Results tagged “frustration” from Learn at Every Turn - Creative, Enriched Homeschooling

Apparently, I'm not the only one who experiences homeschooling frustration! Pioneer Woman just posted a great piece on the very subject. If you have time, I suggest reading here.

I guess my children are not the only homeschoolers who do not dash to the table each morning, begging to learn quantum physics and organic chemistry while rewriting Shakespearean plays to make them more pertinent to our times. Seriously, though, it's nice to know that, while we all have those perfect moments occasionally, we all also face the less ideal ones as well. It's not that we've failed to make the work interesting or failed to follow their passions adequately. Just like the rest of us, children don't always want to do the task at hand.

The real issue for me then become how to address that. I think child-led learners will probably back off at this point. Others will say that there is value to be found in learning to persevere despite a lack of inclination. At least for me, the task will involve balancing my need to be compassionate and protect their natural curiosity with my need to see that they continue to make reasonable progress in their education.

And I'm sure I will be revisiting that issue as long as I am homeschooling.

I would guess that, like everyone else, homeschoolers have good days and bad.

Over the past several years, I've noticed that our best learning occurs when we have several quiet days at home in a row. The boys seem to settle into their studies with better focus. For that reason, I've always tried to organize our outside activities in such a way that we do not leave home every day of the week.

That said, sometimes life intervenes and field trips, outside lessons, doctor's appointments or workmen at the house interrupt the boys' studies. Such has been the case for the past two weeks.

When these times occur and we then have a day to work without interruption, the boys seem to have to test to see whether they really have to study. Those days are frustrating for me, especially because I feel pressed to cover material. As I have said repeatedly, my sons' first instinct is always to use their considerable abilities is to find ways to get out of studying.

Tonight, I could easily feel ready to throw in the towel. Instead, however, I'm going to focus on a few key moments.  For example, after first completing a handout with slipshod one-word answers and being directed to start over, Landry produced a thoughtful, well written piece of work in a short order with absolutely no input from me. And Kipp, who feigns ignorance to avoid work, completed several math worksheets with ease and thoroughly enjoyed looking up new vocabulary words in his dictionary when he realized that his excuses would not pass muster.

No, some days I don't enjoy my job, especially when it requires that I play taskmaster. Then again, these may be the days when I am most valuable. I believe a day will come with Landry and Kipp will find goals that each wants to accomplish. When that day comes, each will be unstoppable. Until that day arrives, however, I will help them to see of what they are capable when they make the effort and are held to a reasonable standard.