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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Top 10 Ways to Salvage an Interrupted Day
You had finally found your homeschooling "groove." Lessons were zipping along, your students were working like well-oiled machines, and then it happened: something came along that broke that wonderful, systematic rhythm. You may have known it was on the calendar, but that still didn't prevent it from upsetting your entire homeschooling apple cart. Now you feel as though your students may never regain their previous momentum.
Rather than taking an entire day off, you may be able to salvage the remaining portion of an interrupted day and manage to keep enough of the energy that the interruption is merely an insignificant blip on your radar. Here are several ways to complete "school" when the normal routine has been interrupted by doctor's appointments, a minor family crisis, a field trip or co-op class, a funeral, or any number of other inconvenient breaks. These measures may also help you get through a bad weather day, a not-feeling-so-well day, or a we-really-overdid-it-yesterday day. (Tip: In the case of a minor family crisis that lands you and your loved ones in the local Emergency Room, try to redeem the experience as an impromptu field trip: encourage observational skills and appropriately timed Q & A sessions about what the medical professionals are doing, so that your students gain knowledge about other career fields along with the immediate medical attention. Plus, it can also help focus children's minds away from pain, suffering, and generally frightening situations.)
1. Half-Lessons--Scheduled interruptions (such as dentist appointments or well-child check-ups with the doctor) can allow you to plan ahead for a half-day of lessons. Shorten each subject's work load to a portion of its regular size and zip through your schedule in record time. Your students will know they have covered the usual subjects, and the results of the faster pace can spur your students into working more quickly on "normal" days, too.
2. Consumer Math--Shopping is necessary for every household, so incorporate it into your curriculum by posing price comparisons to your students. Show them how to read the labels for ingredients, size of contents, or any other vital statistics, and then help them compare brands and sizes to determine the best value for your family's needs. Yes, this can make shopping take longer, so I do not recommend doing this with every item when you are already pressed for time or when you are restocking a nearly bare pantry.
3. Life Skills--Sewing on buttons, hemming a skirt, ironing shirts, following a recipe for cooking or baking, washing windows, folding the laundry, cleaning out a closet, organizing the kitchen "junk" drawer, or sweeping out the garage--all are vital skills for life that can redeem the productivity of an interrupted school day.
4. Phys-Ed--Let 'em run. Dust off the bicycles, roller blades, baseballs, or jumpropes. Everyone needs a physical break now and then, and younger children need them even more often. The physical exercise relaxes their tired muscles and gives their brains "processing" time. You may be surprised at the creative ideas that are hatched during this "down" time.
5. Snuggle Up & Read Day--Grab your favorite books and head for the sofa. Read to each other or just let each person read his own book, side by side. Snuggle up with warm blankets and thick, warm socks. I love soaking in the warmth from a sunny window when the winter weather is too cold to enjoy venturing outdoors.
6. Craft Day--There is something infinitely satisfying and therapeutic about creating things with your own hands. Whether you make silly masks with paper plates and colored markers or intricately detailed ornaments for your next Christmas tree, the time spent with your children provides an opportunity to talk together, create together, and giggle and laugh together. Check hobby stores for ready-made craft kits if you need help getting started.
7. Cooking or Baking Day--Make an extra-large batch of cookies or soup and freeze the extra for use on your next too-rushed-to-cook day. Dicing onions, celery, or carrots to freeze for future use in soups or casseroles is a time-saver as well as an opportunity to work and talk together with your children.
8. Game Day--Play your favorite board games. Combine the pieces from several games and invent a new game. Don't keep score, but focus on the aspects of strategy and sportsmanship, instead of on winning and losing. Show lesser-skilled students how to plan ahead and think through their moves to help them strengthen their abilities for next time.
9. Nature Study--Take a walk. Sit under a tree. Watch and listen to the birds. Weed the flower bed. When the disruptions of life have intruded upon the security of your routine, regain control by surrounding yourselves with the peace and solitude of God's handiwork. It can be even more refreshing than a nap!
10. Video Day--Watch a favorite movie. Watch a new movie. Watch an old movie. Use technology to your advantage and pause the movie at strategic moments to discuss why the characters act the way they do or discuss how the plot would have changed if a key character had chosen another option at a crucial point.
Life Happens. I repeat that often to explain what has disrupted my formerly-planned day. When Life happens to your schedule, use it to your advantage to teach valuable life lessons. And remind yourself that children sitting in orderly rows in a sterile classroom are missing out on the inevitable spontaneity that is Life.
For further encouragement on the topic of interrupted days, missed lessons, and messed-up schedules, see:
A Day Without Lessons,
Reschedule, Refocus, Regroup, and
Sick Days, Snow Days, and Other Interruptions
Posted by Carolyn M @ 5:09 PM |
1 comments
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Carnival of Homeschooling, April 22
Spring has been taking a long time to appear here in central Iowa, but things certainly are blooming heartily at the Carnival of Homeschooling! This week's collection is huge, which simply means that everyone will find something encouraging there! Many thanks to Dana at Principled Discovery for her valiant efforts in hosting this Carnival!! Dana's theme is "The Homeschool Bag Lady," in honor of all the bags o' stuff we moms tote around, both literally and metaphorically.
Posted by Carolyn M @ 10:29 AM |
0 comments
Monday, April 14, 2008
Top 10 Benefits of Homeschooling with Grace
No, Grace is not my name, nor is it my daughter's name. "Homeschooling with Grace" refers to making homeschooling a real possibility for you. If your mental image of homeschooling (before you began) was much different from what your homeschooling reality has become, perhaps you need a dose of Grace. Sit back, relax, and lower your standards just enough to allow yourself to breathe easily again as we look at the Top 10 Benefits of Homeschooling with Grace.
10. You can provide your students with as much time as they need to truly understand a concept, and you can allow your students to skip redundant portions of lessons they have already learned. [Grace is patient, but Grace also recognizes achievement.]
9. You meet other homeschooling families who do things differently than you do, and you smile, knowing that all homeschoolers are unique. [Grace appreciates the differences in life.]
8. Every member of the family relaxes, knowing that Grace bestows forgiveness, second (and third and fourth) chances, and hugs when you need them. [Grace understands, and Grace loves anyway.]
7. You give up "flying under the radar" to avoid attracting attention as a homeschooling family and boldly traipse through parks, stores, and other public areas between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., knowing that anyone foolish enough to inquire why your children are not "in school" will have to endure a barrage of giggles, several quippy answers from each child, and at least 3 recitations from recent history and science lessons. [Grace accepts Life as a good teacher.]
6. You redefine a "clean" house to mean one that looks lived in but can still be occupied without fear of actually contracting any truly scary diseases. [Grace knows that perfection is unattainable on this side of Heaven.]
5. You no longer cringe at the thought of friends dropping by unannounced, realizing that they are more interested in sharing 5 minutes of conversation with another grown-up than in performing a white-glove inspection of your bookshelves. [Grace prefers people to things.]
4. You realize that no one who really loves you will care if the breakfast dishes are still in the sink when you start supper. Or that once in a while last night's pizza boxes can be found on the coffee table. At least the leftovers are all gone... thanks to the family dog. [Grace knows when you need a break.]
3. The thought of seeing your family pictured on the cover of a homeschooling magazine would mean that chore-boot footprints and mud stains are being featured in that issue's Art Corner. [Grace knows that Life is not tidy.]
2. You lower your expectations of homeschooling to include only those things your students might actually be able to accomplish in this lifetime. [Grace does not expect the impossible.]
And finally, the Number One Benefit of Homeschooling with Grace is:
1. Grace. Just when you think you've messed up everything beyond all hope of repair, God gives you the Grace to start fresh and try again. [His mercies are new every morning--Lamentations 3:22-23]
Posted by Carolyn M @ 1:33 PM |
11 comments
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Guilt-Free Homeschooling STORE -- Now Open!
Observant readers may already have spotted the new link in the right sidebar: Guilt-Free Homeschooling STORE! This is one more proof that the absence of recent blog posts does not mean I am lounging about, eating bon-bons, or worse -- leaving struggling homeschoolers to fend for themselves. On the contrary, I am very pleased to be able to provide you with even more GFHS resources, starting with two that you can purchase for use when the computer isn't so handy.
NOW AVAILABLE in the GFHS STORE--
Diagnostic Tools to Help the Homeschooling Parent
For those who may be missing the links to our (formerly-on-the-internet) quizzes (What Type of Homeschooler Are You? and What Is Your Learning Style?), the quizzes are now available in our new book, Diagnostic Tools to Help the Homeschooling Parent, along with pages and pages of supplemental information to help you analyze, evaluate, and remedy your daily homeschooling difficulties. This book is not for everyone, but if your students are struggling to make academic progress, it is definitely for YOU!
Guilt-Free Homeschooling Planner
Can't find a planning book that fits your unique homeschooling situation? We are happy to announce the Guilt-Free Homeschooling Planner, an innovation in homeschooling planners, offering multiple planning modules -- not a one-size-fits-all, our-way-is-the-only-way record book. GFHS Planner modules work for the large family or the single-child family, plan-ahead organizers or record-after-the-fact less-organized types. Choose from 8 versatile modules to create the planning notebook that will work for you!
P.S.
Our experience at the Chicago-area InHome Conference was great. Thanks to all of you who popped in to say, "Hello, I'm one of your blog readers!" and WELCOME to the new friends we made in our workshops!
Posted by Carolyn M @ 3:33 PM |
3 comments
Monday, March 3, 2008
Conference Reminder
This is just a quick reminder that I will be speaking in the Chicago area this weekend (March 7-8th) at the InHome Conference. My workshops will be Friday morning (What Type of Homeschooler Are You?), Friday evening (Losing the Guilt), and Saturday morning (Taking the Mystery Out of Learning Styles). Seating is limited, so register now and come early for a good seat! Bonus--Guilt-Free daughter and co-blogger/co-author, Jennifer, will also be there! If you are able to attend, please introduce yourself to us as a Guilt-Free reader--we hope to see you there!
Attendees of this conference will get the first official opportunity to purchase our brand-new book, Diagnostic Tools to Help the Homeschooling Parent. Break free from your homeschool struggles, measure your homeschooling efforts, and discover the best materials and methods for effective and unlimited learning.
The Guilt-Free Homeschooling Planner will also be available for the first time. An innovation in homeschool planning books, the GFHS Planner uses a modular concept that allows you to custom-design a unique planning notebook to fit your specific needs.
Posted by Carolyn M @ 11:17 AM |
3 comments
Thursday, February 28, 2008
113th Carnival of Homeschooling
The Daily Planet is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling: Political Parties of Our Government Edition. Good reading!
Posted by Carolyn M @ 11:01 AM |
0 comments
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