When I first started homeschooling, I remember that first winter so well.
I remember sitting down and looking through what we've accomplished in the last year and being struck with a feeling of failure. I felt like a failure because we didn't finish everything planned for that first semester.
In that stage of my life, I had a first grader, Kindergartener, four-year-old, and two year old. What I know now compared to those first few years is vastly different.
As I sit here writing this blog post... I'm writing to encourage you. My writing aims to show you my failures, my wrong thinking, the way I corrected my mindset, and the results I've experienced though homeschooling my children.
Often people get the impression that I promote or believe in "unschooling". While I don't believe in unschooling I DO believe that self-education is the only true education (Charlotte Mason)
My experience homeschooling comes not only from reading and learning from women that walked the path before me, but from actually being in the trenches of life and continuing to homeschool my children. There are times I've actually attributed success to just sticking with it when it feels impossible or so "heavy".
Winter is often a time of reflection. Many of us look at the previous year and determine our success by what was accomplished. We make plans for the new year and make plans to change and better ourselves.
I've learned that so much of homeschooling is about keeping a child's heart. That winter that I felt like a failure, is also the winter that my child who struggled so much in public school, finally came back to me and we worked together on our relationship. That boy is now almost 19 and recently told me, "mom, I don't know where I'd be today if you didn't homeschool me".
He struggled like so many boys with sitting still for a long time. At home, we were able to finish his lessons much quicker so he had free time to explore, read, and learn anything he desired.
Fast forward to today, I no longer struggle with the feelings of failure when I review a semester. And I DO review our semesters and plan for the new year. I think goals are important.
I have found so much freedom in embracing the homeschool experience using the mindset of, " I am bringing up my child". Instead of, " I am homeschooling my child".
Making my home more of a home and less of a school, is where true freedom began for me.
Winter Homeschooling
We homeschool with the seasons. I am prayerfully releasing some amazing curriculum soon to go along with this way of life. It is our way of life, one that has brought so much peace!
In the winter, we plan, read, work on narrations, and rest. After the holiday season, we still have formal lessons every day but our afternoons are more free. We have more time for visiting with friends, so we do make efforts in the winter to visit more with friends that we don't see as much during the busy days of summer.
We are working through the Winter Bundle
Planning
The winter is a perfect time to plan for the upcoming year. Our family gives our children their new list of chores for the year. Each year, the older children train a younger child on the chore they are learning. Interestingly, the children that have worked on a certain chore all year, are reluctant to "give up" that chore and move on to a new one. They seemingly feel like they have finally learned how to do something well, and want to stick with that.
They still will get a new chore because part of homeschooling is learning to do life skills well.
We also plan our goals for our farm and what new ventures we will pursue this upcoming year. We write it all down and have a family planning meeting. These meetings are so helpful as we hear everyone's ideas and complaints.
In truth, I've found these meetings so important. Instead of waiting for a time that is stressful to communicate, it's extremely helpful to talk during a relaxing conversation. Something I've learned in homeschooling and managing our home is how important proactive conversation truly is!
Reading
We have much more time to read in the winter than we do at any other time. We read a lot in the winter for school and pleasure. In fact, I, Jennifer take the three month of winter and research and learn so much. It renews my mind each winter as I dive into personal study and grow and am inspired.
This isn't to say that we don't read during the other seasons, winter just offers early evenings and more time to "hibernate" and dwell on topics of interest.
Narrations
In the winter, my children narrate or tell back much of the work that we did in the fall. Of course, the older the child the more detailed the narration will be. This is not our only form of testing; we have other oral and written tests as well.
Rest
We go to bed earlier in the winter. We have done this for the last few years. It gets dark so early. Some of us read in bed, while others do fall asleep early. I have found this winter rest helpful not only in how I feel, but our immune system in the winter when it's cold/flu season. Maybe it's a clue from nature? I don't know, but early to bed it is!
This picture above is from a really cold (below zero ) day. My daughter brought our barn cats into our home library and was having a fun time imagining it was a pet shop :)
As we gear up for a new spring semester, I look forward to the busyness of spring. The planting and preparing for another harvest and winter season.
Be encouraged this winter, homeschooling is more about bringing up your child and cultivating YOU than it is about lesson plans that are perfect. Embrace your home, your family, and discover this restful, fulfilling season that God has given us.
We will be talking MORE about seasonal rhythms of homeschooling and home at Rhythms of Home Course. Join us now and get $10 off by using code 10OFF.
With love,
Jenny