At this time every year, I begin thinking about the upcoming school year. Some of it has to do with the emails dropping into my inbox. There are an increasing number of parents trying to decide if it is the right choice to pull their child(ren) from public school, and if they do, “What is the next step?”
Some of the reason I begin researching and planning for the Fall in early Spring is practical. The Spring is the ideal time to sock away money for curriculum and supplies–or even classes, which means I need a fairly clear dollar amount for the budget.
But mostly, this is the time of year when the kids and I lose steam. I call it the thick of it, when our feet feel set in cement, and we just want to be DONE already. These are the days when I can get the truest feedback from the kids (Important!!) and have the clearest perspective on what works and doesn’t work. Because I tell ya, give us a month of Summer, and we will forget.
Each year we learn a bit more about ourselves, and this year is no exception.
We simplified school to accommodate moving to a smaller space. We also reigned in our previously crazy schedules by forgoing enrollment in any homeschooling cooperatives, and switching to a completely online homeschooling curriculum. I’ve watched Meredith and Kenny respond differently to these educational choices, which tells me this exact path will not work for both of them next year. At the same time, we aren’t entirely off-track.
I’ve learned Kenny would do best with one or two “classes” where he can learn alongside, and interact with, peers. The listening and re-telling of information is what makes learning more enjoyable for him. He enjoys giving reports, group games, and one-on-one sharing. Kenny is academically social, if that makes sense. Outer competition, I believe, is also an important component–though not a motivation for him to learn on its own; there’s a difference. Bottom line, he flourishes in a group environment and is considerably less motivated when all of his coursework is online. Though he interacts with Meredith and me all day, he’s alone in his studies. I can see how our current approach doesn’t work for him.
Meredith, on the other hand, is doing very well with Monarch, our online curriculum. Although she does like the social aspect of co-op classes, she takes in information better when she can read it, digest, and take notes on any new information. Talking it out isn’t necessary and can be more confusing for her in some subjects, like Math. It’s much easier to “do.” When we work through Algebra together, we do it separately and compare. Then, if we miss one, we backtrack each step. It’s what works for her. She is motivated by grades because she competes primarily against herself. She wants to do the best she can do and tends to push herself too hard. She is the type of child who feels most secure pinning her high school plan to the wall and crossing out each completed course as a pathway to her future. Her biggest concern right now is that she might not have what it takes to get into nursing school.
At this point in this year, Meredith just needs my continued encouragement, but Kenny needs a tugboat, which tells me he needs a change.
We do this each year. I’m sure you do as well. And that’s what I’d like to read about in the comments today.
Tell me about you kids, their ages, your curriculum/homeschooling method, and what you’ve found works and doesn’t work this year. What changes are you implementing now, and what changes will you maybe wait to implement next year?
Heather Sanders is a leading homeschooling journalist who desires to inspire families to live, love and learn. Married to Jeff, Heather lives in the East Texas Piney Woods where she currently homeschools three kids using Monarch, an online homeschool curriculum.