Picking our Path

Lately our family has been weighing a very important decision, a decision on whether to send our kids to public school or home school them.  There are many schools of thought on which is “better” or “worse.” I use those words in quotes because they are totally subjective.  I have put in a lot of thought and countless hours of research.  We have come to a preliminary decision that as of the 2014-2015 school year, our children will learn here, in our own home, with me as their instructor.  Since both Tanner and Emmy Lu are of preschool age, it will give us a trial year to see if it really is a right fit for us before Tanner’s kindergarten year.  And honestly, after talking to a couple trusted home-schooling moms I know, i have learned that pre-school at home really isn’t much different than what I am already doing.  We already do daily work on social-emotional development, letter and number recognition, fine and gross motor development, and creative/musical activities.  I am excited to create a space in our house specifically designated to school (can anyone else smell the DIY possibilities here???).  I thought I would just like to share our decision with friends and family in a buzzfeed style list give our “Top 5 Reasons for Deciding to Home School.”

 

1. Child-led learning:  I want to follow my children’s lead on how they learn best and offer them the most individualized education possible.  It’s simply unrealistic, in even the best public schools, that each child would be encouraged to discover and develop his/her individual strengths to their full potential.  On the flip side of this, if one of my children faces a struggle, I will be there to give one on one help/support.  I really can’t think of a better option than that.

 

2. Flexibility:  We are a family of free-spirits.  Although I plan on having our school days structured and routine (much like our days are currently), I look forward to the freedom of deciding our school year schedule.  We won’t be tied down bus waiting for the bus, or early releases, or snow days.  How liberating!!  For a free bird like myself, this is a BIG draw. If its a nice day, we will have the complete freedom to taking our learning outdoors and not be tied down to a brick and mortar building. 

 

3. Efficiency: Because of the individual attention and individualized learning plans I will be able to teach my children we will really be able to streamline learning.  When a child masters a skill or lesson, we will be able to move on immediately instead of waiting for an entire classroom before moving on.  The flip side of this, again, is more attention to subjects or concepts they may struggle with.  As their teacher, I will be able to interpret their individual needs to help them have the most comprehensive and efficient education we can.

 

4. Creativity- I want my kids to be able to play and explore like kids as long as possible.  I want them to build forts, have hours and hours to explore the yard and woods.  I want them to dress up, and imagine, and create worlds in the heads.  I think that by creating a space in which they are encouraged to do this, their limits are endless. 

 

5. Because I can, I want to, and it feels right:  I totally know that homeschooling is not for everyone.  Some people may even decide to label us as “weird” for our decision to try it.  To that I can only respond that we are following our hearts.  I have thought about home-schooling since before Tanner was born but had since pushed it aside, not to be thought of again…until recently.  It resurfaced and started picking at me.  I started looking into what goes into homechool and I have no other way to describe it other than it just feels right for us.  At the very least, it deserves a trial school year. It’s something I really want to do and feel I could do very well.  Of all the things in my life, I am probably most passionate about my parenting.  So really, after taking some time to let the possibility swirl around in my head for a while, the decision came easily. 

 

We are excited about the possibilities and what path this adventure will lead us!!  I can’t wait to have little school with my little people.  Now, onto planning that school room……

Dear Santa

This year the kids are just starting to grasp the concept of Santa.  Yes, we will do Santa.  I know there is a whole movement of transparency and honesty with kids in regards to magical creatures like Santa Clause and the Easter bunny.  That is totally fine if you want to be one of those parents.  However, my kids will believe in magic (at least as long as they are able to).

 

(And your non-believing kids better not be THAT precocious spoil-sport in Kindergarten telling all his/her  classmates that Santa isn’t real.  Don’t ruin everyone’s fun.  I’m a self declared agnostic/atheist but you don’t see me raining on all my Christian friends’ faith parade.)

 

{insert shock here, yes I realize Santa is NOT the same as GOD.  Don't get your undies in a bundle folks.}

 

I digress…back to the blog post subject.

 

Today, I asked the kids if they would like my help writing a letter to Santa.  Here is what they came up with:

 

Dear Santa,

My name is Tanner.  My sister’s name is Emmy. (apparently he forgot his OTHER sister, Hattie)

 

For Christmas I would like a playhouse and a toy house.  (Aren’t these the same thing…I’m confused)

 

I also want a Dora game and Dora clothes.  And an easel for doing art.  (The easel is what they are ACTUALY getting so I was happy to hear that my “not so subliminal” propaganda was working)

 

(Emmy’s turn)

I want i-pod!! (In her defense I had just taken my ipod out of her grimey hands)

I want toy circle (huh?), ice cubes (i can do that i guess…), Caillou toys (ok now we’re talking), and Georgey toys (She means Curious George).

 

(“Hey guys, what about Hattie?  What does she want?”)

 

(Tanner replies)

Oh yeah, Hattie wants a toy baby doll.

 

(And Emmy adds)

A LION!!!

(I’m not entirely sure if she means a toy lion or an actual lion.  Either way, she is VERY excited about it and feels the need to yell it at me)

 

Love,

Emmy (as signified by a pile of scribbles)

and

Tanner (whose name is actually legible)

 

We sealed it in an envelope and they watched me address and stamp it so Daddy can mail it tomorrow on his way to work.  I can’t wait to bust this letter out when they are teenagers to remind them how cute they used to be.

Snow Day Activity: Indoor Racetrack

We got plenty of snow last week and now temperatures have plummeted making it dangerous to bring the kids outside. Today, to beat the cold weather with some cooped up crazy kids, I built the kids an indoor race track. It's super easy.

Supplies:

Painter's tape

That's it!!!

I had two different colors but you can just use what you have laying around.  

I told my kids that these were their special tracks and they ran around and around. 

Of course the natural progression was that they needed cars. (That was Tanner's idea) 

So I dug out some boxes and started creating. 

It was simple and the kids were happy with them...

BUT....

Then I found some cool duct tape...

With a little creativity, tape, scissors and a permanent marker....

Viola!!

RACECARS!!!!

I can't wait till my drivers wake up from nap to see what they think.