Whenever I make a plan, the Universe makes another.
Not to go against my plans, but to intensify my learning.
So, I decided to open Davies Education some time ago. It’s been a dream for many years, but the picture of how it was going to look kept changing.
Finally, it came to me and I loved it. My plan was to start my son in Grade 2 and use that time to launch and iron out all the kinks before beginning our own home schooling journey.
However, a late start due to surgery and a scarring six days of a new class later, it turns out that I was meant to start the home schooling journey with my son first.
Then business…
This has taught me these top 20 things you need to know when home schooling:
- Release all expectations
- De-programming is really a thing
- Learning through strengths and interests is again a reinforced belief for me as a teacher and now as a parent – it’s just the structure that changes
- Be kind to yourself
- More support is always better, but it can still done with less
- Everything becomes ‘teamwork’
- Reflection is a key component for all learning
- Children can wake you with an in-depth conversation about the social and economic structures of Minecraft and it’s impacts on future generational growth at 1:30am and not wear themselves out until you inexplicably fall asleep at approximately 3am with them still talking
- ‘Have a go’ – is always the best goal for the day
- Children can wake up at 6am holding a grudge about you inexplicably falling asleep mid-in-depth conversation at 3am
- No home schooling journey is the same – just as no child is the same
- There is no space for comparison, only space for new ideas
- A plan is not a script, it just demonstrates that you’ve thought about how the learning may happen
- Journals and diaries are your saviour
- Neurodiversity makes the journey more interesting and the challenges more rewarding
- There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way, only what does or doesn’t work for you and your child
- Everything is a potential resource or learning experience
- Being a ‘life-long learner’ is best cultivated by example
- There is always time to ‘have a go’ another day
And did I say…20. Never underestimate yourself or your child?
Most importantly, get ready to be surprised every day. When you come from a place of love and openness, you can’t go wrong.