It has been seven months since we Pramadhs embarked on the
home-schooling journey. It has been a lot of learning and preparation on our
parts and constantly telling ourselves to retain the child-led exploratory
nature of the process. In a blog piece in September, I had shared our learnings
(https://madhurimadas.blogspot.com/2020/09/being-teachers-pramadh-way.html).
We have often been told, “This needs lot of patience and
work” and also been asked, “How do you manage it with both of you working?”.
Honestly, we have also been figuring it out at times as we go along. So, seven
thoughts and learnings from these seven months. The thoughts oscillate between
what we experienced and what we learnt.
1.
Learning on the Job: There is only so
much we can prep for. Just like child birth, where we could read a lot, go through
fanciful programs to prep to be parents, most of it is learnt on the job,
literally. Homeschooling is this. There is no single formula. Some days we do
activities that involve reading and writing, some days we explore concepts
through nature and some days all we do is puzzles. And some days, we do
nothing.
2.
The Collaboration, the search for Balance:
Homeschooling is a collaborative task between the parents and the child,
teamwork in its completeness. And with it comes the fact of accountability,
where we as parents should not let the collaboration slip. Some days, the
adulting takes over and that is where we need to be wary of what is happening.
So, we need to pull up our socks, remind ourselves why we are in this as a
family. And trust me, while we adults are doing that, the child is busy
creating her own story with her toys.
3.
Let the child learn their way, you adapt how
to teach- We need to be in the now, let the child learn and we adapt the way
we teach. It is not our journey as a teacher, it is the journey of the child
and we have to remember that. Also, the other thing that we have discovered is
not to focus too much on visual or auditory or kinesthetic learning component.
That can limit what we want to do. It is essential to not label and not fall
prey to ‘wanting to label’.
4.
Stuck to Unstuck- Sometimes, it is ok to
not know what to do, to feel stuck. So, getting to the ‘unstuck’ zone takes
time. Sometimes, a few hours and sometimes a few days and lot of conversations.
This is where unlearning what we know, relearning new things and the cycle
continues. Also, there will be emotional upheavals, revelations and reactions.
Embrace it all.
5.
Home-schooling is beyond letting the child
stay home- There are various terminologies for the uninitiated- home-schooling,
unschooling, microschooling. It all depends on what the family chooses to do
and how. There are enough support groups on Facebook etc which can guide us.
But one thing is important for us to know- homeschooling is not just letting
the child stay at home and do worksheets. It requires immense involvement from
the parents and for many becomes a life time journey. For us, we plan our week
and each day often to the minutest details. We share our responsibilities and
make this happen. With both of us working, this is hard but not impossible.
6.
Information is everywhere and it is
overwhelming- There is an overdose of information. Use your mind as the
filter and do not get lost in the jargons and terminologies. We continue to
call the work and learning as activities. The experience can be overwhelming.
So, take a break, breathe and think why are you all as a family in this. This
needs to be done intermittently. While the process is organic and can be
instinctual, we have to make rational decisions to understand how to process
the information around us.
7.
The ‘Little Human Being’ is unique and a
package deal- Parenting is fun and hard at the same time. A constant
reminder to self that the little human being mirrors our every behavior. So, we
have to tell ourselves that as they strive for independence and agency, we must
be ready for the little push backs, the little melt downs and the vigorous
vehement challenges to (so called) authority. They are learning to be their
unique self, figuring out the myriad emotions and expressing them in ways they
see and know. There is no perfect parent and no perfect child. We are ‘perfect
for each other.’ Homeschooling is a package deal, so embark on it knowing that
every moment is a discovery, the rocks and pebbles make the path what it is and
each of us find a unique trail.
#Ira #Iraims #IraAtSix
#StoriesAtSix #Happiness #Gratitude #HomeSchooling #Learning #Evolving
#Parenting #LoveTeaching #homeschooling #homeschoolingmoms
#homeschoolingrocks #homeschoolinggirls #homeschoolinglife #homeschoolingdads
#homeschoolingparents #homeschoolingadventures #LittleHumanBeing #BeingParents
#BeingTeachers #Pramadhs
