I’ve been poking around these internets for the past couple of hours moments and have come upon the most glorious of concepts. Deschooling.

Apparently, when transitioning a child from the rigours of the conventional school system into homeschooling, an effective way of doing so, while reinvigorating self-confidence, self-esteem and an enjoyment of learning is through a process of deschooling. Or, essentially taking time off from school. Recommended: one month for every year a child has been in school.

This process acts as a period of decompression for the child and parent(s), allowing for a cleansing of the negative effects of the conventional system and allowing for an opening of the mind and spirit so as to prepare for a new, more intuitive and ultimately, more effective approach to education and learning.

Whew. As we stumble along, here, new to this journey, this insight comes as a monstrous relief. We- mainly, I- have still been struggling with the idea of keeping up, or catching up. And the point to counter that would be, with whom, exactly? We are now on our own to accomplish and enjoy learning as works best for child. That was the purpose of our transition from school over there. The freedom in our learning.

We have jumped into another structured system, as dictated by the province and our local school district, and have yet to really unload the expectations, standards and constraints of what we experienced over there.

Anyways, a new and very attractive concept to open our minds to. Take a little pressure off.

Today I put a stalk of celery in a glass of water with red food colouring.  In a few days, I will see what changes have happened to the celery.

My favourite part about weather is learning about rain and the water cycle.

Gloooooooooooooo-rrrrrrry be!!!!

It is Spring Break here for our local school kids.  All the friends have few if any academic concerns.

This crew?  Just another Monday.  Although with company arriving at the end of the week and an impromptu pre-spring camping adventure with dad and neighbor kids planned for tomorrow night, it won’t be a for real school week.

I am currently waiting for painfully distracted child to complete some fractions exercises so we can move on to other more interesting work.  Specifically, weather.  Very interesting considering it is of great focus for everyone, on this here western slope of the Canadian Rockies, as we anticipate the coming of spring… and spring WEATHER!

I can here the young ones getting on each other’s nerves as we- focus, boy!- fight through these freakin’ fractions!

Zippy Guga-roo will be joining us here pretty soon.  Letter sounds and a little fine motor work.

If everybody’s lucky- translation: get their acts together and get something done- we’ll squeeze in a swim later today….

This has been a great week. It’s feeling as though we are actually hitting some kind of stride.

We have begun a new module, the second of nine. So, yes. We are still very much being spoon fed curriculum by the province of British Columbia. And, currently, we are getting it.  And right now, as we continue to work on issues regarding the basics of reading and writing, it works for us.  Although I am incorporating, thanks to Lady, some fun word games and activities outside of the prescribed work.
Given the help Beasley’s been getting from lady and the extra effort I have been putting in to the issues we have, things are moving by far a little easier. And a little faster. We’re getting more done in our hours of work each day.

We’ve also taken time away to enjoy this new spring-time weather. Our excursion on Monday was one for the record books. It was just pure fun. Out and about exploring areas of our neighborhood and beyond. Just me and the kids. Me and the kids.

I took many pictures.

Now that it’s nice, we’ll be doing a lot of getting out and about. Great fun! I love a homeschool.

I wish I’d gone to one…

As you can see if you read through this blog, we are new to homeschooling. We are also thrilled to be homeschooling and finding it to be much more condusive to our lives. And with a little help from TutorVista and lady, we get by. We are actually doing more than getting by… we are, in fact, making progress. And children are happier.
The fact is. I guess the problem is. We are not a structured bunch. Some days a whole lot gets done in the area of academic structure and acheivement. Other days, life grabs us by the tail and not a whole helluvalot gets done (hello, TutorVista!).

In our lack of structure we take something of a “fly by the seat of our pants” approach.

I’d like to know, on this Works For Me Wednesday, how others implement their schedules. I’d also like to know if there are other homeschoolers out there winging it? Or should I feel guilty because in order to do this effectively one must exercise discipline and structure regardless what the day brings….

Today was a really good day.

I had both boys at one point.  Things are really coming along with Beasley.  His writing, both in spelling and legibility, is improved greatly from two months ago.

However, I’m a little direction-less with my kindergartener.  I have fun workbooks for him that promote fine motor skills while reinforcing letter sounds and familiarity.  He’s having a tough time settling into a routine of “mom as teacher” and thinks he can just come and go as he pleases- mostly go.  So far, I’ve done little or nothing to encourage a habit of otherwise.

Perhaps the materials I am given from our District Liason will give me some direction.

Perhaps I just need to ‘grow a pair’ when it comes to youngest son and enforce some ground rules!

We went to see the lady again yesterday.

This time with her is enormously beneficial and effective… for both of us.  I diligently took notes, while Beasley enjoyed the various games and activities learning, while not really knowing he was learning.

She and he, together in the context of one activity, list three columns of subject relevant words.  This becomes a board for a game with a die utilizing the words.  She then cuts up the board and there is a new batch of words for “flip ‘n flash”.  Three activities in one and he didn’t even know he was actually increasing his spelling vocabulary.

Last week was one of little academic structure with both Filipes and I crunched with deadlines. There was a lot of independent work assigned, though we did manage to squeeze in a couple of remnants of school days.  Despite it, he showed improvement at yesterday’s session.

We are moving on to a new module.  Zip will also be formally registered this week.  Unfortunately, Zip’s homeschooling thus far has consisted of a lot of painting, a couple of pinch pots and of course, Beasley assigning him times tables.  Beasley is determined that Zip should be learning more advanced skills and has taken on Zip’s formal education himself.  Yeah, OK…. Not.

Today… a school day.  For both.  And Fidgey, too.  Should she feel so moved.