I'm a pretty organized person, or at least, I used to be. I'm very good at categorizing and ordering and keeping lists. Or at least, I used to be. Since having children and leaving teaching, a profession that somewhat demands organization, I've let my organizational skills slip, and that means that I don't accomplish what I'm supposed to when I'm supposed to. The relevance?
Angie is starting Kindergarten/1st grade this year. And I'm homeschooling her. There's a lot to accomplish and I need to make sure I'm on top of it all so that I don't have to struggle daily to figure out what we're doing next. Since I work from 4 to 9 or 10 each night during the week, and of course, I'm still responsible for housekeeping and meal preparation and pet care, it's really imperative that I get our year organized before we start.
And that's the problem I've had. I haven't been able to figure out how to reign in the massive amount of stuff we're going to cover and get it all organized. See, I tend to try to streamline processes as much as possible. So charts and tables that get everything in one tidy place are just up my alley. But I haven't been able to focus our goals in any meaningful way by doing that. So I decided to go with inefficiency and it's working.
I've made a one-month grid, with days from Monday to Friday labeled at the top and 5 empty weeks below. I can number them for any month and label the top with month and subject. So, for September, I have about 8 pages, one for each subject, with the plans laid out in detail. Each day's objective for each subject is listed, along with any materials I need to create or assemble. Then I can collate them for daily use. By separating each subject on a different page, I've allowed myself to focus only on that subject and refine our plans. I'm not worrying about how much other stuff is going on each day, though it is loosely in the back of my mind.
And since we're using a modified workbox system, I can get boxes loaded quickly for the next day by having all of my materials ready.
Now, I just need to get all those materials going!!!
6 comments:
Relax! Eight subjects?! When does the poor little thing get to be a kid? That's the beauty of homeschooling. It only takes an hour or so to teach her what she NEEDS to know (fluent reading, basic math skills, and handwriting) and then you get to spend the whole rest of the day being her doting, fun loving mama: taking trips to the library and the zoo, studying nature at the park, finger painting on rainy afternoons. :-) It's not that hard and certainly doesn't require a spreadsheet to manage!
Hmmm. I guess we have a different approach to schooling. I could spend minimal time just teaching her what she NEEDS to know, but I want to teach her things that she WANTS to know and SHOULD know, as well. We could stick just to reading, writing and math, but we're including science, social studies, Spanish, music and art appreciation and language arts. Will we do all subjects every day? No. Will she have hours of seatwork? No. But she will learn about a great many things that will expand her understanding of the world and keep her very active mind engaged. She has plenty of time to play creatively and enjoy outings to the zoo and library and park. And it probably won't take more than an hour or two each day.
Actually, we're "teaching" the same things. What I was trying to tell you was that you don't really have to PLAN most of those things. They just happen in the course of living out your lives as a learning family. Spanish? I'd presume she'd learn that by speaking with her father and his relatives. Art appreciation and literature both are covered in the many fine, fine picture books available at your library and favorite bookstore. Come to think of it, those books cover an awful lot of culture, history, geography, and science, too. Learn to draw that lovely blossom at the park while your mama reads about it from her guidebook. Art and nature.
I doubt you've been skimping on your children's educations, whether or not you were officially homeschooling. I believe you've been LIVING an educational atmosphere all this time. My take on the planning is that some things HAVE to get done, and my own core for those years are reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic, and religion. I add history and science at third grade, when their basic skills are well enough formed that they can take a bit of responsibility for their own learning while I teach those basics to the next ones coming up. (Science is not a major subject in my mind. If my whole world went to pot and I could only do the basics, it wouldn't make the cut. History, on the other hand, is non-negotiable.) And I plan more because I have more people to plan for, and too much slips by if I don't.
My point is only that you don't have to stress about kindergarten. Your kindergartener will be getting a vastly superior education compared to her peers and you will all have a wonderful time learning together. With or without the spread sheet.
Lots of love to all of you!
I should also have added that I read to the children. A lot. We read picture books and biographies and novels they wouldn't dream of picking up on their own, or ones they can't read because the book is above their reading levels. I choose books to read aloud based on their literary value or historical setting, mostly, and sometimes just for the moral discussions to follow. :-) They already know if they want twaddle, they'll have to find somebody else to read it.
We are now learning to love the documentary. :-)
PS: I'm not judging your methods. Every family homeschools a little differently and it's all good. I'm just counseling you to enjoy the ride, even if you're only on it for a year. These babies are too precious, grow up too fast, to worry about whether they're acquainted with Einstein and Degas. Live, love, and learn. It's all good, Beckie.
My last comment was reactionary and not at all thoughtful. I deleted it and I apologize for its insensitivity. Angie hasn't learned spanish by talking to her father or his family (or I wouldn't be teaching it to her now) because most of Miguel's family speaks English and so do I, the parent with whom she spends the bulk of her time. It's really only Abueala who doesn't speak English, though she understands quite a bit. So, we'll learn together, Angie and Maddie and I. This is the best time to do it. And for me, science is a must. The problem solving skills that emerge from asking and answering questions by investigation is invaluable, I think. I'd like to foster that as much as possible. Having only two children, we've a bit more time on our hands than you, and so it is feasible to do all that I want to do. If I don't plan things out, I get lost with the hundreds of other non-education related things that need to get done and I skimp. I don't want to skimp. So I'm planning.
Beckie, I love you. :-) Homeschooling is a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun, too, and I hope you all really enjoy your year.
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