The 5 Secrets Of Why We Homeschool

What's the secret reason we homeschool? You might not believe me! Is it because we don't want our kids in harmful public school? Is it because we think our kids are so brilliant they can only be taught by hand?

No! Ted and I believe every family has a different path that's right for them. We homeschool because we love it, because it makes us feel like the Keys family, it helps us appreciate each other as well as the wonder that is in the world. Here are our secrets about homeschooling;

1. We wake up when we are ready. We take naps if we need to. Sometimes we wear pajamas all day. Sometimes (ok most of the time) pajamas are just our comfortable clothes and they are worn for unstructured amounts of time. A couple days in a row? Just change when they get dirty or when we are about to leave the house.

2. Lots of recess! As in a normal day for my ten year old consists of daydreaming outside, then breakfast on the porch, then swinging or riding scooter outside, and then we are ready to begin school. Going outside happens anytime our brains get stretched too far. I personally sometimes check the mail three times in a day just to breathe and clear my brain.

recess!

3. Field trips are better. We go on train rides, to events at the local college, to farms and so much more. We schedule ahead or just pop over if we need to get out of the house. Sometimes a library trip or a trip to Daddy's work are a great added learning experience. There is nothing like walking through a city on a week day and having a whole museum to yourselves!

4. Cooking and cleaning up are part of the curriculum. They naturally have learned to make thier own breakfast and lunches. I just try to keep healthy stuff available. If I ask sweetly my older child will even make an extra sandwich for me. 

Downside to homeschool; When your kids are home all day the house gets messier faster. Upside; your kids learn that cleaning is part of life  is part of thier lives now. My kids are not all naturally good at housekeeping, but we are learning to work on picking up and cleaning a little bit all the time (and sometimes we take a day off to deep clean under thier beds and in thier closets). I feel like this gives them skills they will need for real life!

5. Their schoolwork is geared toward them. My ten year old is a reader so we have an Essentials of the English Language Class for writing, but for reading I just hand her my favorite Junior Fiction reads and call it done. My son is quicker with math than reading, so we have a more step by step reading curriculum and when he has mastered a book I have him read it to his baby brother or at story time for the 1-5 year old's at Daddy's daycare. That gives him a lot of confidence with reading and he is not comparing how well he can read with other kids his age every day. Sometimes the kids create videoes to learn thier schoolwork (you can see one here).We watch science and history videos as a family and basically nerd-out with science, books on cd, and trivia games at home. Everything is school for us. I love having our whole family culture be learning and Ted loves it too.

6. We get along we love each other's company. 

It's easy to hold a grudge against your family member when you only see them a few hours a day.  I know this because I did for most of my childhood with my younger sister (sorry sister!). If you are alone with your siblings all day I've noticed most siblings get along. If you think about it, it's too hard not to! We are together nearly all the time. Maybe it's easier to band together as kids against parents if you are also students against teacher! Whatever reason I am grateful that my kids for the most part enjoy each other, and I think this home lifestyle helps. We are invested in loving each other.

Our home is not a day's end destination it is where everything stems from. We work, play, learn here together. We share it all.  While sometimes I want to escape, sometimes so do the kids! We all learn how to forgive quickly.  More importantly we learn to hang in there together, and not write each other off.  At times we are mad at each other and sometimes we have a blast, it's all part of relationships! 

We started homeschooling to give our unique kids what we thought would be best for them. I recommend praying about it if you think it could be right for you, every family has different needs and callings. Homeschooling is no joke, it's a lot of work as well as a lot of fun.

Now however, relationship with my kids is the main reason I homeschool.  Honestly I feel like I am having my second childhood. This time I am enjoying learning, and loving a lot more deeply. If that ever changes we will reevaluate homeschooling, but for this season, we are all in! Why do you homeschool or public, or private school? What is special about your family that helps you make that choice?

The 5 Secrets Of Why We Homeschool

What's the secret reason we homeschool? You might not believe me! Is it because we don't want our kids in harmful public school? Is it because we think our kids are so brilliant they can only be taught by hand?

No! Ted and I believe every family has a different path that's right for them. We homeschool because we love it, because it makes us feel like the Keys family, it helps us appreciate each other as well as the wonder that is in the world. Here are our secrets about homeschooling;

1. We wake up when we are ready. We take naps if we need to. Sometimes we wear pajamas all day. Sometimes (ok most of the time) pajamas are just our comfortable clothes and they are worn for unstructured amounts of time. A couple days in a row? Just change when they get dirty or when we are about to leave the house.

2. Lots of recess! As in a normal day for my ten year old consists of daydreaming outside, then breakfast on the porch, then swinging or riding scooter outside, and then we are ready to begin school. Going outside happens anytime our brains get stretched too far. I personally sometimes check the mail three times in a day just to breathe and clear my brain.

recess!

3. Field trips are better. We go on train rides, to events at the local college, to farms and so much more. We schedule ahead or just pop over if we need to get out of the house. Sometimes a library trip or a trip to Daddy's work are a great added learning experience. There is nothing like walking through a city on a week day and having a whole museum to yourselves!

4. Cooking and cleaning up are part of the curriculum. They naturally have learned to make thier own breakfast and lunches. I just try to keep healthy stuff available. If I ask sweetly my older child will even make an extra sandwich for me. 

Downside to homeschool; When your kids are home all day the house gets messier faster. Upside; your kids learn that cleaning is part of life  is part of thier lives now. My kids are not all naturally good at housekeeping, but we are learning to work on picking up and cleaning a little bit all the time (and sometimes we take a day off to deep clean under thier beds and in thier closets). I feel like this gives them skills they will need for real life!

5. Their schoolwork is geared toward them. My ten year old is a reader so we have an Essentials of the English Language Class for writing, but for reading I just hand her my favorite Junior Fiction reads and call it done. My son is quicker with math than reading, so we have a more step by step reading curriculum and when he has mastered a book I have him read it to his baby brother or at story time for the 1-5 year old's at Daddy's daycare. That gives him a lot of confidence with reading and he is not comparing how well he can read with other kids his age every day. Sometimes the kids create videoes to learn thier schoolwork (you can see one here).We watch science and history videos as a family and basically nerd-out with science, books on cd, and trivia games at home. Everything is school for us. I love having our whole family culture be learning and Ted loves it too.

6. We get along we love each other's company. 

It's easy to hold a grudge against your family member when you only see them a few hours a day.  I know this because I did for most of my childhood with my younger sister (sorry sister!). If you are alone with your siblings all day I've noticed most siblings get along. If you think about it, it's too hard not to! We are together nearly all the time. Maybe it's easier to band together as kids against parents if you are also students against teacher! Whatever reason I am grateful that my kids for the most part enjoy each other, and I think this home lifestyle helps. We are invested in loving each other.

Our home is not a day's end destination it is where everything stems from. We work, play, learn here together. We share it all.  While sometimes I want to escape, sometimes so do the kids! We all learn how to forgive quickly.  More importantly we learn to hang in there together, and not write each other off.  At times we are mad at each other and sometimes we have a blast, it's all part of relationships! 

We started homeschooling to give our unique kids what we thought would be best for them. I recommend praying about it if you think it could be right for you, every family has different needs and callings. Homeschooling is no joke, it's a lot of work as well as a lot of fun.

Now however, relationship with my kids is the main reason I homeschool.  Honestly I feel like I am having my second childhood. This time I am enjoying learning, and loving a lot more deeply. If that ever changes we will reevaluate homeschooling, but for this season, we are all in! Why do you homeschool or public, or private school? What is special about your family that helps you make that choice?

Summer's End

(No babies were really left to float alone in the pool. Wink.  I photoshopped myself out of the picture.)

I asked the whole family what thier favorite parts of this summer were. Here are thier short lists;

ha ha! D did not swim at the deep end of poop! That was a mommy slip of the hand. 

Ted's been running a business (a Daycare) and we have a new baby. I wanted to be more intentional about the shorter family times we have. We prayed for meaningful summer activities. Viola! I found an inexpensive pool membership that has served us well.  Fridays we go to work with Daddy and put on a Storytime. There were a couple trips to see family. Ted spent a little time sharing books he loves with the kids, and teaching them tennis. 

Even with that though it was great to hear what really spoke to the kids. Jonathan (playing), Dorathea, new accomplishments. For all of us friends and simple things spoke loudest. 

Now we are knee-deep in school and I am already lonely for friend time and alone time! The oxymoron of an extroverted homeschooler! Hopefully, I will soon find more balance, more encouraging conversation, and some great long workouts.

As fall enters, what are you investing in time-wise? Individualy (like Dorathea's porch time?), What relationships do you feel drawn to invest in, and what are some activities that will playfully do that? I'd love to hear you're answers! 

The airboretum exhibit at Virginia Tech

storytime!

Until I get to chat with you about it lets bid summer 2016 farewell.- Allison