Have you noticed how hard it is to teach something you do not really know yourself? Many of us struggle with time management ourselves, so how can we hope to teach our children to “do as we say, not as we do?” The good news is, we can learn along with them!
Perhaps you are familiar with the book Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham.
If you need a refresher, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch is the story of an early American merchant who spends quite a bit of his time at sea. As Bowditch sails around the world selling his wares, he teaches himself various languages. He begins with Latin. After Latin, he teaches himself Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
How does he do it?
One of the benefits of using the classical model of education in the Foundations program is that it is the most efficient way to educate. That is because we are following the nature of a child: the model that follows God’s design.
I am part of a couple of Facebook groups for Classical Conversations families where we share many good ideas, but there are also frustrations vented by those beginning their homeschool journey. I have seen everything from parents saying they were giving it x-number of weeks and then putting their children in public school, to moms of 4-year-olds frustrated that their children won’t sit still for three hours to do memory work for Foundations. Take a deep breath, parents. It will not always go according to plan, but I can assure you, it is all worth it…if you keep pressing on!
Here is some advice from me, a mom who has been there. Please take it cum grano salis—with a grain of salt—and remember that every child and family is a little different. What worked for us can be tweaked to fit your family’s unique needs.
The new school year brings many new things. Among these are new families and new students who have joined Classical Conversations communities around the world. For many of these new families, homeschooling moms and dads are experiencing new emotions: fear, excitement, being overwhelmed, or perhaps feeling under-appreciated. The truth is you are not alone. Many of us (homeschooling fathers like me, homeschooling mothers, veteran homeschoolers, newbie homeschoolers, and tutors) experience these emotions at one time or another. For many of us, they drive us to fall back on one singular tactic: imitation.
Whether you are just considering homeschooling or have been homeschooling for several years, wondering whether you will mess up your child has likely crossed your mind at some point. It’s a reasonable concern. Assuming the responsibility for your child’s education is undoubtedly overwhelming, with worries that your mistakes might damage your child’s development. But despite the stress that comes with taking on this responsibility, there are upsides to it as well. Leah Bromen, a homeschool mom, offers some encouragement for those with these and similar worries.
As my daughter approaches the transition from Foundations/Essentials to Challenge A, I often find myself reflecting on the time we spent together throughout her younger years. Like every parent, I smile remembering the things we did well, but also have a few things I know we could have done better. My goal is not to throw a pity party, but rather to inspire you to try the things in your homeschool that I didn’t do with her.
Homeschoolers are a unique breed, there’s no doubt. We look like everyone else, and we look like no one else. In many ways, the homeschool family already has it all… we have each other. Nevertheless, we still enjoy Christmas and gift-giving as much as or more than everyone else. Particularly when we know the reason for the season.
For all the homeschoolers out there, here is a suggested Christmas Wish List with retail prices and outlets. Most of these are intended to be humorous, so don’t take them too seriously.
It’s December, which means nearly everyone is counting down the days until Christmas. Have you finished Christmas shopping for your favorite homeschool student or mom? How about a grandparent? Are you looking for a unique gift for someone who isn’t involved in Classical Conversations or even homeschooling? Well, here is a Christmas list of a dozen gift ideas you probably haven’t thought of.
Does your student have a subject they frequently claim they dislike drilling because it is “boring?” We’ve created some fun subject-specific memory activities to play that can spice up your school day!
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