Today was a good reminder for us: homeschooling is a lifestyle, and that can look as different as any other part of life from day to day.
This morning I could tell that Marie-Therese's mood was a little off. She insisted on sitting down to do her school work. She did about a half hour of math & writing. Then she wanted to try the Bob Books again but had trouble and got frustrated again. I told her that I thought today would be a good day to just play. She burst into tears saying that that's not school! She needed to sit and do school work!
I explained that learning isn't just about sitting at the table and writing or reading or doing math. It's about exploring and being curious and living life. That Mommy & Daddy learn all the time and we don't always sit at the table.
We took a trip to Target where she picked out some new school supplies. She had a certain amount of money so spent quite a bit of time in the aisle adding. When we left I told her that was "school"!
So was this afternoon: hours of free play with my old carousel horse toys. Organizing & sorting them. Making up stories about them. Taking time to come sit on her bed with me while I read a book to her. Cleaning up & treating the breakable toys carefully.
After a picnic supper on the deck I found her & Veronica busily writing in their notebooks. They were putting together nature journals. Marie-Therese walked around the yard collecting fallen leaves, flower petals, pieces of grass, etc. and taped them into her notebook. Telling me that she had left space to go back in a few days so she can sketch how they've changed.
Learning isn't all about sitting on the table doing rote work. It's living and breathing and experiencing too. Keeping imagination and creativity forefront. As a lifestyle. That's what I hope to continue to cultivate in both girls.
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