The joys of homeschooling...

As a homeschooling mother, I often have concerns about meeting educational expectations. I am blessed to have a daughter whom is also a teacher, and Kellie’s input and support are invaluable to me.

I would like to share a little interaction that I had today. We are currently immersed in the “human and animal” science block, studying the cow as a metabolic mammal. A good deal of time was spent laughing at my drawing of a cow, to which I was told, “It looks like a zombie.”

“O.K. So what does a cow give of value to man?”

Katie: ”Toppings for tacos?”

Jamie: ”Pizza?”

Lauren: ”Bread?”

I smile and close my eyes. Ah… my children will go forth into this world with a wonderful foundation of knowledge… never mind that Lauren is 20.

Yes, of course we reviewed what cows actually provide in terms of food sources, but the fun we have while working through the Waldorf Curriculum and Dr. Muller’s’ World Core Curriculum actually is vital to Katie retaining the information. Interestingly, Lauren just happened to be sitting-in, listening to the day’s lesson.

I have found that the kids are far more interested in the World Core Curriculum. They have signed a “Peace Treaty” and are referred to their agreement when war breaks-out between them. While they often need to go into separate rooms so that Katie can decompress and process the problem, I see that they understand reaching a compromise makes them both happy. Lauren and Katie had an argument over the weekend and Katie screamed, “I DID NOT SIGN A PEACE TREATY WITH YOU, LAUREN!”

As for Lauren… well… she didn’t have the benefit of homeschooling. Currently a college student, Lauren and I love to watch “Jay Leno’s All Stars”. During one particularly funny moment, a contestant was asked, “What is the Puget Sound?”. I looked at Lauren and asked if she knew the answer, to which she said:

“Is it the sound you hear from space? Or the sound the Liberty Bell makes?”

I no longer worry about my qualifications to homeschool.

I never forget to laugh.

© Cassie M. Ferguson, 2009, Autism Funhouse and autismfunhouse.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cassie M. Ferguson, Autism Funhouse and autismfunhouse.com, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.