Each of us has chosen the lifestyle of schooling at home for different reasons … we have varying triumphs, motivations and struggles … but it seems each of us has a commonality: difficulty in managing schedules. It is the plight of parenthood in today’s Western culture.
In her article The Over-Scheduled American Family, Laura Roe Stevens tells us that “today’s American kids are overburdened and stressed to a point seen previously only in psychiatric patients.” We can all get into a routine of running from one activity, event or commitment to another. Our lives and calendars can fill so easily. So how do we as families that have chosen to educate our students at home truly make doing just that our number one priority?
Since we are the primary educators of our children, it really proves true that if we don’t take the time to actually teach, our students won’t actually learn to the depth that is beneficial long-term. Even though some bright students will motivate themselves and learn, all students eventually need that quality time with a mentor and educator. People outside the homeschool world imagine our lifestyle to be families huddled around the table day after day learning with no social interaction. It is actually the biggest concern of our friends: “How do your kids get social interaction?” But, in all actuality, our children’s days are filled with out-of-home lessons at gyms, studios, museums, co-ops, learning centers, field trips and scouting. And, the list goes on. The biggest struggle is finding that “seat-time” to get the quality lessons in!
There are definitely options for on-the-go schooling like audio books, workbooks, car-schooling, etc., but we have to make sure these don’t become the one and only or primary source of learning. Students need that quality time to allow their brain to focus and experience learning in hands-on ways. They need time at the table to work with math manipulatives (at any age), time to research and develop a quality piece of writing, time to make hands-on history projects, time to perform science experiments and time to cuddle up on the couch with classic literature to truly digest it.
SO, the big question is HOW do we actually get in this quality education time? The simple, and yet brutal truth is: make it the priority. I have struggled with actually putting that practical truth into practice for years … and I am still working toward it. Each season I have to reevaluate commitments to assure that I am keeping seat-time sacred. Often it truly is painful to make those choices, but here are 10 ways to help you do just that:
- Say no; don’t over-commit, no matter how fabulous the activity sounds.
- Establish a routine so your children can know what to expect from their day; find what works for you, but do have one.
- Limit weekly commitments; have at least a few home days.
- Establish a space; have learning materials close at hand in bins, etc.
- Communicate expectations to students at the start of the morning or week in some way: list, chart, etc.
- Get kids involved in planning so they are invested; yearly to choose studies, and monthly in LP planning to choose projects.
- Take brain breaks; every hour take 15 minutes to get outside with sun and nature.
- Start your seat days with physical activity to get the brain focused and keep water with healthy snacks nearby.
- Keep field trips applicable; go places to reinforce current learning, not just fun outings.
- Keep play-dates after prime learning hours unless it is a lesson type meeting; communicate importance of lessons to family for visits, so grandparents, etc. understand that learning needs to happen on school days.
The schedule and routine need to be flexible and change with life, but having a starting goal can make us as homeschoolers much more strategic in our teaching goals with our students. Remember: If you don’t spend the time teaching your child, no one else will. Commit your time. It will be worth the work when you can celebrate a year or eventually years of great learning and progress academically for your little homeschool!
By: Jess McIntyre, Education Specialist and Homeschool mom
