a Schei load of learning

This is a proclamation for me to you.

Beginning Wednesday, January 23rd, the Schei children will begin home-education.

What?  You didn't hear me?


Um... beginning Wednesday, January 23rd, the Schei children will begin home-education.   

(note: please understand in my attempt to transition somewhat gracefully into this idea, I've allowed myself to say 'home-educated'.  the term 'home-schooled' has me explode with WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING? and then slowly smolder into a messy pile of insecurity and self-doubt due to all of my the stigmas regarding this approach and what my children will might look like at 13 years of age)

So now, with anticipation and JOY, I say that beginning Wednesday, January 23rd, the Schei children will begin home-education.
 

***** 

Roughly a year ago, when it became clear that we'd be moving out of Snohomish and away from our community that we've known for so long, I began considering the idea of home schooling my children.  It stemmed from the realization that my oldest, Katie, does not adapt to change with flying colors (sigh) and so the move would be hard on her - not bad necessarily, but hard.  In addition, I wasn't willing to invest in extra-curricular activities after not seeing my kids for several hours in a day... how long could I keep that up? 

Suffice it to say, I began researching - and watching others.  I walked with Suzi as she prayerfully stepped forward in home schooling her oldest... I experienced a morning with Rebecca in North Carolina... I watched Kristen put together her school room... I saw an old friend take a bold leap and a little girl that I love began reading books upon books upon books because she had the TIME.

This was all fascinating to me... so I considered it.

And I believed in it.

And now I'm doing it.

Last weekend when we approached our children over dinner and discussed the idea, they leaped with excitement.  They'd been asking for this since we'd moved to Tacoma and knowing that it had nothing to do with the school they were in, the competence of the teachers or the community they were running with at recess, I gladly received their petitions.  Anything else might have screamed of something they just needed to learn how to handle... this seemed to be a valid and reasonable request from a valid and reasonable source.

But then came the week of reckoning.  Own what you've decided... tell the school district... tell their TEACHERS (who I really like) and then walk with confidence into the great UNKNOWN.  There were papers to sign, logistics to talk about, people to say 'good-bye' to (such a reminder of leaving our old community, uh!) and preparations to make for the coming adventure.

There is nothing in me that says this is the ONLY way to educate my kids.  This is just the way we are doing it right now... and as Katie so plainly put it, 'we can go back to school whenever we want', this may be temporary.

But for now, it's good.  And here's how God has told me so - cause He knows my heart...

(1) Krista: oh my word, William learns so easily.  I think he might have a photographic memory.  Will I be able to help Katie achieve the same amount of competence in the areas I think are important?
GOD shows me as Katie is blurting out math equations at the dinner table and nailing every one - both Katie and William have great raw material for me to teach.  I'm excited!

(2) Krista: oh my goodness, Benjamin didn't go to preschool for multiple years... he should go to Kindergarten for sure.  I'm no match for what he'll learn there day in and day out.  We don't even talk about shapes on a daily basis!
GOD shows me as we're driving to Trader Joe's tonight and Ben begins singing his ABC's. 
Ben: 'A - Mom, what does A start with?' 
Mom: 'Apple!' 
Ben: 'A, B - Mom, what does B start with?' 
Mom: 'Benjamin!'
Ben: No.  Something we EAT.
Mom: 'Um... BANANAS!' (I'm getting choked up.  Ri-dic-u-lous!)
Ben: 'A, B, C - Mom, what does C start with?'
... and so on and so forth until we came to the difficult M, N, O part (he skipped to X instead of S at some point) - but we can learn that!

(3) Krista: is Kyle on board?  I know we've talked about it... but really?!
GOD reveals to me (once again) that my husband is my leader... my amazing leader.  I left for four days with the kids and returned to an iPad stripped down and built for homeschooling apps for both the kids education and my continued organization (including an app on Washington State Common Core Standards - thank you, Kyle!)... a computer set up in the kitchen that enables easy access to teaching tools and other FANTASTIC online tutors... a detailed list of projects that would encourage all the subjects we want to teach them (not just tech stuff!)... and I could go on.

(4) Krista: am I going to encounter criticism from people in the school district here that I've come to really enjoy and respect?  Will they take this personally?  Do I have to be cut and dry when my heart longs to invite them into our exciting decision?!
GOD answered our prayers and the conversations both inside the elementary school and all the way to the district level have been encouraging, and dare I say, WELCOMING.  'maybe katie and william could come here for P.E. and all the other specialists?!  You should check that out with the office of enrollment...'

... so here we are.  Basking in God's faithfulness and being comforted by His promises.

We are a home-educated home-schooling family.