The Homeschool Journey

As most of you know Zachary and I have decided to homeschool our boys. This will embark the first year of the kids schooling. Or I should say a structured year where I have a lesson plan,lol. Thayne and Ayden will be six in Novemeber. According to the Public Schools they would be going into 1st grade.

To my suprise they learn very quickly at home, or more quickly then I expected and I am really knowing now after 2 months that this is really the best decision for us. I never thought I would be a home school Mom but reading The Thomas Jefferson Education when the twins were small, I have now changed my mind. Here I am though and I am embracing every moment. One thing about me is I put my heart into anything and everything I do. I don't half it, I know that each year, I will become better at learning the skills that will require me to teach them how to teach themselves. I will embrace each moment as an oppurtunity of a lifetime and I will tell you I am doing just that. I think homeschooling is fun, exciting, exhausting and worry some at times but it also takes sacrifice,dedication and a willingness to lose alot of yourself in the process. What I mean by losing yourself is, taking risks in all aspects of one self and of course letting the kids take risks too. Trusting yourself and following your heart(as corny as that sounds).

Years ago when I graduated High School, I was not thrilled about school and I was suprised I even stuck it out as long as I did. I knew I wanted to go to College hoping it was different then High School. When I was 15 I got my first job waiting tables and I knew then I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life. I enrolled myself into College and only took classes I loved, Photograhy and Music. I spent 2 years not fulfiling any of my general requirements. I did this to regain a sense of love for learning because I felt that i had lost that when I was in school. I wanted to explore my passions and become better at them. I am fortunate, I had passions because I certianly didn't gain them from school but from outside of school. I later went on to fulfill my requirements for a A.S. Degree and enjoyed every minuete of it! I can tell you it was a struggle though working full time and going to night school but I got it done:)I have about 1 1/2 years left to finish my B.F.A.. I have decided to apply to BYU when the kids get older.

I was going to start my own homeschooling website but I have decided to just do a blog for now. It will have good resources of books and links and also resources of what we are learning. I plan on doing an event calander of the field trips and educational places we will visit throughout the year. I will aslo be teaching some workshops next year on photography and other artistic endeavors.

I hope you will enjoy keeping up with our love of learning as we find more ways to yearn to learn in this ever so fast paced society.