I have been absent quite a bit here in blogland. Sorry for that. I’ve been dealing with some health issues; and between the lab visits, dr. visits and surgery center, blogging time has escaped me. I have another couple months of poking and prodding left. Hopefully, after that, things will slow down.
School starts next week. (yay!) I’m ready for a new year. Over the summer, routine went flying out the window! It will be so nice to have a schedule again. I can’t believe I just said that. I never would’ve said that before I started following schedules. I’m tired of the messy bedrooms, tv watching, video game playing, and no chores getting done! Schedules keep us all in order and eliminates most of the ‘junk’ in our lives. We keep ourselves occupied with more important things when we plan our activities. Not to mention, we get so much more accomplished.
Next week we are going to start a new science curriculum we just received, Christian Kids Explore Biology by Bright Idea Press. After a quick flip-through, this looks like something we’ll be able to do with all the kids together. Love that.
I’ve got a few reviews coming up for you this week and a giveaway you won’t want to miss. For now, I pose a question to you. What do you say to people who question your homeschooling? I prefer to be polite because usually people speak out of ignorance on this and are only rude because they don’t understand. Still, I don’t always know how to respond.
For instance, I once had a friendly discussion with two PS teachers who were friends of mine. When the conversation turned to teaching children how to read, the reading specialist expressed her frustration and shock that parent helpers were allowed to help the children during the reading hour. She stated that only professional teachers should be doing this as parents had no idea how to teach children to read. I graciously smiled, but the look on the other teacher’s face caused the reading specialist to quickly realize what she had just said. The conversation ended soon after that and I don’t believe she’s ever spoken to me again. I didn’t know how to respond at all to her, but I think she embarrassed herself.
Of course, there’s always the conversations with the store clerks during ‘school hours’ or the relatives who disapprove. It’s hard to not feel like I somehow have to prove our cause to them. But that gets old fast.
What do you say to folks who question your homeschooling?
Sara O’