Schooling

The Home Team is back to school again.  We enjoyed a nice, extra long summer.  But, now it is time to hit the books.

Our homeschool is trying out some pretty big changes this year.  In the past, I have been real strict to begin school in early August (so that we can be finished by early May).  This year, we started later in August.....and even started with only 1 subject (math) first, then ramped up into our full routine.  Circumstances inspired that change, as I was still employed for the month of August.  I joked that beginning school after Labor Day seemed more appealing this year. 

Our biggest change of all is with our 5th grader.  We made the decision to enroll Jersey #1 in an enrichment program that aims to be a tutorial service for homeschoolers.  We have been impressed with this program from the time Jersey #1 was in preschool, and clearly not old enough to attend.  The students attend class 1 full day a week.  The program covers History, Literature, and Science.  Parents are responsible for Mathematics and Language Arts, and any desired elective subjects, at home.  The content of the subjects offered is not what draws us to the program.  We are mostly impressed with the way they train the students in independent study skills--note taking, report writing, presentations, class discussions, and time management.  These are skills that we want for our children, especially because our educational goal is for our children to be schooled well enough to succeed in college.  This program is strict.  The students who emerge from it have all reported that their first two years of college were a breeze.  Jersey #1 is in the elementary program, which runs 3rd-5th grade.  Rumor has it that the middle school program is a leap in intensity, and the high school program is even more amazing.  

We started her out this year, as our guinea pig, so we could see if the program was going to be a good fit for our family.  It turns out that Jersey #1 thrives in an academic environment.  When I picked her up the first class day, she looked at me and said, "That was awesome!"  She has been diligent to complete her homework.  Her teacher reports that she is very well behaved, mature, and contributes to the class discussions.  Jersey #1 speaks so highly of this program, that Jersey #2 has started asking when does she get to attend.  

We have always utilized enrichment classes in our homeschool.  Most of the time, these are seen as extracurricular.  This year, our friend who usually offers fun classes, decided to teach a writing class for middle schoolers.  She thought Jersey #1 would be a good fit.  We thought the focused attention on writing would be a good thing for Jersey #1.  This class also teaches history and literature, but a different time period than the other enrichment program.  We have mostly been told that it should be too much for Jersey #1 to do both.  We decided to try it out anyway.  Most of the concern is based on the reputation of the work load of the enrichment program she does once a week.  I would actually prefer if folks would stop hinting to Jersey #1 that she might get overwhelmed, and instead let her try it first.  So far, she is doing very well.  She seems to enjoy the challenge.  She informed me that her goal is to be an A student.  Works for me.

Jersey #2 and Jersey #3 are taking a class on Robin Hood, taught by a friend.  Jersey #3 is so excited to finally be old enough to participate in one of these fun enrichment classes that our friend teaches from time to time.  The first day of class, he was up early, took a bath, and helped me pack their lunches.  He promised to be on his best behavior.  He has come a long way from being my velcro baby, that is for sure.

In addition, we participate in a Homeschool Co-op, which has classes every other week.  The kids take classes, and the parents either teach a class, or assist in a class.  This semester, I am assisting in the class that Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 are taking.  It is an American Grub class, where the kids learn US geography and sample popular foods from each state they are studying.  It is a fun, educational, and delicious class.  Right now, I am in the lead for having set foot in the most states.  We all colored a map, showing the states we have visited.  I have been in 26 of the 50 states.  Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 have been in 13.  (I think it is time to plan a road trip).  Jersey #3 is taking a printmaking class, where he gets to have all kinds of messy fun with paper and ways to print designs on paper.  Jersey #4 is in a sign language class.  Jersey #5 is in the preschool class.  In addition to play time, and snack time, he manages to do a craft project each class day.  The co-op classes are in the mornings, and we follow that up with a big picnic lunch at a local park.  Our Co-op is large, so we make that park look like a school yard at recess, with kids swinging, running, playing soccer, and enjoying the fresh air and exercise outdoors with their friends.

In addition to all these classes outside our home, we have an entire curriculum that we complete at home!  It is a busy school year, for sure.  I think I am learning time management right along with Jersey #1.  This year, we are schooling a 5th grader, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, and 2 preschoolers.  Our preschoolers insist on getting their schoolwork too.  Otherwise, we are not normally too strict about schooling in the preschool ages.  

We have been using the A Beka curriculum from the start of our homeschool.  I still prefer it.  I was almost convinced to switch to a different history program.....one that would incorporate all of the kids together.  But, the more time I volunteered at a curriculum library this past summer, the more I realized that I really had selected the best curriculum for our family and our educational goals.  I know that there are a ton of great curriculum products on the market.  I am certain that they are effective.  And, now I have the added confidence that I am on the right track with the one I am already using.  The biggest criticism I receive about using the A Beka curriculum is that it separates the kids by grade, with a complete set of textbooks and workbooks for each grade.  Based on what I am gathering from others, most folks who are schooling multiple children choose more of a unit study approach, or school the kids with the same set of books, and simply adjust for the different skill levels of the kids.  It appears we are not very typical.  Big surprise there!

I find it much easier to keep the children in their respective grades, and let them each work through their own set of textbooks and workbooks.  Our children know what grade they are in school, because we classify it.  I do not believe school grade is necessary for everyone, but for us it is a way to categorize achievement.  Our goal is successful college education.  That is achieved by completing academic grades in sequence, with each grade having a series of established knowledge points to master.  When I was a kid, it was a mark of accomplishment to complete one grade and advance to the next.  Considering both of my parents dropped out of high school, it was an accomplishment (and my Mom's requirement) that my sisters and I complete high school, and then complete college.  Each generation is expected to achieve more than the previous generation.    This is true for our children as well, and is a defining component to our homeschool.

I prefer to teach the same subject to all of the children at the same time.  In the picture above, all of the kids are working on their mathematics workbooks.  I float around the table, and assist each of them with that day's lesson.  They over hear my conversations with their siblings.  The older kids will add extra details to help explain to the younger kids.  They also like to point out how much harder their work is than their younger siblings.  I like the way it reinforces former lessons that were previously learned in earlier grades.  I also like the way that the younger kids see what is on the road ahead for them.

We are still flexible enough to school on the road.  I joke about how we homeschooled in the waiting room of the doctor's office, for a couple years when Jersey #2's health was weaker.  This year, when one of the kids had to visit the doctor, I grabbed everyone's health textbook for them to read in the waiting room.  That worked out great.  As the kids were reading about their bodies, height, and growth, their lessons were demonstrated when the nurse took the growth measurements on their sibling.  After the nurse left the room, we took the time to measure each kid, and reinforce what was learned in their readings.

For the most part, homeschooling appears to be gaining acceptance as an effective schooling choice, especially in our town.  We do not usually run into much negativity at all.  Most folks who hear we homeschool, answer with "that's cool", or some equally positive comment.  I am impressed by the way folks respond to the kids like that.  Jersey #2 doesn't really give anyone the opportunity to argue to the contrary.  Just the other day, she was getting her haircut in the middle of the school day.  The stylist asked her why she wasn't in school.  She answered very matter-of-factly, "I am in school.  I'm home-schooled."  That was the end of that discussion.