Before I begin, let me just make sure you understand that not every day of homeschooling is rewarding. There are days I'm not sure I'm getting through, and what I am sure of is that I'm yelling way more than I should be. Now that you have the right perspective, permit me to look back fondly on Michael's 2nd grade year. (If you want to read the most important part, just skip to the last couple paragraphs.) :)
There has been a lot of growing and learning taking place, but I'm not always sure who is doing the majority of it--him or me. Early on in the year, we had to develop a system of discipline that was different than the everyday discipline a mom does. Because when I'm teaching, our relationship is not the same. Once that was established (and it was a God-thing, believe me!!), the road was much easier and more pleasant for both of us. During the second semester, we had to revisit this idea. This time, we did so by looking at the Fruit of the Spirit. This was by far the most powerful lesson we had all year. And then I wondered why I hadn't gone to Scripture to begin with!! (See? Learning and growing....)
Michael loves math, but doesn't always love the worksheet--especially when it is "boring" and he thinks himself an expert in this particular concept. :) Half the time, I'm not even teaching him the mental math tricks our curriculum uses because he has come up with a trick all on his own and it works! Why mess with that?!
He doesn't love to read, but his reading has improved by leaps and bounds this year and especially in the last few weeks. And one day he told someone he was "in a reading mood today"......a sentiment I was convinced he would never express. It was a joy to hear!
We loved our social studies--US History and a look at each of the 50 states. Of course, he most enjoyed the wars, but he wouldn't be a boy if he didn't, right?! Actually, truth be told, what he MOST enjoyed were the inventors. And right now, that is what he wants to be when he grows up. He told me he wished he could skip all this school and go right to inventing school. Once I explained to him that this school will teach him what he needs to know to learn how to invent, he changed his story......which is good.
He loved science and, more often than not, our experiments worked. Which is a good thing, but not as common as you might assume. :)
So, while most moms are posting on FB about their kids' good grades or how proud they are of their children's accomplishments, I'm writing (and hopefully not boring you with) a whole blog. Think of it as the teacher's comments section of a report card. :)
But here is the most important part of this entire blog entry...... Today, on our last day of school, Michael cried because he was sad it was over. Then he said, "I am kind of glad it is over because I'll get to play more, but I'm also sad because I really like learning!" I don't care one single bit about his grades (which were good) after this one sentiment! This one statement makes it ALL worth it. Everything. It puts it all in perspective. If my child can end a school year and ask to do school through the summer, something is working! My biggest hope and prayer with homeschooling is that we would instill in our boys a love for learning that will carry them through life. I think we're on the right track!
Thank You, Jesus, for the opportunity and privilege of teaching my boys. I do not take this responsibility lightly. Thank You for the encouragement that came today from Michael's heart. The encouragement I need to keep "failing forward."
