Tomorrow, my dear husband and I are going to set up the school room. This is no easy feat, since all the school room is in boxes right now, due to the fact that Alex moved up to the school room, Beth moved to Alex’s old room, and Emily moved into Beth’s old room. We have a very large kitchen with a big table and chairs. We also have a dining room, so the school room will be in the kitchen this year since we don’t really use the table and chairs in there, anyway. (I’ll post pictures when we finish, but the kitchen is huge, so it won’t be a problem to add the schoolroom in there.)
I’m kind of freaking out about starting school this year. Due to the fact that Emily is now in the picture, I have so little time to get stuff done. I have been assured by veteran home school moms that it will all work out. I just have to remember that things will NOT be the same as they were last year, and adjust for that. I know I can do it, but right now, I don’t know how it will work!
Having two teenagers in home school is a little easier than if I had two elementary school children. A lot of their work can be done independently, with a little guidance from me. In fact, most of their work can be done on their own, as long as I prepare their lessons beforehand. I say that a lot of their work can be done independently, but I don’t know that I really believe it. That is the problem with having a teaching degree and trying to home school. You get stuck in public education and forget that their ARE so many other ways of doing things, instead of traditional education. That is where I am right now. Trying to get my head around teaching in a non traditional way. I had a long conversation with a veteran home school mom yesterday and found out that actually, there are no real requirements to getting a diploma from high school. There are suggestions, but really, I can teach whatever I want and give a diploma whenever I think they are ready. Not that this is the way I want to go. In order to get into college or a technical school, you need certain classes to be accepted. If you aren’t going to college, it doesn’t really matter. Both of our kids are interested in some sort of school after high school, so there are certain classes I will need to make sure they have. That is a lot less intimidating.
I’m worried about the fact that up until this point, I have sort of coddled my high school age children in home school. I am constantly reminding them to study for this or that test, constantly checking Alex’s math work to make sure he is understanding, and constantly going behind them to make sure they do what they need to. It’s my public school training coming out. That is the way it was when I was teaching. So much reminding and not enough independence. My daughter, I think will be able to handle doing stuff on her own, but my son, that is another story. Boys really are more immature than girls at this age. If I have to remind him everyday to unload the dishwasher–A chore he has had for many years–what is school going to be like?
So this year is going to be different. I’m way scared. But ready for a change, because there is NO way I can do it the way I did last year.