Help
With Your Rule
Boredom and Motivation in a Homeschool
Dear Holly
I presently homeschool eight of my nine children, ages preschool up to highschool. My question is , how to keep teacher (ie Mom!) motivated after doing the same grade level over and over again? I'm on my sixth time with Kindergarten phonics, and I'm tired of Gr 2 Math - I'd rather be doing algebra and trig. We have used nearly every homeschool program invented, in an attempt to add variety and compensate for individual children's learning styles. I am in it for the long haul, so quitting isn't an option. I guess I'm looking for advice on avoiding burnout and keeping interested. I fear that my kids are missing out on their education because I'm not as enthusiastic about Gr 1 phonics as I was when I was younger. Part of this issue is really a 'time' issue as I school more and more children - but I am feeling stretched further every year.
Labels: Homeschooling
posted by Holly at 1:03 PM
2 Comments:
Thank you for sharing that question - it is one I have experienced myself, so I will tell you what conclusions I have come to, and try not to be too long-winded!
First, somewhere along the way I realized that the pleasure-seeking idolatry of my society had seeped into my views about education. When pleasure reigns supreme, then education and work must be 'entertaining'. So I spent a great deal of time coming up with 'fun and exciting' activities for my children when I began homeschooling, and often (I repeat 'often') burnt out.
But there are a lot of very important things out there (Christianity being one of them) which don't always seem 'fun and exciting'. So, I began to simplify my curriculum, and focus on the basic skills and content necessary for a grade level, and chose very simple resources and methods for bringing this about.
Interestingly, homeschool time lessened, as did stress, as the goal became 'curriculum - order' instead of entertainment. My kids now often opt NOT to do 'enrichment' (ie: fun and exciting) activities because there are, quite frankly, other things they would like to spend their time on! There need be no fear about 'ripping off' your children because you stop making everything 'fun and exciting'.
Secondly, your boredom might just be a blessing - think about it! When my kids were little and I had all my 'great ideas' for this project or that, I got very task-oriented, instead of 'person-oriented'. Thus, it was easier for me to get impatient with a child who 'wasn't doing it right', or I'd be somewhat driven and make everyone continue when they'd all have liked to stop. My great ideas were more for my personal motivation and sense of satisfaction.
But, like Pope John XXIII, I decided to 'give up good ideas' :-). He found they were interfering with his vocation! As Mom, I realized I was called to manage my time and personal resources to meet the real human needs of my family, not work myself into the ground getting done all the little things I 'wanted' to. And here is where a Mother's Rule frees, that is, if the 5 Ps are in fact in order.
At present, there is no hidden motive for personal pleasure underlying my schooling with the kids - I am not in it for my own excitement. Instead, I am freer now to be there for the children, to be person-oriented, paying attention to their blessed uniqueness. It has opened up a new realm of relationship with the kids - a deeper, more personal intimacy.
And it was boredom that led me there. Since I couldn't stop, I had to change my motives -- and I started doing things for God and for the children, and all I can say is, I wouldn't go back to the 'busy-ness' of before.
Your boredom, combined with a reasoned-out reflection of the MROL 5P questions and a balanced rule, can lead you to the depths of recollection and contemplation. So, maybe your boredom is in reality, a gift from God? Yes, even as a busy mother of nine!!
Thank you for that reply, Holly! I am only teaching my eldest Kindergarten right now, but I will be facing this situation as my other 4 (or more, God willing),grow and are ready to begin school. I have to constantly remember that I'm not doing it for my own gratification, but for my children.
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