At the beginning of June I finished all three kids portfolio evaluations for this year. Our youngest is signed up for a nature PRE K class for the fall.
10th, 10th, and 1st grade Villers Academy complete. I taught my first child how to read. ME. If you’re a homeschool Momma, you get the accomplishment there. If you’re a teacher I hope you’re proud!
My juniors are starting college and so excited too, I’m so proud of them.
At the end of the years I get to take a step back and look at all this year has allowed us to learn and it always amazes me. The lists are long and the pictures and portfolios reminds me of how much we can do FROM home.
When parents first start homeschooling the biggest question is “CAN I do it, am I doing enough?”
The answer is always – “you can adjust”.
Children get left behind ALL THE TIME in public school and it’s often hard to have your hand on the pulse of their education flow. As a home educator YOU are the pulse. You ARE the flow. You learn and YOU adjust.
You can use resources, educators, tutors, classes, co-ops, the internet, workbooks, and even some public school options to supplement (that is your right as a tax payer if needed). You don’t have to teach them alone. I have so many solid, highly educated, experienced supporters in our life to be my back board. I don’t do this alone. You don’t have to either.
I also want you, as an adult, to take a step back and ask yourself: “What does it say about a system of education that you went through for 12 years maybe 16 or more for higher education that makes you believe you are not capable of finding the resources to educate your children? Could you not get a degree in education if you chose to? Of course you could. You are more than smart enough. Why do you believe you’re not?”
I am a different stubborn breed. Sophomore year in high school I found myself bored beyond belief and under stimulated. I would show up late, fall asleep in classes and was very disrespectful towards education. I had little to no friends and wanted out. Not because I wasn’t smart, but because at 15 I wanted to learn about REAL LIFE while getting an education. I begged and begged my parents to take me out of school and let me homeschool. I mean I drove them crazy. I came up with the plan of how I would homeschool myself, they wouldn’t even have to worry about me. I would enroll in college classes because that’s where we were going anyway why not do it now while I could. And I would find a real full-time job… and I did just that. I mean, to me at 15, it seemed like the logical step. Instead of wasting my time at boring school around people I didn’t even like – high school was not my favorite.
Now looking back, I wish I didn’t want to grow up so fast. I wish I savored experiences more, but I didn’t enjoy them. My point remains – sticking kids in a classroom is not for everyone. I went on to get a degree, have a successful career, and run two successful businesses, with many more to come. I’m able to have the lifestyle I choose and homeschool my children all because I stepped outside of the norm very early on.
Am I saying that is for everyone? Absolutely not. I took a lot of lumps, and lots of ups and downs that could have possibly been avoided going a more traditional route. I firmly believe everyone has to choose their own path and take the consequences and what I am sharing is that there are more options besides one.
In our adolescent years, our insecurities often force us into conformity. A desire to fit in is literally part of our social being at that age and survival. I wasn’t born with that. Maybe I’m socially off but because of that it’s allowed me to continuously LOVE to learn and grow and step outside the norm. Is that for everyone? Again, absolutely not, but it should be a CHOICE for everyone.
I’m not even saying that homeschooling is for everyone because I don’t believe it is. Just as I don’t believe public school is for everyone. We NEED good public education options for our society, but I am saying that if you think it is for you or your children, then you need to explore that, with openness and knowledge that YOU CAN DO THIS.
I’d love to help!
#villersadventures
#homeschoollife