homeschool

Relaxed Homeschooling

time

After much stressing, soul-searching, prayer, and journal-writing, I’ve finally realized a few important things:

1 – I’m not going to ever be a perfect mom, but that doesn’t mean I’m not the mom my kids need.

2 – I’ve had a lot of loss in the past year (some I’ve spoken of online; some I haven’t), and I need to give myself grace when I have moments of less-than-stellar parenting.

3 – My kids have had a lot of loss in the past year, and I need to give them grace, too.

4 – This relaxed homeschool year is exactly what we all need. I had what I’d thought were relaxed plans at the beginning of this homeschool year, but even those plans were more than we need right now. And that is 100% okay. We’ll keep exploring what interest-led schooling looks and feels like, and make adjustments as necessary.

That all boils down to this:
Right now, what our family (and our homeschool) needs
is grace, laughter, togetherness, and time.

What this looks like right now:

Since Kathryn is studying Georgia state history this year, we’re making a point of finding field trips that focus on state history. A trip to World of Coca-Cola was her idea. Although we’ve lived here all our lives, we’d never been to World of Coca-Cola; it was one of those things we’ve never done simply because we knew it was here and could always do it later. We had fun and learned new things, but it’s not a museum I feel worthwhile visiting repeatedly. What impressed me most of all was the variety of countries represented in our little tour group: Norway, Germany, India, and Hungary!

World of Coca Cola homeschool field trip
Fall is officially here weather-wise, and we’ve been spending as much time as possible outdoors! I love that our playset does double duty as a treehouse. The kids climb up there and make things out of leaves, pretend all sorts of things, and they accidentally end up studying nature. They’ve discovered that magnolia tree pods have red berries inside (and that when squished those berries are orange inside). Kathryn always said she’d spend a lot more time outside if she had company, and the kids are eager to participate in any game or activity she comes up with. One day this week she even made them a back yard obstacle course! Scout and Jem have been learning so much already about plant and tree identification, weather, seasons, butterflies and other insects, and how to use an acorn cap as a whistle!

Watching them learn is fun. I’m trying to hang onto that joy for the times I get frustrated with them.

leaf crafts

Again I say: our dog is the best. Sometimes she runs with the kids in the yard; sometimes she lazes while they play nearby. It’s so neat to see how she tailors her playing to who she’s playing with, so as never to hurt anyone and (odd as it sounds) she always plays fair with the little ones. I’ve never seen a dog do that before. She really is the smartest dog EVER.

Dog looking at slide

And one day, she might just come right on up into the playset with the kids. I know she’s thought about it. 😉

More interest-led activities for Kathryn:

interest-led learning

Kathryn recently tested for (and received!) her yellow belt for Choi Kwang Do. She is really enjoying this and I’m going to try to arrange our schedule so she can participate in more frequent classes.

After reading some of our human anatomy studies, Kathryn broke out the microscope to examine slides of various types of cells.

This girl is nearly always working on some sort of craft. Recently she’s made these paper globes and a fabric-wrapped wreath for her room. I’m looking forward to seeing how she’ll decorate her own home one day!

I’m still studying.

A book that’s been fabulous reading for me lately is Free Range Learning. It’s taken years for me to accept that we don’t have to sit at the school table hours every day. Even with our relaxed schedule, we’re still doing everything in this year’s plan — just in a much less structured way than I’d previously envisioned. There’s a learning curve for me in figuring out a happy balance in all of this. Relaxed homeschooling does NOT lessen the need to be intentional in parenting, or in continuing to study my children to see how they learn best.

I’ll be joining these link-ups:
– Mary’s “Collage Friday” at Home Grown Learners
– Kris’ “Weekly Wrap-Up” at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Wait! One more thing!

If you haven’t entered my Monsters University giveaway, hop on over and enter for your chance to win a $50 gift card and a fun movie!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

16 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dawn Paoletta

Sweet revelations. We are still on STress filled Home Schooling but that is another story! 😉

Andie

I am sorry to hear that you are going through trying times. My prayers are with you and your family.

We practice “unschooling” at our house and it has worked well for us. Learning truly is an organic process. My daughter has discovered the joy of spontaneous learning and I have also learned a great deal in the process.

There may be a time and place for a more strident approach but I am pleased with the results thus far.

Your newest follower,

Andie

Daniele @ Domestic Serenity

Oh, I completely get this sister – it’s the same place we find ourselves. It took me the whole summer to realize how much all the losses had affected us as parents, and of course our children were touched deeply as well. The beauty in homeschooling is we can adjust to these life changes, yes?
Wonderful work you’re doing! Here’s to abundant grace, extraordinary laughter…blessings on your family.

Rebecca

Each family has seasons and it looks like you’ve figured out the season you are in 🙂 We’re very relaxed (except for our co-op classes), so I can completely get why you need that relaxed and happy pace right now.

Sallie

I hear you! I think we’re unschoolers at heart, but I can’t quite bring myself to officially make the jump. But we are MUCH more relaxed than I ever thought I would be. I’m also sorting out the right-brained aspect with a daughter who loves to learn and doesn’t like to be taught.

I just take it one day at a time. What else can you do? 🙂

Jen

You are definitely doing the right thing! Speaking from experience, new family members need lots of time to adjust (and so do we!) especially when they are older. We went to World of Coca-Cola on our way to FL, it was such a fun little pit stop on our trip. Our favorite was tasting all the different drinks from all over the world.

Christy

I never thought I’d be willing to accept a relaxed schooling environment at our house, but that’s what we have right now too. Sometimes you just have to do what works, even if it is relaxed. Otherwise it is too much tension and stress for a decent learning environment. I hope life gets better and you are able to enjoy the rest of the school year.

Dawn

You are a wise woman and mom. We have several light years (here and there) since adopting traumatized children. Their hearts need more than ABC’s and 123’s.
Blessings, Dawn

Mary

Jamie ~ I love reading about your homeschool. 🙂

Judy

Loving the paper globes! They would look so cute in my daughters room. Is there a place on line with instructions?

tracey

Looks like lots of learning going on! I’m going to have to check out Free Range Learning.

Jenn

I actually think that I am more intentional in my parenting because we are such relaxed homeschoolers:) And these kiddos joining our family have had to endure such losses in their lives at such a young age that I can’t possibly imagine my primary focus being academics and structure over relationships and a nurturing environment. Blessings to you in your journey! You are an encouragement to others:)

Aadel

Though all our plans and dreams may fail – live goes on and we march on, knowing that it may not look like the perfect picture we held for so long. But we find out what is important, what is worth keeping, and what is now the new normal. {{hugs}} and prayers for your family during this difficult journey. <3

[…] http://seejamieblog.com/relaxed-homeschooling/ See Jamie Blog. Personal blog of a relaxed homeschooler. […]

[…] Relaxed Homeschooling […]

[…] http://seejamieblog.com/relaxed-homeschooling/ See Jamie Blog. Personal blog of a relaxed homeschooler. […]