Learning

This week homeschoolling was a bit more difficult. The kids were a bit more energetic, running around the house. It seemed really noisy and I was just trying to keep up. I felt rather lonely at times. It's hard sometimes, that's for sure. I was getting up at 6:30 to get myself ready for the day, and trying to start school by 8. It never works. We're lucky to get started by 8:30. But that's ok, I try not to get too stressed out about it. In the back of my mind I'm thinking about public school and how things are ran on time and order and schedule and find myself trying to do that somewhat, just because that's familiar and what I know. I have to remind myself of the numerous things I've read. One that sticks out is to RELAX, RELAX, RELAX!! I get pretty uptight, so that's probably why that sticks out to me. Another thing I've read is to, especially at the ages under 8, which my children are, is mothers who wish they would have gone on more field trips and enjoyed the time more with their young children when their minds are so bright with curiosity and eager to learn, and again, relax. But I like routine and schedules. So I have to be a bit more flexible and not so hard on myself.
One day I got up at 6am, got in my workout, shower and breakfast and Jon was the only one up by the time it was done. So he started and got his work done all fast and early. The one constant we have is our scripture study. We do it first thing and it sets the tone for the whole day, and especially our school time. If we do school work before scriptures I'm a lot crankier and impatient. Then I think the most important thing for Jon is reading and math at this age, and really seems to be the key through 4th grade. Jon's reading has dramatically improved, which makes me happy. He has been my frustration this week, though Rebecca has done her share. When Jon has trouble focusing I think it's his allergies. I make sure to give him claritin to help him focus. I think part of his problem is working too much one day and wanting to be free the next. With good incentive he can sit well for an hour and get his work done. Then I think to myself, do I want to homeschool at the table? How can I control my temper? How can I motivate my children? Of course there are times when I lose it, and then there are days that make it so worth it and I love it.
This week I thought of Montessori and how many good things I've heard about it. I wonder, is there homeschool Montessori? Of course there is. I think, I need to get Jon more hands on to help him in his learning. He still has to sit and read, write and do math. We are studying space, planets and stars because that's what he's interested in. We are doing lots of physical activities. I also have to remind myself he is a 6 year old boy and is not going to concentrate and be the student Rebecca is.
But I started thinking about Montessori and realized I was lacking confidence in myself. When I mention Montessori Becca wants to go too. It is expensive, though. It's actually half as much as it is in Wentzville, which surprised me, but even so the money always stops me. So I guess I will search for other ways to do these things. I thought why can't I do Montessori type work at home? I want this to be a fun time, at the same time making sure they get the 3Rs down. Sometimes I doubt myself, sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I wonder is this the best for them. Then I think, I can do this, I just need to know more, it's a learning process just like eating healthy (another post). It's hard to just dive in, and if you do, you will have to tweak things here and there. It's been a lot about Jon because he wants to be ahead. He started Kindergarten but wants to be in first, so I've been teaching him first grade. He actually grasps everything I teach him. He just thinks things through so well that it takes him awhile to communicate it out. You have to wait for your answer but he will answer, and he's usually right.
Rebecca is doing awesome, actually, speeding through her curriculum. She is more domestic then I realized, or maybe it's the coming of age for her. She is wanting to learn to cook, sew, babysit, constantly helps me.
I'm amazed at Savannah's cutting ability. That girl has exquisite fine motor skills!
And you might think that Bella makes it all more difficult, but she's actually on a great nap schedule. She's up for a bit in the morning but takes a nap between 9 and 10:30 which is when we get most of our work done.
I'm learning about my children. I feel like I've been asleep and am waking up from a dream.