When we decided to homeschool our children, we embarked on a journey filled with anticipation, uncertainty, and excitement.
Our children never had a “conventional” school experience. They attended a private preschool and then transitioned to an accredited Montessori academy in our area. My husband and I both value education and desire to nurture life-long learners in the family.
The idea of homeschooling my children was not new to me. It had been a thought that was placed on my heart even before I had children. As a trained educator, I would be more than equipped (so I thought), up until a certain grade level, and then I could seek out the help and resources within the community. The movements of my heart came to a head the summer of 2023.
My husband would tell you that our children have the best possible teacher in me, and that is why we decided to homeschool. However, that is not the driving force behind the decision. Our “why” for homeschool consisted of the following (but not limited to):
- Desire to have a flexible schedule
- Hope to travel and provide hands-on experiences
- Further develop interests not typically found in a school setting
- Educate on our Catholic faith traditions, and incorporate God in subject material across curriculum
- Bring Kolbe up to grade level in reading
- Spend more time together
By August of 2023, “The Joyful Classroom” was fully furnished and stocked with school supplies. Our curriculum for the year was purchased, prepped, and ready for the first day of school.
I was eager to jump back into the role of educator!
At the conclusion of every academic month, I dedicated time to recording my reflections. I pondered over what aspects went smoothly, which curriculum was covered, where we encountered challenges, and which concepts required reinforcement. This blog post encompasses the integrated insights derived from each month’s contemplation.
My Top 3 Wins in our First Year of Homeschool
Marine Biology Unit:
Our Marine Biology unit was a splash for the entire family! One reason homeschool appealed to me was the ability to let my children explore subjects deeply. We kicked off the school year with marine biology. Planning to utilize the entire curriculum, we would be immersed in the content for the first half of the year. Their enthusiasm extended beyond our “scheduled classroom time,” creating family movie nights with films like My Octopus Teacher, Octopus Making Contact, and parts of Chasing Coral.
We took advantage of Shedd Aquarium’s free days for a field trip where my children saw the habitats, animals, and plant life they had been studying. A highlight was touching starfish and stingrays.
As Halloween approached, the children decided we should be sea creatures for trick-or-treating. Our creative crew transformed into a marine biologist, an unspecified fish, a great white shark, a giant squid, and two angler fish, thanks to my mediocre sewing skills and hot glue gun. It was a fantastic memory.
For Kolbe’s 8th birthday, he chose to eat at a sushi restaurant, a special treat for him. He wanted to try octopus and squid, discovering his love for cephalopods extended beyond books and documentaries to food. The work of his new hero, Dr. Clyde Roper, had even more significance.
In September 2024, Francesca and I will take the ultimate field trip to the beach for the first time to visit friends in South Carolina.
Kolbe’s Reading Journey: From Struggles to Success
Kolbe is now reading with fluency! At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, my husband and I realized he still couldn’t read. He lacked phonemic awareness and decoding skills, often just studying the pictures in books. While the Montessori method encourages self-directed learning and Kolbe would eventually take ownership of reading, my conventional teaching background made me feel he should have been reading by kindergarten. Entering second grade without these skills would have put him at a significant disadvantage. So, I decided to teach both Kolbe and Francesca using the same curriculum, scaffolding materials to help Kolbe excel at his own pace. His hard work paid off! At his First Holy Communion party in May, he confidently read his own cards aloud to guests, a shining moment for him. Now, I often find him immersed in books, actually reading the text. It brings me such joy!
Nurturing My Relationship with Francesca: A Homeschool Triumph
My relationship with Francesca blossomed! This alone validated the investment and sacrifices of time I made for homeschooling this year. (Thank you, Lord!) Francesca, my “pricklier” child, has always presented a challenge in our relationship. However, in the homeschool setting she flourished as a top student, eager to please and a natural leader. She willingly assisted me and eagerly reinforced lessons with her younger siblings.
These positive traits extended beyond the classroom setting and overflowed into our home life. Throughout the year, I discovered Francesca’s love language and tailored my approach to fill her cup and heart in the way she needed. This was truly the greatest win of the year.
My Top 3 Challenges/Pain Points in our First Year of Homeschool
Managing Different Age Groups:
Managing different age groups in our homeschool proved to be more challenging than I initially anticipated. With children aged 8, 7, 5, and 2, I assumed that their Montessori background would ease the process, as it’s common for different ages to work together. Older children often assist the younger ones, right? Well, I couldn’t have been more mistaken.
My first year of homeschooling is filled with memories of chaos, particularly with John, our 2-year-old, screaming in the background. My oldest child felt the need to take charge and monitor every move John made, leading to exhausting moments. While my husband assured me that things would improve as the children matured, it didn’t alleviate the challenges in the moment.
Navigating Transitions: My Homeschool Hurdle
Transitioning between subject materials or activities presented a significant challenge in our homeschool. Interestingly, I found this to be a challenge in traditional classrooms as well. Despite my expectation that a smaller classroom size would simplify transitions, I quickly discovered otherwise.
In conventional classrooms, constant pre-correction, direction, and reminders were utilized to facilitate smoother transitions. However, even with our relatively routine schooldays, transitions remained difficult. It became evident that establishing a daily rhythm wasn’t always the solution.
Juggling Multiple Roles: The Struggle of Wearing Many Hats
Balancing the roles of educator, homemaker, family chef, counselor, and more often pushed me to my limits. In a traditional school setting, teachers benefit from a support system to address each child’s needs. For instance, during my time as a kindergarten teacher in the Eureka School District, I had access to various support staff including a weekly social worker, music teacher, daily physical education, reading teacher, speech therapist, and administrative personnel.
However, in our homeschool environment, I was solely responsible for meeting these diverse needs. This meant that my instructional time was often overshadowed by the demands of facilitating family meetings, addressing behavioral issues, managing expectations, and handling transitions. As my friend Amanda puts it, “Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart!”
My Top 3 Things I Learned About Myself
Conquering Self-Doubt: Overcoming Feelings of Defeat and Limiting Beliefs
My journey involved grappling with intense self-doubt and entrenched limiting beliefs. To be candid, I often felt overwhelmed and defeated. Even revisiting our initial motivations and mission to homeschool left me frustrated. Inside, I found myself trapped in a cycle of doubt, questioning whether homeschooling was truly the right choice for our family. Doubts about my own capabilities frequently arose: Am I equipped for this challenge? If the children were in a traditional school, perhaps I could maintain a perfectly tidy house or even pursue a career to contribute to our income?
To navigate through this mental madness, I realized the importance of stepping outside of my limiting beliefs and addressing each thought with rationality and clarity.
Embracing Community Support: Recognizing the Value of Homeschool Co-ops
During our first homeschool year, I hesitated to sign us up for a co-op, despite the abundance of programs available in our area. My reasoning was, “I’m not even sure what I am doing!” While there was some truth to this statement, I now realize the immense benefits we missed out on by not joining a homeschool co-op.
In hindsight, I understand that a co-op would have provided invaluable support, not only for me but also for the children. We could have accessed a supportive network, formed lasting friendships, and participated in structured activities outside of our home. Rest assured, I am committed to conducting thorough research and ensuring we are set up for success in the upcoming 2024 – 2025 school year.
Pursuing Personal Passions: Nurturing Entrepreneurial Spirit
Beyond mothering and homeschooling, I yearned for an outlet to explore my personal interests. With an entrepreneurial spirit, my husband and I have embarked on numerous business ventures together. In early 2020, I took a hiatus to focus on motherhood, a much-needed break at the time.
However, by the summer of 2023, I felt a strong urge to reignite my entrepreneurial endeavors. I shared this sentiment with Ryan, expressing my desire to start something centered around my own brand. Reflecting on a decade of entrepreneurship, I realized the vast potential within each of us to make meaningful contributions. With a long-term perspective in mind, I launched pamelajoyful in March 2024.
This venture encompasses a blog, YouTube channel, social media platforms, and advocacy for Beautycounter. In the pockets of free time I manage to carve out, I immerse myself in blogging, crafting content, and amplifying my voice.
Reflecting on Our Journey: A Call to Share and Learn
The insights gained from reflecting on our wins, challenges, and personal growth are truly encouraging. They provide valuable guidance as I revisit my approach and plan for greater success in the upcoming school year. While this first year of homeschooling didn’t unfold as expected, the invaluable time spent together as a family navigating life was truly priceless.
Whether you’re embarking on your first year of homeschooling or you’re a seasoned veteran, I invite you to join the conversation. Share your own victories, struggles, and self-discoveries. Let’s learn from one another and continue on this journey of fostering lifelong learners. Together, we can create a supportive community where experiences are shared and knowledge is gained.
Leave a Reply