New Year New Planner

 

Each year, I try to get a planner or planner system that will fit my goals and needs for the upcoming year.  In complete honesty 2020's planner was a hodgepodge of bullet journal, big planner, notes, and mess so fitting for the year.  This year with a little more clarity on where I want to focus and what my goals are I chose a traveler's notebook.  While, I have used this system in the past and even created my own (link to how to create), this is my first time with so many individual journals. 

This notebook contains a pouch for my pens, envelope for my notes or receipts, folder pockets, and slots for business cards. The best part is I am able to place 6 journals within this one notebook.  Narrowing my plans and notes down to 6 areas of my life was difficult being a multipotentialite.  (A multipotentialite is a person who has many different interests and creative pursuits in life. Multipotentialites have no “one true calling” the way specialists do.)   Somehow, I managed to do this.  The 6 journals include a calendar, notes on our homeschool/unschool, family resources, and then one for my son, my daughter, and myself.

I plan to use this accordingly.  A calendar is obviously for appointments, deadlines, activities, meeting, and all things scheduled. The journal on our homeschool/unschool is a landing place for ideas, games, books, interests, and activities we are or might enjoy together.  This also gives me space to record learning that is happening through notes, lists, or mind maps.  The family resource journal is a spot for sizes, needs, desires, favorites, subscriptions, goals, and doctor visit schedule (you know the dentist sneaks up on me every-time or I can't remember the date of the last yearly physical which can't be done twice in one year or insurance refuses to pay),  Then individual notebooks for each of my kids.  This, hopefully, will allow me a space to record classes, activities, involvement, business plans and ventures, contacts, individual mind maps, goals, and ideas. I find that our relaxed, unschool-y approach to high school will rely heavily on the notes I take on their individual and group learning.  I usually move this information to a spreadsheet for the transcript but until then I need the notes so I can capsulate all the learning that happens everyday for each teen.  Finally, the journal for myself holds goals, projects, homeschool support group leader notes, books read, tracking for personal goals, yoga schedule ideas, and work information for the part-time teaching I do to help homeschool families.  

I am very excited to begin this planner system and pray it host a organized, productive year after a year of slow time, mismatched activities, uncertainty, and perspective shifts.  

Perspective in Learning

 

Last week, I wrote about perspectives and how it makes a difference in the way you see things.  Homeschooling, learning, education also have an element of perspective.  

When I have my "school" glasses on, I see learning differently.  With "school" glasses, I mean visualizing the learning through subjects, memorization, and isolated understanding.  The perspective I have is one of lacking.  I see what my kids don't know, haven't learned, can't understand.  Yet when I remove the glasses, thus shifting my perspective, I move to abundance, seeing more knowing, learning, understanding.  Sitting with each of them,  I observe all they are truly accomplishing interconnected in everyday living.  This is true learning as they synthesize and grow, instead of performing rote tasks for some outside influence.  

What perspective do you have on learning today? 

Perspective Makes a Difference

Your perspective is the way you see something.  Perspective has a Latin root meaning "look through" or "perceive."

My son and husband enjoy duck hunting.  This past weekend they spent the entire day hunting in a near by river.  Apparently, my son took the boat down the river to look for birds.  He must have gone further than my husband thought he planned to go.  So my husband called him to return which took a while.  Once he return, my husband was disappointed as he felt my son had used too much gas as the boat was "almost empty" with 2 gallons of gas left.  My son told me the same story, but with the comment, "I don't know why dad was mad.  There was still 2 gallons of gas left."  Same story, same amount of gas, but different perspectives.

Perspective changes the scene you experience.  Whether it is your visual perspective, your experience perspective, or even cultural perspective.  

Homeschool is like Yoga

 

I have been practicing yoga nearly as long as I have been homeschooling.  The parallels in these two areas are amazing to connect.  Both yoga and homeschooling involve time to improve, breath, flexibility, strength, dedication, and quiet.    

Obviously, anything you spend time doing you will see improvement.  Having a daily yoga practice will enhance your ability to reach goals in yoga. Challenging yourself through longer or more difficult poses will benefit you greatly.   Related the longer you homeschool, experiencing the day in and day out challenges, the better you will be at it.  When you achieve a higher level of  ability in one area such as elementary the focus will change to middle school or when you master focusing on one child's education another will be added to the mix. This is also like yoga.  Once you are proficient in one pose you can take it a step further or try a different type of practice.  One child might excel with unschooling while the next needs a more Charlotte Mason approach of short lessons.  

Next, breath.  Yoga works on at a breath pace.  Inhaling and exhaling as you move through poses.  Homeschooling involves breath as well but more of a figurative breath.  Stepping back taking a breath when things get difficult.  Breathing and noticing your thoughts as you begin the day with your kids.  Breath is key to a homeschool mom's sanity.

Yoga is known for its flexibility.  Many people will say they cannot do yoga because they are not flexible.  This is exactly why you should do yoga.  You are able to improve your flexibility.  Homeschooling works the same way.  Moms tell me they cannot homeschool their kids because they do not have patience. Well, by homeschooling you grow in patience.  You also build a flexible mindset on how things need to be done and what things are of most importance.  Your patience and flexibility increase as you perform both yoga and homeschooling.  

Strength is a component that builds in yoga.  Poses help you develop strong muscles throughout your body.  Homeschooling strengthens your family relationships.  The daily interactions with each other, the shared books, games played, and experiences that take place all invigorate that relationship between parents and children as well as sibling bonds.  

Creating a mindset of dedication helps in both yoga and homeschooling.  When you commit to a yoga practice the benefits are seen.  The same is said for homeschooling.  Once you affirm your dedication to homeschooling you will see the advantages.  

One other influence both yoga and homeschool have had on my life is the need for quiet space in my mind.  With yoga, you are encouraged to clear your mind or set an intention as you practice.  I like to choose a verse, a word, or a person that I feel God has laid on my heart.  With homeschooling, this quiet is crucial.  I need time for reflection, journaling, and prayer to help me move forward in our journey.  

I hope this helps you look at homeschooling in a different light whether you practice yoga or not.  There may be another influence in your life that parallels your homeschooling journey.  I just added a zen yoga practice to my podcast if you would like to check it out it is at curious journey podcast.  

Feeling Overwhelmed

 Today, I just want to take a moment to say feeling overwhelmed with homeschooling is normal, especially if this is your first year or 2 or 3.  But honestly, once you get the hang of it you will feel the need to add something else to your full plate and you will be back to overwhelm.  How do I know?  Well, let me tell you.

I have a 14 year old son and a 12 year old daughter who have only been homeschooled.  They are currently working on high school credits for their transcripts.  Each has their own side hustle business and very passionate about several hobbies.  We enjoy playing games, camping, and hunting/fishing together.  That is enough right there to keep me busy.  To this mix this fall, I added leading a homeschool support group out of my home, teaching 4 classes of yoga weekly, and part-time virtual teaching job where I help homeschool parents navigate homeschooling.  Typing this out seems like very do-able, but in reality this mama is facing extreme overwhelm. 

I did make these choices and just need to get my priorities in line and keep them that way.  I also wanted to share this as a gentle reminder that no one has it together all the time. 

Virtual Learning

 

While many kids in the world are moving to education virtually using zoom or another platform, we need to remember to not let that become all consuming.  Not all learning can me measured and seen.  Long walks in nature with discussions on current events, sit-down book chats over coffee, building, baking, creating, hands-on problem solving experiences must remain the central focus as this engagement fosters true learning!  

Authentic Writing

I know I have wrote on this before but sometimes I am just astounded at the creative endeavors my kids will work on, discover, and bring to fruition without any prodding from myself or other outside sources. 

This past year, my daughter wrote a play from her imagination after participating in the winter as a stagehand for a local theater group.  After completing the rough sketch, she typed it up and sent it to a couple creative writer friends who returned the draft with feedback.  Next, she took some time to edit, discuss, edit, and finalize the play.  Once it was final, she had a deep desire to publish and share it with others.  So we made an account on Teachers Pay Teachers to showcase her writing.  

This lit a passion in written express so a few other projects are in the works for her.  She began working on a novel focusing on creating characters and now moving on the outlining the plot.  She LOVES using Canva to create posts and event invites, but finding Type Form rocked her world.  In the past week, she made 2 different quizzes for her group of friends that get together on a weekly basis.  The best is once the quiz goes out she is able to track the data the responses bring. 

I love how her creativity just flows into everything she touches.  

 

Camping Conversations

 

Conversations that happen while we are camping are some of the most profound that I have with either of my kids.  Probably due to the lack of distractions.  

This past trip, my daughter and I  started chatting about the upcoming "school" year and her goals.  I was blown away by her desire to do so much to prepare to begin college earlier than expected and her ideas for further options once she finished.  I love that she knows herself so well that she sets these goals inline with who she truly is and that she is fearless in voicing them.  Well aware that my desire is always to help her achieve, she rests in the fact that I will help her anyway I can.  

Summer of Changes

Well, it has been a while since I hopped on to this blog to chronicle our homeschooling/unschooling life.  The A to Z challenging had me writing so much that I burned out and then summer hit which is always crazy busy with camping, fishing, and all the things.  

As this summer comes to an end (not really-it is only August), I just want to pause to reflect on the milestones reached and the changes that have occurred.

Kids are moving on to earning high school credits.

GM has her own LLC and side baby-sitting work.

H completed the course work for driver's ed.

GM created, maintained, and grew a "girl gathering group" that meets once a week to do fun stuff together.

H fished as many tournaments and days as possible.  (Including an 8 day streak of waking at 4:00am to fish in the morning, return to the house and some days fish again in the evening)

Biggest change is I took a job as a part-time teacher to help families navigate and be successful in their homeschooling next year.  Allowing me to do this work virtually, I am excited to help those who signed up through this program as I have 10+ years teaching experience and moving into my 10th year homeschooling.  This is a perfect time to take on this endeavor as I note my kids are moving on to high school age work that requires less hand holding for them.

So mixed feeling on all these things, but grateful for everyday that I get to wake up and live life along side my family.  

Zone

My family has no problem getting in the zone when working on a project or studying an interest.  My daughter can write and draw for  hours enjoying the process of all her hard work.  My son can fish for days without complaint constantly reassessing what is working and what he needs to change.  I just love that they have found this ability and have the days, months, years to spend in these passions.  

Always learning.

Xray

Caring for our dog, Scout, has led us to so many lessons and life learning.  We got Scout from a local breeder when the kids were 4 & 6  years old, so she has always been apart of their lives.  

Scout loves bird hunting, camping, and being with her family.  She is everyone's dog.  Hunts with my husband and son, runs each day with me, tucks my son into bed each night (leaving his bed only once he has fallen asleep), and enjoys all my daughter's training ideas and homemade treats.  

A few years ago on a bird hunt in the snow with my husband and son, she stepped into a badger hole and hurt her back leg.  The next day when she wouldn't put any weight on it we took her to the vet.  He performed and exam and x-ray then informed us it was fractured.  We cared for her diligently for weeks, sitting with her carrying her outside to potty, and keeping the leg wrapped.  

This was the first X-ray, we experienced so the kids also were interested in the body and bones, how they break, and how they repair.  So between caring for Scout, we dove into the human body. Exploring diagrams, games, and puzzles that demonstrated how the bones work together in your body.  

Always learning.  

Wild & Young

When my kids were young, they were wild.  Like make other people uncomfortable wild.  The fact was they were not rule followers and neither were they interested in walking a traditional path.  As a mom, these times were often tough since we were pushed out of groups, not invited to events or just given the evil eye.  Keep in mind when my kids were young, "first time obedience" was a big deal and kid's choices and feeling were not considered in typical families.  Walking a different path (with my kids climbing the trees), was challenging, yet looking back I find it rewarding.  

A highlight is now when I see some of the same moms who left us out or steered clear of my kids, they have questions about my wild ones.  They want to know how they are so passionate and interested in their areas of study, how they are so motivated and not distracted by social media peer influences.  These inquiries always point back to what am I doing that they are not with their teens to get this behavior.  

Honestly, I attribute it to relationship, valuing opinions and choices, and letting them have a childhood where they could run wild challenging the boundaries and rules arbitrarily set by others.  

Virus

This CoronaVirus-19 has changed our lives.  It took our days that felt great to boredom and disconnection.  We worked to find a normal in the quarantine, but honestly it has been a challenge!

Unfair

Life is not fair.  At any given time I feel like one of my kids is rocking unschooling, while the other is zoning out.  Or maybe it is me being bored without an interest of my own while the kids are excitedly pursuing their passion! Good thing life is unfair because that allows for ups and downs. 

Seeing the Thread

I enjoy seeing the thread of interest that works through our lives.  I have always been interested in education, learning more and sharing it.  Another thread is health.  In the past, I have investigated  vitamins and supplements, healthy eating and cooking, essential oils, herbs, and now homeopathy.  I love discussing these things with others who share the interest.

My daughter loves creating from chalk to legos, from cakes to pillowcases.  My son loves nature and the outdoors which includes fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, maps, tracking, survival gear, boats, and kayaks.  

Allowing each person to lean into their unique thread that God provided is fascinating. 

Rotate

When facing a challenge or a situation, a rotation in view or direction is needed.  I love that unschooling allows us this option.  When one perspective is not serving us, we just rotate and change it up to fit our needs.  

Quit

Quit.  Yes, sometimes I see the need to quit.  

If we aren't enjoying a book-quit.  
If an activity is no longer working for us-quit.  
If we are not getting something-quit.
If we no longer enjoy a program-quit.

Yes, my kids and myself know the value of preserving and many times they stick with a challenging task longer than I do.

Podcast for That

You can use podcasts to homeschool!  I love, love, love podcasts.  One teen in my home feels the same way.  Gobbling up podcast after podcast in his areas of interest.  My other teen is on the fence as far as podcast listening in her free time.  

I have found that as my kids have grown that brining in outside expert material to read or listen to then discuss is necessary.  This is where a few good podcasts come into play.  (pun intended)  Here are several podcasts we use randomly as needed in our weeks and months.  The list is ever growing and evolving.  

Modern Mentor: inspiring and motivational

Helping Writers Become Authors:  writing

SciFri:  Science in current topics of interest

Throughline: businesses and ideas

How I Built This:  product development

Up First:  current events


Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Observe

I am a curious observer of everyone in our family.  Just ask anyone of them.  I am always looking at their interest with a curious eye. One thing I am notorious for is "booking people" as my daughter puts it.  I like to find the perfect book for each person in my life related to their passions and interests.  Christmas Eve is where I really focus on shining.  Everyone get a new book and chocolate to enjoy before bed.  
But during this quarantine for COVID-19, I am ordering books both physical and digital to maintain that desire to stay in the interest and passion when we are limited on what we can do outside our home.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Nest

Nest makes me think of my home environment.  When I was studying education (earning my degrees), the educational environment was key.  If you pause for a moment, you probably remember the cozy classrooms where it was more like a home with a reading nook or loft, bean bag chairs, and games set-up in a corner.  Well, that is important at home as well.  I enjoy nesting for our learning pursuits.  Related games and puzzles are out, books and DVDs are accessible, but most importantly technology and physical work space and needs are provided.  Each kid has a phone with needed apps, our TV upstairs has Netflix, amazon prime, YouTube, and xbox, carving tools, sewing materials, art supplies, paper, and favorite pens/markers are on hand.  This helps make learning fun and allows it to happen without much oversight.

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Myself

I am experienced in all things education. I earned my bachelors degree in education and then my masters degree in reading education. I spent 5 years teaching in a super low income school and then 5 years teaching in a high income school. Let’s just say each has problems. A move across the country brought me to homeschooling which I self-educated on all the methods. My son at 6 years old brought me to unschooling which I now advocate as the best way to raise kids through my blog and podcast. My love for teaching brought me leading yoga at our neighborhood yoga studio (when we aren’t on quarantine). My desire to further my education has me investigating, reading, and attending virtual study groups on homeopathy and healthy eating.


My family is into an outdoor lifestyle. We hunt, fish, camp, and hike together. My son and husband competitively bass fish. My daughter and I enjoy baking, crocheting, knitting, and sewing. Both kids (12 & 14) are entrepreneurs so I have experience in helping them set up businesses. My daughter just created an LLC for her baking.

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Lists

Lists are just visual reminders in our game room to help everyone remember goals they set for themselves.  This whiteboard holding our lists also cues inspiration for forgotten activities.

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Kayak

My son LOVES fishing so much but as a younger teen with little income, he was forced to mostly pond fish unless his dad was available to take the boat out.  This all changed with he met the nephew of a friend who competitively bass fishes out of a kayak.  After picking this young man's brain for a couple hours, my son was in research mode.  He found a kayak that would work to see how he liked it, then sold that kayak and his dirt bike to get a better one for fishing.  So much self education has happened from this one event.  Budgeting, product research, shopping for deals, electronics (using, installing, and interpreting data), seasonal changes in fishing and environments, hooking up the trailer to my car, wiring lights for trailer, navigating to destinations, reading and deciphering rules and regulations... The list could go on and on.  I am so thankful that this boy who has always been obsessed with fish, can guide himself down his path finding mentors along the way.

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Jealous

If I am being completely honest, I get jealous sometimes.  Yes, I said it.  Not jealous of other moms and their free time.  I am jealous that my kids get a childhood where each get to discover who they are, what they are passionate about, and time to explore those things.  My childhood days were filled with school, participation in at least one activity at all times, piano lessons, and play groups of friends I didn't always like.  So while I may be jealous, I am more than grateful that my husband and I were able to step out of the traditional model and are able to provide this enriching childhood for both kids.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Interactive

There is nothing like interactive games that get your brain engaged.  I love incorporating a game or 2 or 4 into our day.  The critical thinking and logic skills built and used are not able to be replicated by anything else.  Real people in real time competing or working together to win.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Hike

Outside has a way of calming all of us.  Even on cold, rainy days, it is beneficial for my son to hike around different ponds to fish.  Sometimes he does this alone and sometimes with a friend.  On more welcoming days, my daughter and I will join him on the trail, hiking around until we are ready to rest and read.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Goals

Goals!  Of course, goals are part of unschooling.  I like to take time each month to discuss goals each kid has for themselves and goals we have collectively.

December's goal list was crazy, yet motivating.  We were able to accomplish so much.  Other months, look like one or two focused goals.  Sometimes maybe one big goal that encompasses many steps to complete.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Flour

With this A-Z blogging challenge, my random word generator gave me FLOUR for F.  I thought for a moment that I may need to change this word, but then I remembered exactly how much flour we go through in our house on a regular basis.  

My daughter is a baker!  We joke that her love language is baking for others.  I can not keep flour in our house.  In fact, the morning of the day that I am writing this, I purchased a 10 lb sack of flour.  

Not only is this passion delicious, but it has helped her so much.  Baking is the best to develop a hands-on understanding of fractions and how they work.  It also allows for time and space to experiment in the kitchen with ingredients and tastes.  

So yes, flour for unschooling win.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Expert

3 Simple Steps to Becoming an Expert in Anything

1. Figure out what you're interested in. First you need to evaluate your current position. What do you know right now that you are close to being an expert in? ... 
2. Focus on one subject at a time. Get rid of your cluttered mind and focus on one subject at a time. ... 
3. Remember that practice makes perfect.

              from a simple google search

So I feel like this is a bit of what unschooling allows.  Each child (and parent) can become an expert on whatever they are currently interested in.  Often outsiders (those not actively working with kids) wonder how they will learn all the school subjects when focusing on one topic.  But I have found that no matter the subject kids go deep into subjects are introduced, explored, and mastered.  These subjects include math, writing, reading, spelling, science, history, but not in the way a textbook spoon feeds them.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Duty

Duty is defined as a moral or legal obligation or a responsibility.   

As far as unschooling goes as my children get older, I like to remind them their education is their responsibility (duty).  I am happy to help, provide supplies and opportunities, and guide as much as they need.  But ultimately, I don't believe in forced learning.  

Processing information just to regurgitate on a test only waste time and energy of all involved.  This is unless it is a necessary step to meet a goal which because it is moving you toward a goal it is not a waste of time or energy.  

Learning this self-responsibility as they choose topics, methods of learning, and set goals is a major benefit over top-down education that dominates many settings.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Criticism

The quickest way to kill joy and interest is criticism.  My personality type struggles with that inner critic always making me second guest my choices.  In times of stress, I can allow that critic a voice in my life.  Speaking critically to myself and those around me.  

Fortunately, I have developed the relationship with my kids so they recognize and call me on that criticism.  I also have created techniques to combat this default by focusing on the joy, the positives,  and the process.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Boom

One definition of BOOM is a period of great prosperity or rapid growth.  In unschooling, I see this happen.  A boom in learning happens often in this relaxed environment without academic pressure to perform and compete with peers.  

I have seen this boom of learning happen in two different ways, passionate dedication to learning more and after a break from the subject.  It is important to note that you must be open to learning happening and trusting that your child is doing his/her best.  

First, with a passionate dedication to the subject matter there is that rapid growth that can only happen through curious interest.  With this curiosity leading the learning, connections will continue to show themselves and further the learning.  Those connections can spur one on to further reading, viewing, and exploring.  

The other way is after a break.  I know that seems counter-intuitive, but I have seen booms in learning after a dedicated break.  Allowing my kids to release the stress of perfect handwriting, spelling, or memorizing math facts, to play games, draw/diagram, and read.  I was surprised to find vast improvements in these areas.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Always the Best

Age, that is.

I find that whatever the current age my kids are is the best.  Maybe this happens when your kids are two years apart and they move through stages together.  

Don't get me wrong, it is not always all unicorns and rainbows here.  I just really enjoy and appreciate each development.  I love seeing the people they are each becoming.  I also find pleasure in discovering that thread that binds each passion, interest, or strength in their individual lives.  

Just something to ponder, notice, and observe as you take the journey with your family on this unschooling path.

Strong Team Starts With Relationship

 "Relationship First." 

You hear this over and over in homeschool/unschool circles.  It sounds amazing, although idealistic.  

What does this relationship first actually look like?

Why is it this relationship the key to home-education?

It looks like parents being present, but more.  Taking on the task of acting as a social scientist studying your child or children, is the first step toward relationship first living.  Observing behaviors, seeing interests spark and wane, discussing areas of passions and desires, and just being present and available.  As this happens, the connection between you and your child/children grows.  

It is the key to home-education, because through this relationship you KNOW your child/children and in turn they know you.  This tie builds trust that goes both ways.  That trust can increase the value you see in their individual personality.  Then when it comes to learning and academics this relationship gives you both common ground to build from daily.  

Author Study

This month, we have listened to the FunJungle series in anticipation for the 6th book in the series.  (Belly Up the first book does not have an audio version, so we have the actual book.) I love enjoying books with my kids, so we downloaded the series on to each of our phones.  Everyone listens at their own pace and we get together for coffee and discussion. 

Stuart Gibbs is a favorite author around our home.  FunJungle is a middle grade novel series with the main character being 7th/8th grade boy who solves mysteries while causing trouble while he does.  Each book involves an animal or animals in danger.  Of course, loving animals and mischievous characters makes this series a hit in our house.  With everyone listening to the same books during the month, the opportunities to discuss literary devices and the author's techniques are plenty.   This is amazingly, easy, but also memorable way to do an author study.  

Seasons of Homeschooling

Each season during the year brings forth a little different bend to our homeschooling day.  Only after several years of observing this can I see the pattern and embrace the change as it happens naturally.  

A brief explanation of this seasonal flow through our home and homeschool.

Fall:  This is the time of more formal education.  I usually plan activities and pull together resources for these four months or so based on requests for learning in certain areas or just subjects that may need a little focus.  It helps that this coincides with the time of year that friends return to school and others are asking when we start, what the kids are studying, and other random school-y questions.  

Winter:  I consider winter to be December and January (probably because I am from the Texas coast and those are the only 2 cold months in the year).  These two months we celebrate holidays and birthdays since both kids were born in January.  Lots of baking, fun activities, adventures, outings, parties are the sort of things that keep us busy during this season.

Spring:  This season with turning a year older, everyone becomes more goal oriented.  Each of my kids reignites the desire to complete goals and quests.  They tend to develop into passion driven individuals.  

Summer:  With a wonderful area to roam and freedom to do so, summer makes the perfect season for experiential learning.  We try new things, camp in new areas, hangout with friends, learn new hobbies and skills.  

This may be a thing that only my family moves through.  I thought it was too interesting not to share.  It supports the researched idea that kids learn best in bursts of focus.  
  

Siblings Who Can Rely on Each Other

Every parent wants siblings who are friends or at least get along.  I have found that a key to creating that bond between siblings is adventuring together.  Many times activities are easier if you bring a friend for each child, but then you cut down on that interaction and relationship development between your kids.  

Our intentional choice to get out as a family on adventures, camping, hiking, skiing, swimming, and whatever else has truly developed a strong bond between my son and daughter.  They don't always get along, but know they can depend on each other.  

In a world, where friendships come and go, if you have more than one child take time to have them do activities together.  

Unschooling Books

Unschooled by Kerry McDonald is an amazing read on the history of education and development of unschooling movement as well as where it is headed.  I heard Kerry speak on a few podcast and could not resist reading this book.  It is well researched yet easy to understand.  

Two other quick reads on unschooling, An Unschooling Manifesto and Unschooling: The Honest Truth by Marla Taviano.   These two books put as true face on unschooling and the way it is walked out in daily life.  A family living life together, working toward shared and individual goals, and ignoring the segmented ways of school.  

I love finding books on education the challenge and solidify my beliefs on learning, true learning.  

Read Aloud

A couple posts back, I noted that reading aloud was a staple in our day at home.  I know many parents stop reading to kids once they learn to read on their own.  Today, I want to encourage you to continue or return to reading aloud with your tweens and teens.  

Our most recent read aloud was The Scourge by Jennifer A Nielsen.  The discussion on foreshadowing, friendship, plot twists, and cultures were astounding!  The no-pressure environment allowed these talks to happen naturally where everyone's voices were heard, acknowledged, and understood.  You have to read the book to comprehend the significance of the red lines my daughter decided we needed after finishing the book.

A simple search on Pinterest will reveal that reading aloud to kids benefits all ages.  Taking time to read aloud to your teens will enable bonding time that is difficult to come as they get older.  This shared experience in the stories you enjoy allows for discussions that may not otherwise happen.  These talks develop empathy for others and grow knowledge in areas outside of their lives.  Exploration together into interesting novels and books creates time for learning in a relaxed setting.  

My view from my read aloud seat in our game room.  

Thinkers

I love this quote from Julie Bogart at Bravewriter to focus on thinkers not students.

"Think more about developing thinkers (people who engage in ideas) and less about getting your kids through an education (people who can pass classes)."

To me this mean lots of discussion!  I mean lots!  We talk about big ideas from policies to laws to voting to methods of development.  We also talk about feelings, situations, thoughts, creations, and desires.  Events, plans, and goals are always topics circulation through our home, on our drives, and during our walks.  

Beyond discussions, I see these thinkers developing when they encounter a problem and work to solve it on their own before looking for help.  GM will find videos of desserts she wants and then search out hacks for tools or skills she is missing before tackling difficult decorating ideas. After watching video on spring fishing, H wasn't sure on the type of weight the guy described since it could be interpreted two ways in the spoken phrase.  To find out he sent a message the fisherman to find out exactly which way the guy meant using a written language to explain his inquiry.  

Another way, the thinkers we are raising challenge the status quo.  They are not "yes" men and women.  Instead, they are each always asking why and what other method could achieve the desired outcome.  This can be difficult on those days when you would just like to get through your day, but rewarding when you see them not caving to peer pressure.  

So ponder the quote a moment.

Are you focused on raising thinkers or students?

Do you want you kids to engage in ideas or pass classes?  

Homeschool Burnout

Burnout is a thing in just about every area of life.  Work, parenting, exercise, diet, remodeling, caretaking, cooking, cleaning...If done too long with intensity even a good thing can lead to burnout.  So homeschool burnout can be inevitable.  This month, February, is known for the blahs with winter lingering and new-ness of even the most creative homeschool waning.  

So how do you avoid this burnout?  

How do you deal with this burnout when it happens? 


I spoke with a few fellow homeschooling moms and this is some of the suggestions I heard:

*Go to a homeschool mom meeting or get together with like minded moms for coffee/lunch/drinks

*Buy (and read) a new book or 2

*Take a day off

*Go on a field trip or somewhere new

*Sit back and reevaluate your priorities

*Take time for yourself---yoga, walk, bake, movie

*Time with God---prayer, journal, worship music

*Board game/card game day

*New read aloud book or audio book

*Explore a new interest or topic

*Menu and meal prep together

*Take it easy---paper plate, cups, and easy food

*Movie day

*Adventure together

*Ice-cream and a drive (surprise ride is what I use to call these.  
When everyone was in a funk, I would just yell out "surprise ride" and kids would jump in the car to get a treat of some sort and drive somewhere new.)

All of these or one could help turn your burnout around, but keep in mind COMPARISON is the quickest route to burnout!