I read an email from Super Homeschool Mom (not her real name) on a homeschool email loop on Saturday.
Before I get to the point, (Ha!! Like I ever get to the point!!) let me say this: I think if you're homeschooling your children, it should be about them... NOT about you.
If you're homeschooling so that you can show your child off, you're sort of sick and wrong. Really.
The subject line of the email was help with teaching, but it should have read "Blasting my own horn!!" or "Hey!! Look at me!!"
She has a three year old that she's been homeschooling (with curriculum!!!) since she was 18 months old.
Mom talked a bit about what the child knows, what she wants to teach her, and how smart she is. Said she's ready for Kindergarten, but isn't writing well yet and can't draw stars.
Good grief.
I wanted to say (and didn't) 'why don't you get a puppy and a horse and a little cart and make it a REAL dog and pony show?'
When I read about someone who is aggressively teaching a kid that small, it worries me. When does the child ever get a chance to be a kid? To explore and meet the world on her terms instead of her mother's terms? To be joyful and free and have a little fun?
Certainly not during the "two to four hours PER DAY" that she's being taught instead of being allowed to learn.
Am I making sense? I know it's been a long time since I had a three year old, but when I did, I didn't worry about curriculum and making her learn.
I'm aware that homeschoolers are perceived as wackos by some.
I don't think people like S.H.Mom help much in disproving that perception.
I'm with ya girl!
ReplyDeleteSay it loud!!!I agree with you!People like that give us homeschoolers a bad rep.I have a 6 year old who can't draw stars well and I don't care.I am learning that my kids will do things as they are ready and that's OK.
ReplyDeletemy friend S was complaining that her 2nd kid (just turned 2) didnt know her letters yet. By that age her older brother knew her letters. But, her 2nd does know her basic shapes, and can count for a while and knows her colors.I have a niece that went to public school and was almost out of K,had been to 2 years of PS and still didnt know her colors. Pretty sure my friend has nothing to worry about. She's a SAHM and was a BD/LD teacher in a large public school system so I guess she knows a lot about teaching kids stuff. I think it will be a miracle if my kid can do simple puzzles, recognizes letters in her name (enough to do on a paper) and count say to 10 by the time she goes to K. Good grief.
ReplyDeleteOh, you're making sense, Ami! A lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteI homeschool my 3 yr old.... we play games and color in the sunshine... and yes I am proud she knows her ABCs and can count to 10 and for all intents and purposes acts as if she will be turning 16 tomorrow.... BUt.... Im not worried about making sure she knows anything specific ...not now... our main purpose for her is to love learning, and just go day by day.. learning naturally what comes as she explores her world and grows. There will be plenty of time later.
ReplyDeleteSadly some people get carried away... or come off SOUNDing like they are carried away..( I dont know this person whom your speaking of.. but dont want to judge what shes doing as there are to many imperfect things I do that could be judged back...)
And sadly there are some who go to such extremes that it makes ALL homeschoolers seem to be as you say "whackos"... though I assure you were are not all like that..lol...
anyways.., love your blog... visit here often... love your honesty in sharing your thoughts. =)
Kids that age love to play. Learning is wonderful and a necessary part of growing up but 3 year olds need more play time than school time. IMO!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Traceytreasure a.k.a. homeschooling wacko
{{CLAPPING}}
ReplyDeleteWell, I for one didn't teach my kids a thing; and now they are morons. Okay, really, they played and discovered and they know a lot and they wonder what happened to all those kids they are meeting who have been in school all these years and don't know nearly as much as my kids thought they would.
ReplyDelete