turn in a form that says we will do 148 days of school. So we are going through 100 EZ lessons with 6 year old and that's it.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK... and know that you were an encouragement to me today!

THANK YOU FRIEND!!! May God bless you on your home school journey -- and with your home school blog!

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Posted by DandelionSeeds on Jan. 17, 2006 at 8:30 PM - Link

Thanks for sharing this wonderful post... I'm still learning about homeschooling and finding that life is school and trying not to forget that the only schedule I need to follow, is the Lord's.

Blessings,
Amy

Hey, you're not alone...

Posted by HomeGrownKids on Jan. 18, 2006 at 10:24 PM - Link

I'm one of those too!!!! And like you, not bcz of laziness but 'for the childrens sake'. I enjoyed reading your blog today and will visit again. :-)

Warmly,
Susan <><

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Posted by mrsadept on Feb. 6, 2006 at 8:46 PM - Link

I enjoyed your entry too. I have both bright and delayed children and wow - teaching style changes dramatically for each child.

I am sorry to say that I tortured my 10 year old by "trying" to get him to read before he was ready. We have been doing phonics with him since he was about 5 and it's only now that he's getting it.

I wished I had done better late than early with him. I feel so bad for him and that I am a bad mum because I was pushing him to do something that he wasn't ready for.

I felt internal pressure to teach him.

Spose the good thing in it now is that when we have more children if they need extra time - I will truly give it to them.

Deborah