This post concludes the series of Homeschool Beginnings. (You can catch up any of the missed posts here – Part I, Part II and Part III.)
I would say that I instinctively began homeschooling when I joined with two moms from our church group to meet once a week for a play date. We met just to let our children play together, but we were all teachers (one mom was a high school Zulu and Maths teacher, the other mom was a music and choir teacher, and I was an English, Physical Education, and Art teacher), and so things began to take shape. Little did we even realize that we would start homeschooling!
It began so gradually that we didn’t even think of “schooling” but rather playing while focusing on a theme and some fun learning activities. We creatively brainstormed ideas while our kiddies played. We decided to work through the alphabet, and our play date included a Bible story, a song, a craft and a physical activity with the letter of the alphabet.
So we started with “A” is for Angels … and Apples … and Adam and Eve … We made paper plate angels, read about Jacob’s angels on a stairway to heaven and arranged angels from biggest to smallest … We climbed the jungle gym ladders, hopped and jumped on a ladder lying on the ground. We ate apples, made apple pie, cooked stewed apples, etc. We sang angel songs and learned the word for apple in Afrikaans, Zulu, Hebrew, etc. (You get the idea?)
Our kiddies wanted to do the same story and song every . single . week . and so we realized that repetition is natural and necessary. We simply flowed with our children’s natural delight and interest and only added a new concept or skill to keep things growing and moving along once the previous learning moment had passed. In a whole year, we only got to “G”!
We also went on outings and picnics, created plays, held parties, and enjoyed family get-togethers. These early years of homeschooling continued as our families grew and until the oldest children were ready for Grade 1.
These were precious years and our friendships were deep and lasting.
And so, that is my story of how I journeyed into homeschooling. Although I never imagined I would homeschool my kids, it was the Lord’s design and plan for our family all along.
How did your journey into homeschooling begin? Please share your story with us in the comments below.
Blessings, Nadene