Changing pace

I started out our year running, with my schedules, and lesson plans, and all of our supplemental activities to go along with each one. And every subject tied into each other to help them LEARN and like what they learn, not just regurgitate facts back for a test at the end of the year.

But I've had a change of mind when I listened to my feelings about Kellan. And this video explains every feeling that I felt in searching for a new way to reach him.

Maren loves her book work, she loves drawing, writing, checking off tasks, my little self-motivated over achiever! Kellan hates it. He likes flashcards, and sensory games, puzzles to find the answers, stacking up objects to see a visual of a job being done.

I don't jive with the "unschooling" philosophy, because after all, I feel like I'm the parent for a reason, because I have long term reasonability and a fully functioning frontal lobe to determine and weigh out variables- kids don't! But I've sort of thrown our schedule out the window- a bit. I'm still a little bit OCD when it comes to being organized and accomplished! But... Maren asks for school work, she gives herself extra assignments, she is working well with her workbooks and literature. Kellan has to be lured in with fascination and more discussions, more visuals.

I believe more firmly now, had I sent him to a public school, the year would have looked something like this: Kellan would be anxious about a change, but he tries it because I make him. He's hyper, and he might have a hard time making friends, which will lead to more anxiety. He does not retain information yet by reading or writing, and he gets very depressed with himself already when he can't do what his next level sister is doing. He'll start to lose interest, and his abundance of energy will get him in trouble. He'll come home with more anxiety. He'll start to hate learning.

He is not a product on an assembly line. Only his parents have the most vested interest in his succession. And I know (another reason) why I felt called to do this task.