Most of you know that while this was “back to school” time for me professionally, it was also “Thank God We Can Home school” time for our family.
As expected, I had mixed feelings.
I welcomed many excited students back to school, while my own did not return to his neighborhood school.
I saw all the “first day of school” pictures that flooded my Facebook feed and I felt a twinge of jealousy…until I saw two photos of my TBP.
The first photo was taken the first day of third grade. In this picture, he was anxious and visibly upset. He had spent most of that morning crying and begging us not to make him go. The photo is heartbreaking.
We compared that sad photo with this year’s first day of fourth grade homeschooling picture and the difference is quite obvious.
This year, he sat taller and smiled more. Happy, comfortable, relaxed are all words that could describe this new boy in this new picture.
We knew that we were making the right decision, but looking at these photos side by side, just reminded us.
The last two weeks, I prepared for my new class of first graders. Twenty-two eager, wide-eyed young learners, showed up on Wednesday. My teaching partner and I worked hard to begin assessments, set expectations, and start to form those important teacher student bonds that allow students to feel safe learning new things.
We worked hard so that these young learners would be excited to return.
Yes. I do wish that this could have been his experience, but it wasn’t.
This Monday, begins our “new normal” with homeschooling, partner teaching, and still squeezing in time for my writing.
I’m a tad nervous that it will be hard to give 100% to all of these roles. It will take time.
I have to remind myself that this homeschooling thing is still new and I have to help myTBP ease into it.
Thank you for the continued suggestions, resources and support. I’ll let you know how our New Normal goes.
My Twice Baked Potato 
I am right there with you! We also are homeschooling our twice exceptional son, knowing that it’s the best option for him. Our explanation we’ve now given a gazillion times (give or take) is that we don’t want to let his other struggles stand in the way of his academic success and that by separating his academics out, he can focus his attention on his social skills when he’s with other people (which everyone agrees is needed). I originally found you because I felt like I was the only parent homeschooling a child with special needs… As if school obviously provides something I can’t.
Now that I’m watching my son’s friends’ parents struggle with huge amounts of homework, trying to decide between placements that are too easy or too hard, etc, I’m realizing that while homeschooling is a lot of work in its own way, it’s also a lot of fun and none of the other parents I know are having fun dealing with their school issues. 🙂
Good luck juggling everything! I look forward to hearing more about it.
Thank you so much 🙂
Here’s to a great year!
Ultimately, it sounds like you are doing the right thing for your son. His needs are different and school does not fit him – at least not right now.
One thing I am confused about. How are you homeschooling if you are teaching at school?
Well…During our research about homeschooling, we learned that some families have found that they can homeschool and work. They do this through co-ops, weekend and evening learning, alternate care givers, and many other configurations.
I will be home four days a week and teaching mostly just on Fridays. My son will be completing most of his schooling Monday-Thursday, online technology training and Library visits on Friday, and making educational visits and trips on the weekends that will help bring his science, social studies, and social learning to life.
This is our plan, we will see how it goes 🙂
Got it. I’m glad you get to stay in the classroom as you seem to enjoy teaching.
I really do love teaching, especially first graders 🙂
I also have personal and professional relationships at my school that are meaningful.
I understand.
This might help explain some of the juggling that I’m doing…
http://mamalode.com/story/detail/out-loud-dreams/
Though I’m no longer in the classroom, I do still get to see both sides. My older son chose to remain at school and my younger one is homeschooling. Very different experiences, but also very different kids. Every once in awhile I think to myself, “That’s exactly how education should be.”
So true!
I’m studying neuroscience, a single mom and homeschooling. One thing that is shocking is that even if we don’t get everything done that was planned for one day, she still did more in that one day than most children do in a week of school. Plus, with the added one on one attention, this way of education seems tomb priceless and more convenient. I use alternate care for my class times and exams also. We’re going on year three. Thank you for posting this, you can do I! He comes first.
Thank you 🙂
As with anything we have our ups and downs; however, in only a short time we did math, reading, social studies, keyboarding, and further investigate some scientific questions we had earlier.
🙂 I don’t even want to tell you how little he completed in his old classroom