Stay Clear Of The Mimicking

When I first started homeschooling, I made the mistake of trying to replicate a public school setting at home. This is a common pitfall for first-time homeschoolers. It can be overwhelming to take on the responsibility of your child's education, and it's natural to look to what we know - a traditional classroom schedule and setting. However, this approach often leads to frustration and disappointment. Homeschooling offers the flexibility to tailor education to the individual needs of our children, so it's important to embrace a new mindset and approach. As I gained more experience, I learned to let go of the public school model and embrace a more personalized and creative approach to homeschooling.

I will never forget the excitement and exhaustion of staying up all night with my newly delivered homeschool planner, mapping out every detail of the year for my four, six, and fifteen-year-old. I meticulously scheduled lessons, educational trips, projects, worksheets, books, and tests for the entire year. I even created a poster for our living room classroom with a detailed daily schedule. Starting at 8 am, we covered subjects, took a snack break at 10 am, had lunch, and then continued studying until 2 pm. The first few days were challenging, and I had to dig deep for strength and self-confidence. I wasn't fully prepared for the amount of planning and work that went into homeschooling, but we persevered and lived this homeschool life for a while.

After realizing that both my children and I were struggling with the traditional homeschooling approach, I knew something had to change. I sought out advice from other homeschool moms and discovered the life-changing solution: don't mimic public school. By breaking away from the structured and rigid methods of public education, we were able to create a more personalized and enjoyable learning environment for my children. This shift not only made homeschooling more fun for them, but it also alleviated the overwhelming burden I had been feeling. Now, we are able to embrace a more flexible and creative approach to education that better suits our individual needs and interests.

Homeschooling became a priority for me because I wanted my children to have a relaxed environment with enough time to complete their assignments. My youngest daughter, who is a talented artist, struggled with the limited time given to finish projects, even simple coloring sheets, which caused her a lot of stress at just six years old. This was a significant moment for me, as I realized that homeschooling would provide the space for my children to enjoy learning and growing, rather than being rushed to complete tasks. It became clear that following a public school schedule was not the right approach for us.

After much deliberation, I have finally gained the confidence to say "my kids are homeschooled for a reason." This decision has given me the assurance I needed to homeschool my children in a way that goes against the typical public school system. It has been a life-changing experience for us. We have adopted a schedule that fits our family's needs and allows us to move away from the requirements of the public school system, creating our own educational agenda. For many of us, there are multiple reasons for choosing to homeschool, and it is likely that mimicking the public school classroom environment would not align with those reasons.

-Maverick Mama Blogger