When you become a homeschool mom, there are a lot of small and large expectations you find yourself reconciling or disregarding. Perhaps you expected to use your dining room for holidays, but the maps on the wall kill the ambiance.
You thought that once the kids were in school you would have free time to hit the gym and grab a latte with friends, but now you wear yoga pants just for comfort.
Once upon a time…
It’s one of the first phrases little ones learn as parents introduce them to the world of books.
Throughout history, story has been an integral part of cultures worldwide. Myths, legends, and history are passed down from generation to generation through storytelling.
Just think about the impact stories have on our day-to-day lives. Consider how they are woven into the fabric of who we are as individuals and citizens.
Having a child who lives with anxiety can often be an overwhelming experience. It’s painful for us, as parents, to watch our children struggle with the weight of anxiety disorder. We work tirelessly to help them learn coping mechanisms, develop strategies for managing their anxiety, and help them live their best lives. What if there was one small thing—something many of us might already be doing—that could add another layer of support to their anxiety management?
Historical fiction is a big part of our homeschool. I believe that reading historical fiction greatly enhances both our understanding of history as well as our retention of facts from history.
That being said, you would be surprised how that flame got lit. It started long before I ever had children, long before I ever got married. In high school I had a history teacher who used historical fiction to teach. We would learn about a topic from the textbook, but we also had to read one historical fiction book from each unit.
"The best way to teach people is by telling a story." ~ Kenneth Blanchard
Throughout time people have loved telling and listening to stories. I know that as a child I loved to listen to my grandparents and parents tell stories of what life was like when they were young.
Stories have long been used to connect and teach people about their past. Studies also tell us that people remember things more easily if it is told in a story format. Teaching through story is a powerful, engaging tool to use in your homeschool to increase retention and interest.
Not all of us are morning people. In fact, my whole family knows that I’m not. We have a note on our fridge that says, “I love the smell of coffee in the morning—and the sound of no one talking to me while I drink it!” Two of my three children don’t seem to be bright-eyed in the morning, either.
But starting off the morning with a crabby momma does not set a good tone for the rest of the day. It usually leads to bickering and squabbling between the rest of the family as well. So we’ve developed a habit of quiet morning routines to ease us all into the day.
There is a myth that claims, "You can be anything you want to be." Many adults joining the workforce are quickly discouraged by a reality that doesn't match that childhood imagination. While a college degree might have guaranteed you a job twenty years ago, times have changed. It is challenging for us as parents and teachers not to get discouraged about the harsh realities awaiting our children when we send them into the world.
I don’t know about your family, but my family produces large amounts of homeschool papers every day. There are math lessons, worksheets, tests, notebooking sheets, maps, and more. What do you do with all of these papers that pile up all over the house?
You organize them with a portfolio.
“Oh, I could never homeschool!” I hear that a lot, as most homeschool parents do. When given a few moments of thought, it’s usually the reaction of most people. They imagine the time they’d be giving up, maybe a job they’d have to leave. Insecurity strikes, and we suddenly feel like we don’t know enough to ever have graduated high school, let alone teach our children.
Time and patience and finances—homeschooling can certainly require a lot of us as parents. Those requirements, though, can feel downright impossible as a parent with a chronic illness.
We are those people. Both of my children love books. Yet, despite being read to almost every day of his life, my oldest hated to read.
