About The Homeschool Daily
It hasn’t been until late that I have been asked questions about The Homeschool Daily. Below you will discover a little bit about me (the creator), my family, and how we entered into homeschooling. There are several reasons why we homeschool, but if I had to sum them up into one statement, it would be this: God changed our hearts about education, learning, and family.
About The Creator of The Homeschool Daily
My name is Marie. I am a Christian, wife, and mother. I enjoy a hot cup of coffee with cream. Finding a good deal at a thrift store or flea market makes me happy. Working in my yard isn’t work, but therapy. I relax watching movie classics like Pride & Prejudice or Jane Eyre. Anne of Green Gables and Little Women are two of my favorite reads of all time. During the holiday season, you will likely hear Bing Crosby or Kenny Roger’s Christmas CD playing in my car. I always watch, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” on Christmas Night. I get excited to eat whipped cream over pumpkin pie and love it when there are mashed potato leftovers. My husband is a great dad and my best friend. I have a good life. It isn’t perfect, but it is mine. Now that you know a little bit about me, let me share how we came to homeschool.
About My Family
There are eight people in our family. My husband and I have been blessed with 6 children. Our three oldest are boys, then come the girls, and our youngest is a boy. We choose to homeschool. It is a family affair. I say “choose” because we consciously decided to take on the responsibility of our children’s education knowing that our lives would change as a result. Even though I am the primary day-to-day teacher, it is a lifestyle my husband and I both foster. A lifestyle of learning. Some days run smoothly with few bumps, other days are a little more… hmmm… let’s just say, patience is a virtue. Do we regret it? No way! It was one of the best decisions we ever made.
Educational Background
My husband and I were both educated through the public school system. Had you asked us years ago after we first married if we would homeschool our children, we would probably have said something like this, “I’m sorry, what did you say? Homeschool? What is that?” It is funny how the Lord led us to this decision. It was slow and definitive. I don’t remember the day we made the conscience decision to do it, but we have never looked back.
How we pursued Homeschooling
Step 1: Quit my job.
I used to be a public-school teacher, a middle school science teacher to be exact. Our path towards homeschooling started when I was pursuing my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Truth is, we didn’t even have kids yet (I was pregnant with baby no. 1). Don’t get me wrong, I love school and learning new things, but I was seeking out a higher degree for the pay raise. Much of the research I conducted in my master’s program focused on the differences between public school, private school, and homeschooling. The research I did in my master’s program was one of the first steps in turning us towards homeschooling. It wasn’t long after giving birth to my oldest, that we decided to forego the pay raise for a letter of resignation.
Step 2: Sold our house.
That was just the beginning… do you remember the pay raise? Well, that pay raise was going to pay for the truck we had just bought and for the house we had just remodeled. So, what did we do? We sold the house for something more modest. How we lived changed. It happened slowly… sometimes too slowly… and over time. It was an adjustment. Over the course of eleven years, we added five more children to the mix and moved four more times to meet the needs of our family. To say we have all learned a lot would be an understatement.
Step 3: Homeschooling in Action
Some people assume that because I was trained to be a teacher that I know how to homeschool. Hahahaha… wait, did I just laugh out loud on paper? Sorry, I just find that funny in a way. Teaching your own children and teaching someone else’s child is different. Easier and harder all at the same time. Yes, my experience has assisted me in certain aspects of our homeschooling adventure: However, I think that sometimes I must unlearn how to do things. Homeschooling affords a freedom that I never experienced when teaching in public school. There is no box.
We are still in elementary school years over here and I have learned more about reading techniques, phonics, and math vocabulary than I ever thought I would want to know. Yes, it can be challenging some days, but more rewarding than I ever imagined. Update: We entered middle school last year and I now have a preteen who is changing by the hour. Did I mention that I am refreshing my Algebra skills? It’s the grammar that really befuddles me though. However, we are learning. Yes, we. Oh, and did I mention we still like each other. 🙂
Why “The Homeschool Daily”?
I have met many homeschool families over the years. Many I have learned from and taken advice from. Others are searching for a homeschoolers’ guide, encouragement, or even a pat on the back reminding them of why they do what they do. As human beings we oftentimes doubt ourselves… especially when we think someone else is doing a better job than we are. It’s easy to get off track or lose focus. At this website, I would love to share with you what I have learned about homeschooling. You will find printables, slideshows, tips, and teaching tools to assist you on one of your greatest endeavors- teaching your children. Happy Homeschooling!
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