Just wanted some thoughts on this. I was trying to set forth a "homeschool philosophy", kinda like a mission statement. I started to ponder some what if's.....like "what if my goals are not really in line with God's goals for my kids?"....and "what if my assumption that gifted people should excel academically is wrong?"....and "how important is 'school' in the bigger picture?"...."should I push him to advance or just make sure he is doing what is required?" Anybody else encounter this with one or more of their children? And if so, how does a less demanding philosophy play out into adulthood? I'm really struggling with finding the answer for my son. He is so intelligent but hates school with a passion. Don't get me wrong, he does the work that is required of him but he gets no joy out of it whatsoever. If he were to continue in ps he would be one of those slackers who could give a rat's rear if he showed any effort at all. And now what I am beginning to question is "is it okay to be a 'slacker' when it comes to academics?" I mean, just because a person CAN do things, does it mean they HAVE to? Let your thoughts fly! I'm just pondering all the possibilities.... :?
I feel I've spent my whole life pushing the limit on everything and for what? I have always stressed and worried about things and what good has really come of it. I often see that I push my own kids and I think IS this really important to whole picture too. I think we all have to encourage and provide an environment that is suitable to lots of learning. We should provide lots of opportunities for our kids. If children are hard to get motivated then it's our jobs to help try to motivate. However, I think we shouldn't make it our whole world. Do you understand what I mean? If after me working really hard to make something fun, enjoyable and easier to learn, my kids are still not into something then I've done my job. I won't pressure them to do more even if I really think it's possible for them to do better. We all have our interests and we tend to gravitate toward them and we all have our weaker spots too.
I really thought about this one..... My Poppet is a "challenged" learner. We have no clue how much she will be able to learn. When I first started hsing I was so determimed that she would learn that I made us both miserable :roll: . By placing expectations too high, I could have really turned her off of school altogether. Thankfully, the Lord opened my eyes in time, and that didn't happen. As I began to relax in my teaching methods, Poppet became more receptive. After 4 years, we have found our rhythm, and it's fantastic !
homeschool phil. When I first started homeschooling my boys I was so rigid and inflexible. I didnt realize it until another homeschool mom brought it to my attention. I realized she was right and I was able to be flexible that I could still be a good teacher. Made a lot things easier for everyone. I would never stray from what was in black in white in our Abeka curriculum. Now that I have let my hair down I think it is better for everyone. I didnt push my boys I just wanted to teach the curriculum down to the last detail rather than throwing in a little extra or taking away. My boys have always done very well and enjoy learning so I have never felt like I had to push them or anything. In fact, the other day I told them they could buy a couple books each. The oldest picked out a history book and the youngest picked out a car repair book on how to paint your car. He is getting ready to paint his car so it will be perfect when he gets his drivers permit in January, final step in his restoration. So I dont have to think about them making good choices in their reading because they love to read. My oldest who is 16 is a history buff and loves the history behind vintage rifles. I am amazed at the detail he has learned when he shares that info. with others. The detail he has for historical dates and such is wonderful. In school I didnt care for history and I remember asking the teacher when anyone would ever ask me for that historical info. The teacher didnt have the answer, but the answer is now. My youngest who is 14 can take anything apart and fix it when it comes to cars, computers, stereos, etc. The 14 yr. old is the cake decorator. He bought a 1979 BMW 320i the day after he turned 13 with his lawn mowing money. It was a nice car, ran well but he has spent a lot of time making his car really awesome and doing all the work himself with nothing more than his repair manuels and some advise from dad. My oldest doesnt show an interest in his truck like the youngest does in his car. But they are two different boys but both equally as wonderful! So my homeschool phil. is that I will encourage my boys interests and nurture their interests and watch them grow.
Our Mission Statement We were careful to make our mission statement NOT about the level of academic excellence (although, we hope for it), but more about our overall goals for their progress: Our philosophy is to teach a lifelong love of learning - giving our children the tools necessary to be responsible for their own education now and in the future. We strive to teach a Christian worldview, recognizing that all aspects of life relate to each other and a well-educated, well-rounded individual will not compartmentalize information, but look for the "big picture". We desire to teach our children how history of all kinds affects life now; how they impact society and how society impacts them; and finally, we encourage them to "seek ye first the kingdom of God" as they apply their gifts and talents to achieve His plans and purposes in the world today.
Brooke, have you read "Educating the Whole-Hearted Child" by Clay and Sally Clarkson? In it, they state that Christian education, whether it be homeschooling or private Christian school, should have an emphasis on DISCIPLESHIP, rather than ACADEMICS. They don't suggest throwing academics out the window, but that it should be secondary. I know for me, it's hard to keep that in focus. (We don't have a "mission statement"!) You might want to explore what they have to say.
IHere's my advice for all it's worth. Make sure you meet state guidelines - if that's all your kid wants to learn about the core subjects, fine. With the time left over that would be wasted in PS, make him come up with a constructive hobby. Perhaps your kid wasn't created to be a lawyer, maybe he was designed to be a mechanic. Who are we to decide for them what they're best suited for. Maybe your mission statement should sound something like "helping him discover what he's best at (even if it's nonacademic - like gardening) then pushing him to excell at what he has a passion for" - lets just hope he can find a hobby that can be turned into a career... My parents really struggled with my younger brother. They were both the academic types, and he wanted nothing to do with it. After years of struggling with him, he discovered audio/visual technology, and took off. Thankfully it's something he can find a career in, without being able to disect literary works (like my parents kept pushing him to do...) good luck! elissa
Interesting thread Brooke :wink: I tell you what, but I have had it up to here with standards (Can you see me ?) I too feel like Missy...pushed the academic level for what? In the long run it wasn't my IQ that gave or gives me my *roots*,kwim? My dad who did not even finished high school had the best piece of advice for me, and I try to instill that into my boys. He said *finish what you start*. Simple to say,but not so easy to do at times. Some times we *blaze* through brilliantly and other times we just *finish*..But the point he always tried to get through was that attitude and heart condition would hold you steady. Don't get me wrong, I too have a hard time trying to see if I spend too much time on academics and not enough on the *spiritual person* and visa versa. I too would like to see my boys just take off in learning and be these wonderful independent learners, but then I think *what would I do then?* :lol: But each year, I see tiny improvements, but more than that I like how their personalities are developing. So as *paw paw* tells them *finish what you start boy*. Its that same attitude that you have toward the importance of learning, marriage and children according to Dad. You know so many people *just because they are tired of that person* decide they don't want to be married anymore, so now they quit, they're bored. Oh Dear! :roll: (don't get me wrong here, I 'm not talking or bashing divorce..it is scriptural..that could be another whole thread in itself, couldn't it? yikes :wink: ) I am just talking about the *giving up* attitude and my father says it starts with the little things and it carries through on things that are very significant later. Oh well, how brilliant your parents get the older you get! Well my dad must be a genius ROFL... So its with that attitude now that I approach school. Did you finish, did you take responsiblity for it, did you try and give it your best shot. All those things i ask the boys. I adjust the curriculum as best as I can and try to enjoy it. And some days Brooke for me, maybe everyone else feels the same way, its just plain hard work!... Adjust that curriculum girl if he don't like it. Just accomodate the best you can and then some of it he just realizes comes along with the territory..(I don't particulary like to wash dishes, but I do like to eat :wink: ) So nothing wrong with feeling like your not getting a *high* over it everytime you do something..but I try my best not to make my boys feel like that about ALL the curriculum... Mindset to me is about 80% of accomplishment. Easier said than done.. Hang in there girl, this is just the first complete year after you took him out of ps and *savor *those accomplishments this past year he made when you pulled him out..
Wise woman, Tina (and a wise dad!)....I have that problem sometimes with finishing what I start. In school I didn't have that problem at all...procrastinate--yes.....quit--never. In my adult life I'm stuggling with feeling trapped by my choices and I'm getting exhausted from running the race set before me. Although I haven't "quit" any of it, my attitude still is one of being trapped and wishing it was okay to quit. :cry: I will take your advice to heart. I know just what you mean by the quitting attidude starts with small stuff and carries over. That might be just what my aim should be with ds. I'm conveying a worn out sense of persistance when I need to be encouraging instead. Lots of thinking and repenting to do...yep.
Brooke your so genuine :wink: That will keep you steady... This world, our own sinful imperfections, (our kids and yes even our dh) can at times make us exhausted in *running that race*.... Focus back on enjoying your son and realize if it wasn't these *ups & downs* your dealing with now, you would have a different set of them in public school... Try visiting with some homeschoolers who say their whole life, homeschooling and personal life is *rosy*..Its enough to make me *pewk* :lol: I really want to tell them *get a reality check* hee hee.. Its just not like that all the time :lol: Hugs
What, Tina?!?! You're homeschool and whole life isn't ROSY? What's wrong with you, Girl? Mine is!!! Absolutely perfect!!!.....as long as I ignore the sink full of dishes, unmade beds, notification paperwork piling up, the stack of bills due, Faythe still not having her math facts memorized, overdue library books (and videos!), the large pile of clean clean clothes that need folded, the even LARGER pile of unclean clothes that need washed, and (last but not least) the fact that DH has decided the roof we've been putting off has got to be done NOW, so we've a dumpter filled with shingles in the driveway, a yard full of rusted nails, and a roof full of volunteers that I need to feed and keep supplies with bottled water, AND the remnants from Hurrican Dennis due to hit tomorrow and continue for the next three or four days...... YEP!!! Everything here is just ROSY, :wink: .
:lol: Guess my lemons aren't as big as I thought :wink: ... I have been doing a lot of soul searching recently. Yesterday I wasn't going to take communion and was sure that I wasn't going to be able to resolve my issues that were holding me back. Before communion, however, I was at least able to get to a place where I was ready to heal. I had been open with God for a long time about my sinful attitude, but just cuz we admit our sins doesn't mean we want forgiveness quite yet. Sometimes we want to keep them for a while as a place for our mind to escape to....well, yesterday I got to a point where I could see what I have to lose if my attitude didn't change and that scared me. I partook of communion because I felt it was okay, but today my struggles are still here....now I'm sitting here wondering what kind of judgement I might have brought upon myself :shock: :shock: :shock: . How did this thread turn to me?!?!....I was supposed to be talking about my kid :roll: Guess it is all intertwined. Oh, and a side note.....what I was gonna be using for geography, science and possibly language was part of a computer program.....now our hard drive is broken!!!! I have no idea what I'm gonna do for all that now. Blah, blah, blah. Same story.... I better go before I make myself feel worse! :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol:
