The last time I taught Thanksgiving with a group of kids, I was living in Winston-Salem, NC. They were ages 5 (two of them), 7 (just one), and 3 (thank God, just one) 😊. We read stories about the first Thanksgiving, played Native Americans and Pilgrims and traded for goods and food, and even wrote our own Thanksgiving skit. I took them all to the local historic park, where Moravian settlers first colonized the area in the 1700s. I think the poor woman in the small museum and gift shop was worried they would touch or break something. I know I was! I think she thought they were all mine. Nevertheless, they didn’t break anything and we had a great time exploring the reconstructed cabins and outbuildings, and ringing the bell in the fort (hope that was okay!).
This year, I’ll be doing Thanksgiving with an almost-1-year-old. My own sweet little Emma Kay. I don’t know whether I told enough of the story the last time I did this, nor am I sure how much of it I’ll tell when my daughter is a little older and old enough to begin to understand it. By the standards of this year, with its themes of anti-racism and righting the wrongs of past generations, I probably didn’t tell enough back then. But then, how does one share such negative aspects of history with children who are so young? I imagine it must be done very carefully. To me, that’s part of the beauty about Thanksgiving. The holiday itself is centered around a remembrance of celebration, something positive that happened, and encourages us each year to take the time to express gratitude for our blessings. You don’t have to tread lightly while delivering that message. But I can promise you that when my daughter is old enough to hear and understand the Thanksgiving story and other stories surrounding our country’s history and founding, I want to tell it very carefully and truthfully. I want to make sure she hears both sides of the story, both the fallen aspects and those that give God glory. How are you sharing both sides of the story?
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Why in the world would I choose to homeschool? Well, there are many reasons, but let’s see if I can rattle off a quick few.
What do you think? Does homeschooling help children to be more self-directed and learn more critical thinking skills and a better work/life balance? What has been your personal experience?
This!
This is why homeschool. So that you can take advantage of moments. Teach when the questions arise, hug when there are tears in the eyes (or when you just feel like it). I know of no other system that allows such freedom to self-schedule and work around the needs of life. How do you treasure your moments and manage your time? Why Homeschool? You may be wondering why a person would choose to homeschool their kids (if that’s you, keep reading!). It might sound like too much work, seem too expensive, or you may feel too busy. However, homeschooling doesn’t have to be hard (there are so many different ways to do it!), time-consuming, or expensive (there are many free or inexpensive curriculums, plus resources like local libraries, public museums, & nature centers), and there are many benefits. What are some of these benefits?
Side note: I will always remember how exhausted and tired I was at the end of the day when I attended public high school. Not tired in an accomplished sense as if I had just finished working on something, but more drained from the hours of exerting myself without a break. It was like I had to be “turned on” and engaged all day without a break, and what breaks I did get were rarely restful anyway. All the people and the noise for so many hours straight were extremely tiring to me, and I would often be quite grumpy by the end of the school day. It is my hope that my daughter will never have to experience such things as a regular part of her life…that she will have the opportunity to build her life more to meet her needs. Because when our basic needs are met, we’re all able to function better and be more productive anyway. Not to mention this style of working actually promotes happiness. For best results, needs need to be met, and work should be of an appropriate level of challenge. In homeschooling we are able to accommodate varying needs and levels of progress.
Why do you choose to homeschool? |
AuthorKrysta is mom to Emma and wife to Dan. She has a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Education from Montreat College, where she studied with a focus on preschool-age children and forest kindergartens. Her desire is to promote magical learning experiences for children everywhere. Archives
November 2020
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