I find it Infinitely beneficial for the sake of my sanity & for the cause of improvement to periodically look back on where I've been in order to best determine how to proceed where I'm going. When I first began the 2014-2015 school year, I fully intended to write a reflection post at the end of each term (we school in 6 weeks on, 1 week off intervals in a year round schedule)...but alas, here we are at the end of the 5th term with only 7 weeks left in the entire school year & I've written only one reflection...and that was at the end of the 1st term! I'd classify that as an epic fail in terms of blogging goals. I must amend that while I have only written 1 reflection, I have indeed greatly contemplated the weeks of school that ensued between then & now.
I had to chuckle as I reread that 1st Term Reflection. If only I'd known then what molehills those meltdowns were compared to some more mountainous moments that we were destined to endure...but alas hindsight is always 20/20 & there was no way of knowing then what I know now. By the end of the first term we were firmly entrenched in my well-thought out plan for the school year...and by the middle of the second term all of those schemes had gone awry...
Near the end of August, only a few weeks into the new school year, it was clear that Sweet 'N Sassy's motor skills were no where near ready for our PreK curriculum. All of my precisely formatted lesson plans were scrapped, & I (frantically) scrambled to reformat her school year. If you know me then it will come as no surprise that this nearly sent me into a nervous frenzy. Right about the time I felt like I had gotten things back on track & a new plan formulated, we discovered that we were expecting our fourth little one. Elation soon followed with panic as I realized 2 things: 1. The fate of my schoolroom was now in jeopardy (petty, I know, but if you know me then you know how much I love having a separate schooling space). 2. Per the usual, I was SICK...the term morning sickness is wholly inadequate. From early November until late December, our school time was frequently interrupted by unpleasant breaks (If you're a momma, you know exactly what I'm talking about). On November 12, my grandpa passed away. Traveling for the visitation & funeral had us doing school in what I considered unorthodox times & ways. Papaw G's loss was the first that our big girls truly felt & grasped to understand. We never truly got back in our 'normal' groove after navigating our way through that time. Thanksgiving & Christmas were soon upon us & that exciting yet hectic season kept our school days in a rather ragged rhythm. I fully intended on buckling down when we commenced in the New Year, but just a week into our new term, Goldilocks was plagued by a mystery illness. From the beginning of January to mid March, several times a week sickness would strike, & as a result we frequently did school from the waiting room of Doctor's offices or from Abigail's pallet on the living room floor. Thankfully Goldi has been symptom free for nearly 4 weeks now. Springtime is now upon us, & with it comes an eagerness to put schoolbooks away. Fresh air & sunshine beckon us away from our desks, & once again we find ourselves rebelling against the school day structure.
I would like to say that I've handled the last 6 months with grace & faith, smoothly navigating through rough waters...but that would be a falsehood. My OCD tendencies, my uptight nature, & my acute need for structure have made this time incredibly trying...but even more humbling. There has been much to reflect on...much opportunity to lean upon God's strength when mine so often failed. In the midst of these 'mountains' more often than not I felt...nay, I KNEW I was failing. The Gaggle deserved a much more gracious & patient mother & teacher. It was immensely humbling to realize that as much as I spoke to them of trusting in The Lord & of the fruits that should accompany such faith that in the moments of having the opportunity to model that trust & exhibit those fruits, I sorely failed...needless to say I am ever more appreciate of His Amazing Grace! Already, I am looking back on the last 6 months with thankfulness for every 'mountain'...knowing that a year from now they will merely be molehills.
Lessons Learned the Hard Way:
1. A schoolroom is nice but not necessary:
6 months ago I would have wholly advocated that a homeschool family needs a designated & even separate space for schooling...if I've learned anything in the last 6 months it's that while a schoolroom is nice to have it's not necessary. Our first son will be arriving in a few short months, & not too far down the road our schoolroom will become his domain. (With 3 big sisters, the poor fella is going to be in dire need of some sacred space of his own!) When that time comes, we will be transitioning learning spaces from our current schoolroom to the more central hub of the home...the dining room. When once that thought would have nearly disabled me (I'm only slightly exaggerating), I am now finding a big of thrill at the process of adapting.
2. We don't homeschool. We life school.
This above all is the greatest lesson learned. Despite reading countless blogs that discouraged such behavior, heedless of wise advice to the contrary, I have been guilty of compartmentalizing our schooling. I've always had a set schedule & an exact location in which learning occurs, & when the curriculum for the day has been completed, we put the books away & school for the day is done. The events of the last 6 months have shown me the folly of that behavior. Both the Gaggle & I were missing out on countless opportunities to learn as we lived. The countless disruptions that have occured over the last 6 months have forced me to unorthodoxly (in my former barbaric opinion) educate the Gaggle. We've schooled in the car, in waiting rooms, at the back of a funeral home, & on the living room floor...before long & unintentionally this began a habit of conversing, questioning, & discussing that occurred not in precise allotted segments but rather at all times. We learn anytime & any where...or perhaps all the time & everywhere. Prior to this we discussed designated curricula and rarely deviated from it or expanded upon it, but quite often now we find ourselves making note of what goes on around us & encouraging exploration into the questions that arise from observation. Sickness has led to some anatomy study. The loss of a life brought discussion of salvation & God's gift of life eternal. The coming of a new sibling provides opportunity to practice patience & selflessness. Springtime promotes the appreciation of nature & God's creation. We are beginning to shirk off the restrictions that come with orthodox education...we no longer just homeschool, we life school...and it's awesome! I'm sure there is a more eloquent way of saying that, but it truly is an awesome thing to watch your child view all of life as an opportunity to learn.
3. Don't lose sight of the goal.
In my reflection from our first term, the Lone Ranger & I set a long term vision for Davidson School for Girls (a name change is in the works). The reason we do what we do is this:
1. To raise children who know & love Christ.
2. To equip our children to be disciples & to make disciples.
3. To teach our children how to be lifelong learners & discerners of truth.
Bearing this mission in mind has truly been a sanity saver over the last 6 months. It has enabled me to determine what tasks are necessary & what are disposable. This goal has allowed us to see and appreciate the benefits of life schooling in contrast to our former ways. This vision for our family is rooted in the anchor of our Savior, & it has lent itself towards providing stability in tumultuous times....further affirming that Jesus is indeed the solid rock upon which we stand & that all other ground is sinking sand.
Already I can see that the experiences of the last 6 months are indeed molehill moments...although at the time of their occurrence they very much felt like mountainous obstacles. Already I know that when I read back on this reflection, I will chuckle in memory. Already I am thankful to have written down these reflections as a reminder from where we have come & from how far we've yet to go!
At this juncture we have 6 weeks left in our current curriculum & to complete the required 180 days. Upon finishing the time required by the state, our current plan is to transition to one 4 week, 2 day/week term. This will allow us to review all that we've accomplished in the year & to ensure that all skills are mastered before beginning our new curriculum in August. This year we will take a fairly traditional summer break as our little Ezra is due to arrive in July. At the end of August, we will resume our 6 weeks on 1 week off schedule & begin learning new material.
I will not even pretend as though I'll accomplish the feat of writing a year-end post...the freedom of the final day, & the eagerness for our next school season already outweighs any further reflecting I might do. I've already begun making plans and preparations for the 2015-2016 year & will share those in another post soon. If you've stuck with me through this lengthy contemplation, I hope that it's been somewhat worthwhile to you. Veteran homeschoolers, I'm certain that you can relate to some of what I've mentioned, & potential homeschooling momma's I hope that some of what I've learned might prevent you from learning these lessons the hard way. As much as for your entertainment & benefit, these reflections are for me...to keep me humble...to keep me on track...and to keep my eyes on the goal.
