The Pajama Clad Homeschoolers

When we first started homeschooling our oldest daughter in kindergarten (she is now a sophomore) I decided that our “school” would be run much like our experiences with public and private school settings. We would get up, eat, change our clothes and “go to school”.

I had our schedule set… we started with math from 9:00-9:30 each day. We followed with language arts from 9:30-10:00. The whole day was strictly scheduled with all our subjects, potty breaks, snack time, recess and naps. I printed out the schedule and posted it on the classroom wall. Kaylie was every bit as excited as I was to start our school year.

It went well at first. We stayed on schedule and so much work done. It was definitely a great start to the year. Those first few weeks were great!

Unfortunately, in all my scheduling I didn’t prepare for the unexpected… two younger siblings and their needs, sick days, doctor visits, important phones calls that had to be taken that very minute, various things that you just never consider. I was so set in my schedule that when these things occurred I was almost in a panic. After all, we had to get our work done. We had to do things just so! These things don’t hamper regular school, why should they hamper us? Kaylie was also bothered when we didn’t stay on schedule. My anxiety was being transferred to her!

I found that the more we had to stray from our schedule the more I felt like I was failing as a homeschool teacher. Shouldn’t I be able to run my home like a school? I loved homeschooling but I was so stressed. I wondered if I had made the right decision. How could I have these doubts though? I went to school to learn to teach. If I could teach others’ children surely I could teach my own child. I just didn’t plan on the constant interruptions that life brought each day. Still, we pushed through and at the end of the year when we evaluated our school experience we found that despite not always staying on schedule Kaylie had indeed learned and thrived!

This new discovery had me reeling! I knew I had to rethink our approach to homeschooling. I realized that homeschooling doesn’t have to be set up like a traditional school to work (although for some, it can and does).

I realized that we had to find what worked for our family and implement those practices. I decided to make a list of goals and truly think about what I wanted my children to learn and take away from our homeschooling. I had to make a plan so that we could accomplish these goals.

The first thing I decided was to let go of all of my preconceived notions on what “school” was and wasn’t. I let go of some of the structure that I was so set on having before. I realized above anything that we needed to be able to flow with what the day brought us. I knew we could make this whole homeschooling thing work! It now didn’t seem as daunting as before.

When I compare how we homeschool now to those first years I see some similarities. I also see some major differences. We have found what works for our family, but we are constantly open to new ways as well.

Because we have six children who will be schooling this year, in six different grade levels, we know we have to have some structure. I have to have this so each child gets the attention they need and deserve. However, there is far less structure in other areas. This works great for us.

One of the joys of homeschooling is working school around and into our lives and not the other way around. We don’t have to conform to rigid, non-individualized guidelines set out by the schools. If you were to stop by my house on certain mornings you would probably find us schooling while still in our pajamas. The beauty of homeschooling is that this is ok! The kids are comfortable, happy and learning. It’s a perk we just can’t find anywhere else.

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Michelle can be found writing at Pass the Flu Bug Please

photo by mms0131

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