Summer is upon us, and me and mine have enjoyed a lengthy vacation already. My two "graduated' from public school Kindergarten and as I picked them up from their school on the last day. I've not looked back. This spring I attended a curriculum fair and got to touch, pick up, flip through and ask questions about several home school products. I highly advise you check one out if you ever plan to do this, or if you're a veteran, then you know the value of these events. Also, I can't express enough my pleasure of being able to meet and talk to like minded folks there. As a newbie to the home schooling thing, it was extremely validating.
As I stated earlier, we've enjoyed a summer filled with sleeping in late, staying up even later, playing outside in the wade pool, making mud pies and just generally relishing in our freedom from the day to day grinding routine. All things good, usually come to an end. I decided to start home schooling the children earlier on in the summer to make sure I get cooperation from them and that I will be confident in my own personal abilities to do this whole thing. Besides, if I failed miserably, my back up plan was to send them back to public school. Now that sentence is used as a threat and the great motivator to get cooperation from the children! "If I can't get you to participate in today's lesson, then I'll send you back to school and you don't have to be home schooled." Understanding Selective Mutism as a social anxiety, you can see their motivation for wanting to stay home. That being said, it doesn't lend itself to CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) but I've got a solution for that too. We joined a home school co-op that the kids will attend on Fridays this fall. For now we're getting our socialization opportunities with friends, family and a few select waitresses, cashiers and the librarian. I'm excited about the co -op, it should prove to be a valuable time for all of us to connect with other families.
The curriculum we've chosen is called, "My Father's World". It's a Charlotte Mason"ish" type approach and I'm hoping it instills a love for books and learning. We made clay jars today from modeling clay and it was fun watching my children trying to manipulate the clay into their own creations. One day out of the week, typically mid week, is set aside as a day of exploration. Science projects, watching ant hills, making an enviornment friendly for a bunch of earthworms to love are done on this day. I'm really looking forward to spending this quality time with my kids. Watching their faces light up is the best!
I'm grateful for the Kindergarten foundation the children have acquired. It makes my job of picking up where they left off that much easier.
As for all good things coming to an end? I think we're going to be alright, the "back up plan" is securely on hold. Now, if only I could get a raise? (My husband loves that joke.)
