WHY we HOMESCHOLE (so that i can mess up like that? -Eagle)

mmy likes copying HTML.. rip post (copyd from here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-we-17676782)

Krin & Eagles Journeys

Mar 20 at 8:49pm

WHY we HOMESCHOOL...

 Hi Patreon members, So I wanted to share with you some links about why we do homeschooling.  Often when we are out at the playground, we get asked WHY do we homeschool or how do we homeschool.   The three links below sums up a LOT of the answers to those questions.

these videos I found in March 2018 https://www.ted.com/speakers/sir_ken_robinson  on creativity summed up for me one of the reasons why we started homeschooling in the first place. Because even as young as 3 years old, when kiddo started designing something he would get superfocused and have INCREDIBLE attention span on whatever it was he was working on and he could 3 or 4 hours straight designing things and I would have to remind him to eat.  I knew that if we sent him to school he would not have the freedom to focus on projects like we had seen him do, and I wanted to make sure he had that freedom to feel free to design to his hearts content whenever the inspiration hit him.  normally, I personally believe its almost instinct for kids to love learning and given the resources they will take it upon themselves to devour information and understand the world around them.  :)At the beginning,  I used to fret about whether my son was on track but then after a video i watched I started letting him have more freedom to learn what he wanted to learn and I have been thoroughly impressed with the amount of information he has picked up on his own --  with me acting more like a mentor and less like a teacher.

 In the beginning, I used to be the one to find him educational resources but over time after having been encouraged by the experiment that Sugata Mitra did in India, I started letting Eagle explore and find his own favorite resources.  He started finding educational resources of all sorts on his own that he has enjoyed learning from. 

 Here is the set of video links I watched  about this experiment that Sugata Mitra did with the group of kids in India who had never even heard of a computer; but after getting access to one, they SELF taught themselves English and science:  its truly inspirational and amazing what kids will do on their own if just given the resources :)
Www.Ted.com/speakers/sugata_mitra   (Sugata Mitra not Sutra)    I think the one I watched is "The child-driven education"  start with that one :)

Since watching those videos years ago, ive been truly impressed with our son on the computer.. i act like the "grandmother" or "mentor" in the video and we spend hours talking about whatever he wants to talk about throughout the day. Often he might not bring up what he watches immediately, but after a few weeks, when he does he bring up something he had watched earlier, he asks such thought provoking questions I am often left in awe 

IF I no longer necessarily know the answer to something, we try to figure it out together. Or after discussing something, it might inspire him to look up even more..  The important thing, regardless of whether you are homeschooling or not,  is to make sure you child knows he/she is not alone in this journey. That you are there available supporting them and encouraging them and accepting and appreciating them all along the way.

But if you do decide to homeschool your own kids, (or even if you don't) be prepared to TALK A LOT with your kid and to ASK QUESTIONS and to SHARE A PASSION AND LOVE FOR LEARNING HOW THE MIND WORK AND HOW THE WORLD REALLY WORKS.. and for imparting the idea of THINKING and QUESTIONING and RESEARCHING answers.  And in todays world of the internet, you will also need to make sure to be able to discuss with them some about data anyalysis and being able to sort information from MISinformation 

IF you are thinking of homeschooling but are uncertain.. Please discuss with your child.  To homeschool, you MUST be willing to work with your child and to listen to what works best for them.  Every homeschooling parent I have talked to who has multiple kids has reminded me how every child is quite different from another and what works for one child chances are might not work for another child.   You will need to collaborate WITH YOUR CHILD to see what works best for you and what works best for them.

.
If you would like to know some  statistics  the NHERI site  has done lots of research on and about homeschooling:  

http://www.nheri.org/research/research-facts-on-homeschooling.html

There are millions of way to homeschool, ( from traditional to eclectic, from University style to Unschooling, from Montessori based to Waldorf based to Technological basesd) but no matter what route you might do, remember the key is to Encourage the Joy and Fun kids naturally have at Learning. 

 It saddened my son when he encountered a second grader friend who had already lost the joy for learning and refused to do any activity with him if it meant he would be "learning" something .
Don't let that happen to your kid.. And IF it has, get involved in learning as many kinds of communication and learning techniques out there.. 

but however you wish to raise your kids, PLEASE PLEASE LEARN & PRACTICE  Active Listening!

Please also learn about Non-Violent Communication,  

& learn about H. Stephen Glenn's Research about Developing Capable Young People and learn about the importance of Emotional Awareness.  

We appreciate it ..   

                                      Thank you,   from Krin & Eagle

ps: we are required to let you know that the amazon links we provided are part of the amazon affiliate program we are a part of see privacy policy for more info 

EKJRNY-TORCHWINGS-VNX.png

active listening,

creating creative genius,

homeschooling,

kid like learning,

why we homeschool

1 Like 

AHHhhh thats better.. ok so umm.. mmy wanted me to add something..
Join Eagles newsletter, its COL omg keybiard TYPEEEEEE... ok trying again..

Please Sign up for Eagles Newsletter! Its really COOL and i think you will like it!
heres the link: umm ahem compuyter.... IM TRYING TO TYPE!! this computer sucks -_-
AHEM sorry about that.. heres the link, go check it out THX: http://eaglesjourneys.com

Thank you and Goodbye!

<< EagleP >>

This post was written on 10OCT2018

a journal note from 2015, kiddo age 10

i wrote this note to journal note to myself back in july 2015 
afterwards i will say a 2018 update...

july2015 - kiddo age 10
Wrote this but realized after i do have more patience then i realized.  Bc later i had nice discussion with my son talking about feelinga and patience and emotions.  I love him so much and am learning so much about how to be flexille in my focus.  Sure there are still times i wish I had more patience listening to my son asking me how something works when I know don't know the answer myself and would need to look it up but he could just as easily go look it up on the computer for himself. its really hard to be patient with him when I was focused on something else myself. I just wish I didn't sound frustrated or annoyed or impatient (bc my own thoughts had been interrupted) when I asked him to go look it up but rather more inspiring and encouraging and celebrating his interest. I really need to work on this especially because it's usually about topics that I do happen to be interested in, though usually not to such a degree as he is about details. I will be honest, this is probably the hardest part about homeschooling is when he is working on a project and I am working on a different project simultaneously right next to him but then he stops to ask me a question which although might be quite interesting is something I know he could just as easily look up -- so sometimes I catch myself geting mildly irritated of why is he asking me, when he could just as easily look it up. I have to remind myself it's probably easier to just ask me, and it's realy nice to just be able to chat about questions and ideas, but occasionally its one of those kinds of questions which I don't readily have the answer to and would also need to look up, pulled away from what i was working on and distracted I go, ahhh, how about you just go look it up. okay? When he was younger and I actually was paying attention to him every second and actually doing the teaching it was much easier, but now most of what he is learning about is from the computer or some book he is reading, its easierto get distracted working on my own little research projects right next to him.. but although it gives me something to do while he is reading, it makes it harder for me to have patience sometimes.  This is when I think having a second child who was just beginning the learning process might make teaching the older more independent child much easier.

2018 follow up kiddo age 12/13
well one thing for certain kiddo mastered was the ability to look up most answers to questions himself esp while i was dealing desperately trying to put all my focus on my ex trying to get him to hear our love amd appreciation and need for his help and then when all that failed spending time on trying to make sure kiddo got his request for me to have full custody since the changes in his father had left him not only utterly terrified and scared of his fathers disrespect for the family and for all.of kiddo feelings and opinions and for what mattered most to him in life.

so, after the divorce, a lot of how we homeschooled changed bc my ex for whatever reason he refuses to tell is why is refusing to pay the child support he agreed to. One day we will have to take him back to court to get the money he agreed to, but for now we more despwrately need some time to heal after the emotional trauma we both encountered before we subject ourselves to even more trauma or chances of us hurting us even more.

in the meantime, we have changed our focus of homeschooling from pure exploration and love of learning more to how to survive and trying to learn different ways kiddo and i can make money from home so that kiddo can continue to homeschool to his hearts content..   Whats funny is that for years before kiddo had been disappointed with a belief system that there were few ways for a kid to make money or for him specifically to make money, but now as i do all my learning with him, kiddo has also been learning and his hope has been renewed. sort of.  our income producing ideas have not become a success yet bit we keep learning and trying to give our minds hope.

we have not made much yet but at least now there is a sensation of hope and also an acute awareness of the importance of being allowed to pursue ones passions. 

his passion is design.  much of what he designs is not quite sellable right now but we do open up a zazzle and a red bubble store where hopefully he will share some of his designs and make some money off of it. go to the menu bar of krineteagle.com for links

but where i was going to go with this topic was the idea of us working together in the same room. 

so after awhile, esp when kiddo started  getting super focused on his designs, he made it a habit to hum pretty nearly nonstop while he designed, which sometimes i can handle but sometimes the volume got a little loud and so id have to buffer by working from another room..  btw, if you would like to have his voice as a background you can go to his soundcloud where he has posted some small bita and pieces...
go to the menu bar of krineteagle for link

but even though i may be in other room, whats great is that both he and i are always accessible to one another..to ask questions of one another, esp now that we are business partners as well, to brainstorm ideas with each other, to just take breaks and get remimd each other to eat, stretch, go outside and be in nature, get some exercise, and connect with neighbors and people in the real world as well.

its actually a pretty decent life minus not yet having the money to do many activities we would otherwise would have gotten to do when my husband was around.  we miss his wanting to be at home with us and wanting to share his life with us and our lives with him and hope not a minute goes by where he doesnt miss and long to be back with us as a family unit.  and we definitely are disappointed about his taking away the fiancial and emotional safety he once provided before he chose his job and a new life without the responsibility of a family over us.  but even still we are determined to do the best we can wirh what we have available to us..
and are grateful we have each other and that there is still hope we will learn enough to make enough to save and buy our home from him someday.

but in the meantime, if you have a dollar to spare and would like to help us on our creative journey... please subsribe to our channels and send a dollar a month to patreon.com/KeE

updated: on 9/13/18 4:13 PM

originally published July 2015 kiddo age 10

homeschooling tips 101 - exercise

12pm -3pm August 4/5 2018 published 3:20 pm
This lesson applies to you regardless of whether you are homeschooling or not.  even if your kids go to school, believe it or not but you are still homeschooling because EVERYTHING you do. and i mean everything you do..every decision you make no matter what it is.. its teaching them something about life and the order of life.  you are teaching them by your very existence!!

Every thing you do in life, its a learning  and teaching opportunity, from going to the store, paying your house bills, dealing with neighbora or work politics, to scheduling out your life and making dinner to staying in shape and healthy for yourself.

i was about to begin this post with the words "every chance you get" or "every opportunity you get" do it with your family but then i quickly realized thats an inaccurate phrasing  bc its not "every chance/opporunity you get" .. its "every thing you do IS AN OPPORTUNITY to teach and sharw with your kids something that will help them in their own lives.
everything you does give you a chance to be with your kids and to teach them.
everything you do, every decision you ake IS teaching your kids whether you intended to that or not.
it happened.
so make that lesson be that they actually ARE your highest priority in life. dont just say it.. actually SHOW it

and one of the simplest steps is to share your thoughts and activites WITH your children!

ESPECIALLY EXERCISE!

I am sorry but i truly find it the most absolute ludicrous thing ever that parents go and exercise without their kids! 
i hear "oh its my time to myself"  i am sorry but you know what you really can actually take that time to yourself with them.  okay its harder if you have a ton of kids i agree but its still possible!

i have heard the excuse "the gym doesnt allow kids" well go to a different gym. in fact get out of the gym and take those kids to a park!!  dont just depend on their school or friends or someone else like their coach to make sure they are exercerising. FIND a way to get your exercise done in such a way that your kids CAN join you.

same with the idea of oh they are too young to joing your team or any reason why you have for excluding your kids. FIND a different activity that DOES include your kids

Remember, even if you dont get alomg with your kids, you are your kids role models? 

If you are claiming that your kids are your highest priority, show it in your actions.  your actions reflect what is really your priority.

remember your time that your kids are young is extremely limited and YOU HAVE a CHOICE.

you have a choice of what you want to value more and of what you want to make your priority..  you get to choose if its your family or other people that matter more to you.

ok but what if your kid doent want to participate or join you?  hmm so that tells me that you just havent found the right activity yet and that you need to take the time to do some more listening.
maybr they need something simple like just going on a walk with you or if you are lucky enouhh to have acess to a game of ping pong or putput with or racquet ball to encourage more chitchatting.
but if they wont even budge from their couch to go with you then curl up next to the couch with them and actualy take thr time to listen and keep on listening and encouraging both you and then to keep coming up with ideas until something works.
keep staying persistent bc eventually you will find a creative way to exercise togther even if its just a walk at an arboretum or turning on the music and dancing. 

i believe in you..you CAN find a way of connecting to your kids so they will feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts with you and participate in excercise with you.

really and truly make it your priority and it will happen.  
in the end, whether your kids are in school or not, you are still doing a form of homeschooling no matter what .. bc in the end what homeschooling is is teaching by your connections to them.

if you are NOT connecting even that in itself is a lesson.

so find a way. make your famiky (that includes your partner even your ex partner) your highest priority.  try to do as many activities as you can together as a family (and if your are divorced do everything you can to heal your relarionship wirh your ex so that you fan find a way to include then so you can show the message to your kids that harmony and compassion and conflict transformations are doable) and that family matters!

so.FIND A WAY to EXERCISE WITH YOUR FAMILY as a whole!  its doable, it possible, MAKE IT HAPPEN!  make it a success!

originally Published on 8/5/18 2:34 PM, kiddo age 13

homeschooling tips 101 - the Key

August 4/5 2018 9 to 11 am  11:28am 1st published

how do you homeschool?

what is homeschoooling actually about:

its about listening to your child!

its really as simple as that.

taking the time to sit down or lay down next to your child for hours at a time to encourage letting them talk to you about what they are thinking about, what they are processing, to hear their questtions and give them alternative perspectives, to ask them questions, to hear their answers

okay so you response is "i dont have time to do that"

my response at first is "bullshit".  though in truth i know exactly what you are talking about.

but see here is the thing.
instead of watching a show together, sit down together and talk.

you schedule in everything else.  also schedule in time to talk with your family as a family..  family meetings. 
maybe its at dinner time.  maybe once a month instead of going to some other event
its all about priorities.  are those other events your priority or is your family your priority?

at the very least, each WEEK. each day if you could but lets be realistic... so each WEEK sit down with each member of your family individually. though i will be frank if you really want a close knit family where you kids or spouse will actually value what you have to say, its better to do thia each day.. where you out aside something else to stop and listen to the other person.
sacrifice the tv shows or the news to listen to your child, your spouse or partner, your family instead.

dont try to do it all
prioritize.
and make listening to them your highest priority!

also instead of going out somewhere and doing things seperately,
do it togther WITH them...
this will give you more opprotunity to share their minds with them and have them bbe more inclined to want to listen to your own thoughts and ideas.
but remember again, the emphasis is to hear their minds and help inspire them to think about your perspective you want them consider... but dont limit them to.your thoughts..

listen to other peoples ideas with them and then discuss those ideas with them

Little extra reading to begin the year then time for sleep

original post: 1/18/2018 6:17pm

Surviving is the first step.

If you would be ever so willing to help us get out of barely surviving mode to having a chance to make our dreams come true in such a way that does not step on our values, we would ever so appreciate it. 

Please help out with a monthly donation towards our creations via:
paypal.me/pools/c7Zy2QR6pif     Please help out towards our creations.

update 2018

to see some of our creations/blogs/vlogs also check out the patreon site we created this year to help us begin our journey being connected to you and giving you a way to become a part of our new family via patreon.com/KeE  and/or Makersupport.com/Krineteagle