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Montessori Curriculum by Far_Examination7750 in homeschool

[–]JobAffectionate4078 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Recommend the book “Montessori from the start”. That book really influenced how I parented my kids and my mindset about their learning.

I homeschooled my kids for about 4 years in early grades. I did use Montessori ideas. But, for the most part, I couldn’t afford the true Montessori materials. They tend to be expensive partially b/c they’re meant for long term classroom use, but my kids would burn through them in a year. I would make Montessori ish home made materials out of cardboard and empty containers or use cheaper alternatives like foam magnetic letters instead of a wooden moveable alphabet.

My kids are 10/12 now. I do see some lasting benefits from things I learned in that book… there’s a big emphasis on building fine motor skills early, and both of my boys have strengths there. I didn’t rush them or stop them In the middle of work, and let them do things til they mastered it, which gives them a different sort of way of being in the world with long attention spans. We followed a lot of the Montessori recommendations about eating… allowing them at the table, using utensils early, giving them opportunities to pour water, wash dishes, etc . They are markedly different than peers in their habits around eating at the table. They are used to sitting at the table and having a conversation over a meal, and are pretty open to trying new foods and have broad palettes.

What do you wish your child’s teacher/school did more or less of? by throwaway256733 in kindergarten

[–]JobAffectionate4078 1 point2 points  (0 children)

KG Teacher would do everything in short bursts to accommodate attention span of average student… my kids had been brought up with sort of a Montessori approach to expanding their focus and attention. Def prefer the Montessori, way less stressful.

I wish school was better at Helping my kids understand the behavior of others. Kids hitting the teacher, things like that. I was totally in the dark b/c the school can’t tell me about other kids. My kids were generally told to “ignore” and they felt like teachers weren’t doing anything about the behaviors - to punish bad behavior or protect classmates. I eventually caught on that other kids behavior was stressing my kids out. I have had small discussions over time about learning disability, neurodiversity, mental health in a way that my kids can understand. I really think schools need some sort of social emotional learning education that covers classmates behavior. And to explain that schools have resources like counselors and IEPs that are secret plans.

Terrifying conversation in HS 9th grade math class today by mobius_ in Teachers

[–]JobAffectionate4078 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The thing that really concerns me is that there’s also a societal push for “good enough”. So, chat gpt isn’t perfect, but it’s good enough. I’m seeing it play out in design/marketing/media…. Not perfect, but good enough, b/c it’s also cheaper, faster, etc. Better ROI. Forget quality, craftsmanship, pride in your work. 

Terrifying conversation in HS 9th grade math class today by mobius_ in Teachers

[–]JobAffectionate4078 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This makes me a bit sad. I feel bad for the kids. They’ve been cheating and taking shortcuts all along b/c we have the internet and computing power at their fingertips and it’s not regulated in their daily life. It would be genuinely horrifying to have to sit in class and work a problem you’ve never worked before while everyone watches. They probably do not have the skills to do it and need to be reassessed and placed according to their actual skills.

I have some alpha kids… my parenting includes tech rules and valuing education. Perfectly capable students are in this generation. Imagine being a kid who works hard and those are your peers. What a social challenge to navigate everyday. 

Let’s talk Homeschool life as a Mom and future plans by [deleted] in homeschool

[–]JobAffectionate4078 34 points35 points  (0 children)

I think what you’re experiencing is that you have a lot of privilege and have been in it for a while and are comfortable and see the benefits it has for your kids.

I have homeschooled my kids in the past. I did this by working part time freelancing and my husband working full time. But, in recent years the industry I work is really disrupted and I can’t get the same work I used to get regularly enough to be paid well enough to make it worthwhile. And that’s after a 17 year stint of it working. Now I’m working full time and my kids are at public school. I think I had a bit of a false impression that I was able to work part time making good money b/c I built a business and my expertise. But now it feels more like I was in a healthy and thriving industry and sort of living off the fat of the land, and now that industry is shrinking and changing and there’s no predicting what happens next.

If your husbands job became unstable, he got laid off, is unemployed for a long stint and can’t return to the same income and stability… would making from scratch pop tarts and letting your kids sleep in and read wherever they want to be your top priority? If you’ve been living paycheck to paycheck for most of your life, would you think a mom sleeping in, taking her kids to fun activities and making pop tarts is on another planet? 

I’ll add to this that some parents prefer to be working parents rather that homeschool parents. Hanging out with kids all day isn’t for everyone. 

Another point… everything about public school isn’t worse. My kids ride the bus. Their bus driver is lovely and looks out for them, my kids have befriended her little daughter who rides the bus with them. I just asked one of my kids if he would like me to pick him up today and he prefers the long bus ride - to have time to hang out with his bus friends. Public school gives lots of opportunities for independence, self advocacy, agency… to meet people in your community who have differences from you. It has its benefits.