what am i doing?
It all seemed like a great idea. Then, reality set in.
However we got here, we all made the choice to home school our children.
The dreams were beautiful.
The intentions were pure.
The curriculum was vetted.
Then, the school year began…
We have a saying in education that we usually utter to each other a few weeks into the new school year: “The honeymoon is over!” It’s that time of year when everyone settles in and shows their true colors. Whatever patience was stored over summer is already running on fumes, and we are now battling personalities, opinions, and curriculum. All great things! And yet, all very challenging things.
Have you reached the point where you are pulling out your hair at home mourning the honeymoon and questioning if you made the right choice to home school your children? If so - first, ugh. I’m sorry. That’s a terrible feeling to try to tuck away every morning as you try it all over again. I know. I’ve been there. But also, there’s hope!
Usually the struggle you are facing is not about the curriculum, your child, or even you. It’s just that you haven’t been trained in how to run a classroom. There may be some systems you are missing that are creating friction or chaos at home.
But before we get into that… let’s address the elephant in the room: this is what schools do well (usually!). Traditional schools and the teachers they employ find success for most students - even long after the honeymoon period has ended. There may be a lot we do not agree with or appreciate within the walls of those buildings, but we cannot argue that:
For most kids, the system works.
Schools may not work for us, but schools do work for some. Once we can accept that both things can be true at the same time, then we can start to analyze and steal what we can at home to find more success.
Since I spent over two decades in the system, let me spare you the research. In my opinion, schools operate on three systems that help them diagnose, assess, and prepare for hiccups along the way. Here are the systems:
A PACING SYSTEM - what gets done and when
AN ACCOUNTABLITY SYSTEM - how progress is monitored
A RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM - how responsibility shifts from the teacher to the student
I have been part of schools and classrooms with different systems, and I have seen how they can easily be adapted and molded for the individuals in the room. It’s incredible to see the change in the learning environment when those structures are in place.
So, unclench that fist and let your go. :) I promise - it was a great decision to home school your kids. If you need it, I am here to help!
You don’t have to do this alone.
-Kristin
