A Different Classroom

How time flies! Once again, we have finished another year of Homeschooling.... a year full of challenges (both for me and my children), new adventures, learning, fun and frustrations, love and war....

Its summer vacation, but I made a deal with my child that we will not take a break from learning... we still need to learn and discover new things while summer is here... although he's hesitant about it....he still accepted my challenge because he enjoys learning things.

I have posted my reason behind homeschooling in my facebook account, and I will re-post it here to share my thoughts...

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Why Homeschooling? (March 26, 2010)

Every time I mention to my friends, relatives or acquaintances that I homeschool my son, they have only one question… Why? And I will always have a hard time explaining the reason why… but after 1 year of fully experiencing how to do it, I can finally share my reason…

It has been a very exciting, excrutiating, tiring, challenging & adventurous year for me & my son and we are still adjusting. One of the parents said, “its not a bed of roses” and I believe its really a thorny one, especially if both of us are not in a very good mood.

But, homeschooling is a very rewarding experience, not only because I see him learning academically, but because I can see that his values are developing in the right way. I love it every time my son calls me “teacher”, it means I am the one forming, molding, & influencing him, and not his peers, media or environment. In this day and age, kids are easily manipulated by the things they see and hear. It is scary to find out that one day, I might not know my own child anymore. Its the games on the PSP, the songs he sees on MTV, and the stars he idolizes on TV and movies that will form his character.

A lot of people asks me why Homeschooling (HS)? Why not enroll my child in those schools which are well-known, the ones which costs so much (expensive = good education)? I am not against these schools, since HS is not for everybody. Its just that since I am a SAHM (stay at home mom), might as well maximize it. The #1 important factor in HS is that 1 parent should be at home, no 8-5 job. I believe its important because HS is a 24/7 thing. A child learns not only during the 3-4 hours of study time, but in every thing we do every day, even the simplest chore…even in brushing our teeth.

How about the grades? Since I have started HS, I realized that grades is just a bonus but not the ultimate goal… what’s important is that my child knows how to apply what he have learned in his life. Grades will not determine our status in life…(look at Bill Gates…) And like what John Calub (a great speaker and mentor), told us, its important to be rich not just financially but in all aspect of our life (emotional, spiritual, relationship, physical).

Going back on HS … its a 2 way street, not only does my child learns, I am too… I have learned how my son’s mind works, why he acts this way and that, and the best thing… I am learning to control my patience (which is really my weakest point)… They say “ang tyaga ko” but come to think of it, “sino pa ba ang magtyatyaga sa anak ko kung hindi ako, ang nanay.”

Socialization… another aspect in HS… they say in a regular school a child will learn how to cope up with different kinds of people, but I believe that when a child has self-confidence, he can be with any kind of people. And I can see that in my children. Whenever we go out to attend parties, gatherings and other events, my children knows how to relate with others not just the kids but adults too.

I have come to fully accept my vocation in life, and that is to serve my family, my kids. I know I have not wasted my degree - it will serve as a good example to my kids, and I can still use it in the future (business). But right now, being there for the 1st 10 years of my kid’s life is more important. I might not be rewarded today, but I know someday, I will make God proud … to teach my kids’ His ways… to teach my kids to love, serve and thank Him … to face Him someday and live w/ Him in everlasting life… & that is the ultimate goal above all!

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To date, we have been homeschooling for two years and we will still do it in the coming school years. Until when? Grade six? I still don't know... hopefully until I can still do it! (hahaha!)

I have written that last year and I can say until now I am still learning, and now I am also homeschooling my daughter (4 years old). Time spent with them is so precious. I can never turn back time, that is why I am glad I am doing this. They might be in a different classroom, a different set-up, but I believe they will learn so much from our every day life together!