There is a time and a season for everything under the sun. With homeschooling, there are times and seasons just as in any other part of life.
A time for Bible, a time for Math…
A time to jump (on the trampoline), and a time to Sit.Down.Now…
A time to count, and a time to write…
A time to type, and a time to paint…
A time for chores, and a time for lunch…
A time to rest, and a time to run…
A time to pray, and a time to play…
You get the picture. There is a time for everything. The seasons which our homeschool has gone through over the years seem to be so long ago now! Preschool and Kindergarten, learning to read, the years of science co-op which I miss so much, and the year we did the human body unit and did so MANY dissections our kids were experts! Those were rich, wonderful years of growth.
Maybe you are in a season, but it’s not a rich, academically blessed one. Maybe the season you’re in is one of wondering if maybe this is the year you should put your kids in school. Let me encourage you to keep them home just one more year. Give yourself and them just one more year to explore; one more season to fill up.
You don’t have to do this year the same as you did last year. It’s YOUR SCHOOL. You can change things up, switch from textbooks to unit studies, or Charlotte Mason’s methods, or even unschooling. You can even move to more structure and give a full boxed program a whirl.
Take extra field trips… or spend more time at home. Draw on others’ expertise and get hands-on experience with something you’ve never tried before. Try an online class or a local co-op. You have the freedom to try something new!
Every year is a different time… a different season. We ALL go through seasons of dryness and seasons of plenty. This one isn’t going to be the same as the last, so make the most of it. And maybe, just maybe, when you try something completely different, you will find that this time, this season, becomes a time of rich growth and new interests for your kids.
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Great topic, Dawn! I like the adaption of the Ecclesiastes verses to homeschooling. What a great idea. Homeschooling does go through seasons – just like you described. In times of struggle and challenges – especially during times of a health crisis or increased caregiving responsibilities – having the same doubts you referenced above have happened to me. Thanks for the timely reminder and encouragement.
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Dawn, great post! I love it. Thanks for sharing!
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Seasons come and go; but family is forever. I love homeschooling!
Head Ant recently posted..T is for Typing
So true! Great adaptation! In the beginning of our homeschooling, we took things year-by-year. However, we now are looking at the long haul. We are in this to the finish and beyond if necessary.
Over the years, we have changed things up here and there, but this year will likely be our biggest change, but I love that we can do that. We can adapt to the changing seasons, locations, challenges, and appointments.
This is a wonderful journey that we are all able to take! Yay for homeschooling!
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