|
||||
 Back to the ClassroomPosted August 25th, 2008 by Jen in education, family life, religionHello friends, You can hold the Homeschool Blog Awards, I won’t be qualified. I’m headed back to the classroom and all my kids are going with me. I’ll be teaching at a private school somewhere in Oregon, and that’s all I’ll say because I’m a security freak. So if you know me personally, please keep your comments general! I labored a great deal about having to write this post, and the main reason I am is because I noticed that I’m on a lot of bloggers’ dedicated “homeschool blog rolls” and I can’t just be sneaky about it! And I suppose with this transition in our family life, I’m sure to want to write about teaching and school life occasionally. I love homeschooling and it’s been a great blessing in our family life. I will continue to support my homeschool friends and write about the homeschool issues I care so much about, like the situation in Germany and other freedom of education topics. Part of my hesitation to write about this change is very personal. I have friends who believe that homeschooling is THE only way to educate a child, so of course I have concerns about certain people feeling like I’ve betrayed the movement. On the other hand, certain folks are rejoicing that I’m no longer homeschooling because they’re of the opinion that it’s a bad choice for all children (you know, the socialization contention). When it comes down to it, my husband and I make our family decisions based on God’s call on our life, not anyone else’s opinion. I will have some questions to throw out for you as I’m attempting to integrate my educational philosophy with a more traditional school system. I’m not dealing with a public school, so at least I won’t have many of the obstacles I would otherwise face. I have the freedom (and responsibility) to teach a biblical worldview in this school–a duty I approach earnestly and prayerfully. But how do I maintain the individual child’s sense of unique identity and liberty in a classroom of 20+ kids? How do I avoid treating information/knowledge as a commodity to be dispensed by me, the teacher? School has the potential to be a huge waste of someone’s childhood if the teacher is not engaging her students in meaningful, purposeful and effective learning-related pursuits. How do I maintain a child’s sense of being in control of and responsible for his own learning? I have so many more questions. I’ve been a classroom teacher in the past, before I homeschooled, and I never truly dealt with these questions. Mostly because I hadn’t yet homeschooled nor had I fully developed my own personal philosophy of education. I was trained in public institutions and taught in public institutions–it was all I knew. So, why, you may ask, if I have so many questions and doubts, am I teaching in a classroom and sending my kids there as well? I may discuss that another time, but I do feel called by God to this place for this time. I hope to honor God, my administration, my students, my students’ parents, and my own educational ideals all at the same time. I would really love to hear your thoughts on this big transition in our family life, and would appreciate your prayers for both me and my family. Technorati Tags: Christian education, education, family life, homeschool, teaching |
Search
|
|||
14 Responses
It’s a big decision and a big change, but only you can decide what’s right for your family. We are returning to public school this fall, not without some trepidation and definitely with some feeling of missing out. I know some of my friends thought I was nuts to homeschool (because you know we will never see another living soul until we get back into the real world)!
I wish you all the best in this new chapter of your lives! Keep us updated on how it’s going!
Wow that is a big change! May the Lord bless you richly as you obey His leading in your life. I love it that you and your husband make the decisions about the direction you take as a household in obedience to God not to a movement or the popular opinion!!! It’s awesome.
I think just having had the time of homeschooling is going to enrich your teaching interactions with your students. I’ll bet you enjoy it more and are a better teacher for it!
I look forward to hearing about how it’s going!
Sheila
You will now be a blessing to so many kids…and your kids will be blessed by their wonderful teachers that you will be cohorts with. You are entering a nice big family!
Seems perfect to me! And I totally love homeschooling, Christian Schooling, and Public schooling…I’ve seen all of these avenues be incredible blessings.
None of these options should be done in fear - God is blessing each of these avenues. Strongly opinionated souls miss the truth that God is Big and can use it all.
My goodness, I can’t imagine ending up back in the classroom with my own changes in thinking. I already got in trouble a lot for trying to overly individualize (I and I was a special ed teacher–we were supposed to do that!) Praying for you and yours.
I haven’t homeschooled, but wish I could, due to the overcrowding and violence in public schools. Anytime you are directed in a certain path by God, you should follow. Regardless of what others think. You and only you (husband included)can make the decisions you feel are correct for your family. I will pray that things turn out well for your family.
You will all do fantastically! I love teaching in our homeschool co-op; it is so totally different than my experiences teaching in public school. I think moving from homeschooling to teaching in a classroom will be a huge benefit for your students. You will be a teacher who is more understanding of the student’s individual needs and so much less dependent on educational guidelines as set forth in college education courses. You’ll do great, and so will your kids!
Thanks for sharing your heart, Jennifer. First, you must follow the Lord’s leading in all things, especially in educating your children. Hooray for you!
Second, I’m sure you’ve researched the school of your choice to the nth degree, and no doubt it passes muster in most respects. I’m glad you found a good one nearby!
Lastly, the school hours are limited, and there’s plenty of time after school and on weekends/holidays to continue being active as an educator in your children’s lives. That’s the model that worked best for us, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Free time for us was carefully structured with a good balance of downtime, creative time, and purposeful activity. I know you’ll enjoy this new phase of life, and feel peace about it. God bless!
Wow, big changes! I can’t wait to hear about your new job and how your kids are adjusting. I have been on both sides too- there will be things that you will miss, and there will be positive things too. You are already aware of being outside the box as far as schooling goes, and you are already aware of not just conforming and will recognize each child as an individual as much as possible. I don’t know that that made much sense, but what I am trying to say, is that you have a teacher’s heart,as well as a mother’s, and will go a great job!
There are wonderful things that your can children benefit from homeschooling but there are also wonderful things your children can benefit from school too. And you said it best-each family has to decide which is right for them! I wish you and your kids all the best-and I know thats what you’re going to get-the best!
I was asked to teach in our church school again this fall and I just had to say no although it pulled a bit having taught off and on since 1979. But I knew Tink would lose all she gained if I put her in the school and taught. Besides my hope is to bring Peter home next fall to homeschool.
As long as the private school is a church school that supports your basic faith and values then I dont see anything wrong with what you’re doing. Be prepared though to give up a lot of your idealism that you have acquired as a homeschooler. There just isnt room for everything in the classroom. Thats what I like about homeschooling; the flexibility and the huge variety of classes offered. The entire world is their school instead of four walls. You cannot emulate that in the classroom.
Nevertheless, you can still have a wonderful and productive year. Blessings and I’ll be waiting to read how its going! :)
Congratulations on your new position, and I think you are approaching the upcoming changes thoughtfully.
I was raised by a former special ed teacher, but attended public school. My parents were super-involved at our school, volunteering to help as teaching assistants often. When I got home, my parents stayed involved and gave us some of the advantages of homeschooling. For me, this blend of both, all of it with tons of parental involvement, was perfect.
Given your thoughtfulness and consideration, I am sure your kids will continue to blossom and benefit from your role as both teacher and parent.
Dear friends, I can’t thank you enough for your support and kind words and wisdom. Thank you!!! Tomorrow is the FIRST DAY of school…I’m just praying for fantastic things for all of us.
We’re praying with you Jen. Please dont quit blogging even if you’re done homeschooling. The two arent synonymous you know! *wink*
You rock! I will be praying for you too! Lovely post.
RSS feed for comments on this post
Comment