This is one of my favorite parts of my day - picking Ksenya up from school. I'll be so thankful when I don't have to send her off anymore. Yes, we've finally committed to the decision to home school starting in June. It's the right thing for our family and I'm praying that I'll be given the strength, patience and insight to make it a wonderful experience for all of the kids!
This is Ksenya moving a garbage can out of the alley.
This is the look on her face when I say, "race you home!" and then drive off :)
This is one of my favorite parts of my day - picking Ksenya up from school. I'll be so thankful when I don't have to send her off anymore. Yes, we've finally committed to the decision to home school starting in June. It's the right thing for our family and I'm praying that I'll be given the strength, patience and insight to make it a wonderful experience for all of the kids!
This is Ksenya moving a garbage can out of the alley.
This is the look on her face when I say, "race you home!" and then drive off :)
3 comments:
Cabe would be starting K in the fall anyway, right? I know how much you have missed having your little girl around this year, so good luck with your decision. If ayone has the patience and skill to be successful at this endeavor its you.
I am utterly thrilled to hear you're going to homeschool!!!! You are in for an amazing and totally worth it adventure!!!
Homeschooling is definitely a joy--it brought us closer together as a family because we created our own schedule and had lots of family time. Others were always concerned about the 'social' the kids were 'missing.' I say: If kids can learn to get along and be friends with their siblings then they can literally get along with anyone! And it's great to see them as best buddies with each other. We had plenty of social anyways--we found ourselves spending a little longer doing errands around town because we were taking the time to interact with the people at the post office or tell stories with the grocer or people at the park. My kids learned that friends come in all ages and sizes and learned how to interact as community members instead of just with peers. (Peter insists to this day of talking to almost everyone we pass in town--even the sort I might be fearful of want to avoid, he will approach them and instantly strike up a conversation and be best friends...I love that about him, for he sees their heart...they will be taken aback at first and then thoroughly enjoy this inquisitive boy who isn't afraid to ask all kinds of questions! What an example of love and acceptance, this little boy of mine!)
People also wondered if they would get a good education. Let's see, when Em finally decided to try school, she was reading three levels above her grade, Liz is at a 5th grade math level in 3rd...I don't think they lacked anything. But it wasn't cuz I was the greatest teacher--I taught them how to seek knowledge (library resources, internet) was an example to them of enjoying education, and then let their intrinsic thirsts take over. I wasn't their teacher, I was their facilitator--they taught themselves. Instead of sitting down and having 'school', learning was incorporated into everything we did each day--a lifetime habit of learning.
For now our kiddos have chosen to try out school for a while, but each year I ask them what their choice is--school or home--and we roll with it. The only thing I insist on is that whatever their choice is, they STICK WITH IT for the whole year--no renigging half way through so they can learn to commit! We'll see where next year takes us.
Three of my favorite homeschooling techniques are:Charlotte Mason's teachings from back in the 1800s (called gentle learning, which is incorporating learning in every activity); Five in a row (taking a subject or storybook and REALLY digging into it--cook the meals, do the art, investigate the setting, etc--FUN!); and an approach called Unschooling--my favorite approach, instead of sit-down "school" it's more of a life of adventures with our kiddos!
Okay, this post was a book!!! Obviously I am an absolute fan of homeschooling mommas! I admire your adventurous, courageous, devoted, homeschooling self! Go Toni! I strongly feel that nothing speaks of love to our children more than devoting ourselves to them and centering our lives around their nurturance and care. You are giving the best gift you can to your children--the gift of yourself and your time--it will be remembered for the rest of their lives, way beyond any toy or birthday party you would give. Congrats on your decision!
I love you and Ty immensely, Amb (the long post writer!)
I love that you are homeschooling and am proud of you! However my most favorite part about this post is that you "raced" and drove off!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA I love it, you naughty mommy. :)
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