Intimacy

This is how my homeschooling with Miss.L10 the past 3 weeks went ~

Since my burn accident on 3 October evening, I homeschooled from my bed for several weeks.  My littlest homeschooler had a wonderful time!  It has possibly been her happiest homeschooling times.

Now that my injury has healed enough so that I can get up and take it slow, she reluctantly homeschools at the table.

Same content, but intimacy has made all the difference!

For young children especially, I would try find any curriculum that allowed me to ~

• share my Lord and my faith

• snuggle together with books and read, read, read!

• spend time off the schedule to investigate anything interesting along the way

• join my child in discovery and delight

• take notice and nurture a love of nature

• enjoy arts, music and poetry

• create with our hands

• expand our minds

• nurture our hearts

It is important to teach the basic disciplines – reading, language and arithmetic, but just follow Ruth Beechick’s 3 little books and you’ll do fine! And if you follow Charlotte Mason’s methods, your lessons should be short, precise and sweet.

As for a core curriculum, it is like an itinerary ~

Just like a travel agent who creates an itinerary for someone’s overseas trip, an “out-the-box” curriculum is a detailed educational plan for your homeschooling.  The publisher may be highly qualified, be an expert in their field and may be very experienced, but you are the master expert of your child.

Regardless of what curriculum you purchase ~

Chose what works for each child (suits their learning style)

Chose an appropriate pace and time-frame (not too slow, nor rushed)

Leave out stuff that just doesn’t “click” with your child (forcing the matter just makes it worse)

Just as you would on a suggested itinerary, stay longer where you find something special,

and skip on over to the next destination when you are done.

You can change the order of things.

You can leave stuff undone or take longer to finish.

Personalize the journey!

You have my permission! [smiles]

Above all, cultivate an intimate relationship with your children.

If your curriculum stresses you or your child (tears, tantrums, depression and avoidance are classic signs of this),

if it rushes you and removes peaceful intimacy,

or if it makes you feel like you or your children are failing,

CLOSE THE FILE and put it away.

Go on a nature walk, have a picnic under a tree and read an amazing classic book to your children, listen to music that inspires, talk about current interests, and you will accomplish more in every way than any curriculum!

This post was written and submitted for the upcoming South African Carnival of Homeschooling (SACH Carnival)

Blessings and intimacy in your relationships.