Revelations from our first year of homeschooling:
my kids CAN sleep past 8 am (and it is awesome)
there is no sub list for when I'm sick
math is not meaningful or fun, it is just math
I hate math
asking a 6th grader to find the verb in a sentence is like asking him to find a very tiny needle in a very large haystack
our $3 inflatable globe (aka, the redneck globe) has served us well
I love History
our area has the greatest group of homeschool families
if we did all of the social/educational opportunities for homeschoolers, we would never be home
field trips (and there were several) wear me out
how to navigate the DART rail system effectively (4 trips into Dallas this year)
Barnes and Noble gives home educators 20 percent off education resources
our public library has great free resources
I still can't get our books back on time
We survived our first year with some major victories --Joe learned how to read and write, Alex is getting better at spelling, and according to outsiders, Brendan has "come out of his shell". We have discovered formal Grammar is difficult and are taking a different route for next year. Found a wonderful math curriculum that teaches the lessons with a calm, knowledgeable voice that never sounds frustrated. Purchased for grades 5 and 7. Looking forward to our Summer Break and starting a new school year in August!
Great revelations! Many of the benefits of homeschooling can't be measured through test scores. Congratulations on finishing your first year!
ReplyDeleteAND....let's hear a drum roll.....no TAKS, STARS, SEOYE (Scary End of Year Exams) that can fail you, scare you, and altogether sour what should be some of the best years of your life. That's a 27 year public school teacher speaking!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you all had a great year...and that you learned as much as your boys. Happy Summer and good luck next year!
ReplyDelete