fairdare
  • blog
  • Fairdare
  • ethical brands
  • zero-waste
  • zero-waste meals
  • about

thoughts on home learning

8/16/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
"I am always doing that which I cannot do,
in order that I may learn how to do it."
~Pablo Picasso
I've never thought of myself as an expert on homeschooling, but I have facilitated my two daughter's learning for the past thirteen years. My younger daughter graduated from high school this year + is already in the midst of college courses. My older daughter is currently in grad school pursuing her master's degree. I never thought about homeschooling until it felt like my only choice...twice...so I do have some sort of understanding of what is happening now. I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mama at both of the points at which we decided to learn from home, and I know that that is a huge advantage. I also took control of the learning rather than being tethered to the school which has some advantages + some disadvantages.

I just thought I'd offer a few thoughts on learning from home that I've had while observing others wrestling with the new reality that has been thrust upon them this year. 

-First of all...you are capable. You are smart. Your child will learn this year...and probably lots of things that they couldn't have learned in the classroom.

-You don't need lots of new stuff. I've seen pages of amazon recommendations + lengthy school desk inspiration out there...that's all unnecessary. We spent way less on school supplies for at home learning than we did on the school's back-to-school supply lists. We bought a few new things just for fun, but didn't need a bunch of stuff. You don't need plastic unit blocks to teach math skills. One piece of paper cut into the appropriate shapes will work just as well.
Picture
-You don't need new desks or a school room. We tried desks, but the girls ended up at the coffee table or kitchen table. The schoolroom was our shortest lived experiment. I needed to be moving about my day + liked having them out in the open where they were accountable at least in the morning + early afternoon. 

-Do (+ finish) the hardest subjects first. For us, that was always math. ​

​-Every subject doesn't have to happen every day. We did math every day, but science + history on alternating days for longer time periods. This way they can get more deeply into a subject, rather than breaking away just as the learning kicks in.


-Take advantage of one-on-one learning. It can be so much more effective than classroom learning. No tangents. No waiting for everyone to sit down or quiet down or catch up. No shyness about asking the questions that are meaningful to them (encourage that). ​
Picture
-Recess isn't the only reason to get outside. Now science can involve using a nature journal...noticing which birds come + go when...studying the different types of trees in your neighborhood...planting a garden. 

-My intention is not to try to influence anyone away from being tethered to the school's resources, but I will say that homeschool resources are designed for at home learning. Science experiments often use the kitchen as the laboratory. In middle school + high school, the textbooks are designed for student led learning. Kits of microscope slides + chemistry experiments are available. Math books are designed for us, as parents, to track alongside our children...no prep time is needed...we just read through the lesson with our child, work through practice problems with them + then know the methods that are being utilized in the day's lesson. Each assignment (in the curriculum we chose) has problems from previous lessons in order to facilitate knowledge retention + the lesson number is listed beside each problem for easy referral (by student + parent).


-I personally feel that choosing homeschooling for a year will not disrupt your child's tracking with the neighborhood school's system...especially during this year of global educational upheaval. Our girls were able to go in + out of school (even in a different country), because we chose rigorous homeschool curricula. ​

​-At home learning teaches personal discipline, time management skills, provides time for individuals to come to answers without peers blurting it out first, promotes self-learning, increases reading + comprehension skills (because this is a primary mode of learning as they get older). Students can benefit from these lessons this year.
Picture
-Our children learn valuable social skills in the classroom. Homeschoolers practice social skills outside of the home as well in the groups + activities they attend + through friendships + relationships they have. Social skills are also practiced in the home. As parents, we are our children's most influential teachers. 

-At the beginning of each school year my two girls + I would sit down together + make a contract that we would all sign + post somewhere prominent. Setting some ground rules for respect + commitment toward hard work helped hold us all accountable. 

-Make a schedule...one that includes breaks. Both of my girls wanted to blow through school in one go, because then their time was their own. There always came a point, however, when frustration set in. We need that time between classes for recess, to walk down the hall, chat with friends, blow off steam, reset. When one daughter was older, we bought a few warm drinks that she liked so that she could finish a certain subject + then get up + make a drink. It was a way to step away for a minute + reset before sitting down again (with that warm drink).

​-Be flexible. Check in with your student + make adjustments. I don't know how this will work with distance learning + teachers who aren't actually in the room with students. I'd hope that there is a venue for being in conversation with teachers.
Picture
-Learning is it's own reward. I'm not a big believer in incentives like treats or trinkets. Each of us knows our students best, but personally I didn't want to make grades or mistakes an issue. One of my girls is a perfectionist, so one of our mantras was that we are learning, and mistakes are part of learning. "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it." (~Pablo Picasso) In my mind trying is just what is expected...not something to link to rewards. We will do fun things like go out for ice cream in the middle of the day sometimes or take our learning to the park or spend a Friday exploring the city or go to the museum to see that painting by the artist we studied. But I don't want to have to cancel a trip as punishment (because follow-through is key) or make learning an optional endeavor.

-Prioritize reading. Let them check out as many books as they want from the library (or five at a time in order to facilitate keeping track of them).  :)

-Infuse their studies with things they +/or you find exciting or intriguing. Sharing our passions (even if they are not our student's) shows them that learning can inspire excitement + lifelong joy...what an incredible gift. Our history curriculum allowed space for a student to question + veer off track to answer those questions. I love that. Make space for shop class or art class or robotics or...whatever interest arrises. One of my main goals is to make lifelong learners out of my girls.
Picture
-Instead of spending time shopping for just the right desk (though, I realize that might be a priority if your student needs to sit at a computer for hours each day)...spend time preparing yourself for what is to come. Set intention with your attitude...your outlook...your expectations.

-Take time to step back + see the big picture. This is one semester...one year in your child's life. What opportunities can you take this year? What could this experience add to their childhood or adolescence? 

OK. I meant to keep this short + as succinctly meaningful as possible. I'm not sure I did either of those things, but I love this topic. It has been my unintended, but pleasurable work for a lot of years now. Please feel free to reach out. I would love to chat with you. Comments don't automatically post publicly, so if you'd rather keep it private just let me know. I am cheering all of you amazing parents on! Our children are not just our future, they are our incredible now! 

Lots of love,
Jane
2 Comments
Emily
8/17/2020 10:40:13 am

Thanks for this very sensible post! I've been reading your blog for the sustainable fashion info but we've just decided to keep our kindergartener home this year. I like your approach. I am looking forward to having some professionals (teachers from the school district) help us out in our remote learning, but thanks for the vote of confidence that I can do this myself! : )

Reply
Jane link
8/18/2020 05:19:05 pm

Oh- kindergarteners are the best! Have fun together! :)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
    Picture
    Picture


    categories

    All
    Fair Brands
    Fairdare
    Garden
    Made
    Reads
    Simple Budget
    Simple Holidays
    Simple Home
    Simple Wardrobe
    Simply Said
    Sustainable Self
    Wanderings
    Yum
    Zero Waste

    archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    all images by jane unless otherwise noted. copyright 2023.
    subscribe via email

    RSS Feed

    Follow