Published here with permission from The MOORE REPORT INTERNATIONAL - September/October
1996
The Moore Foundation,
Box 1, Camas,
WA 98607
Questions and Answers
"What If We Don't Measure Up?"
Q. I have just finished reading my second book authored by the Moores. I have read,
The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook and Minding Your Own Business. I found them both
full of information. I have so much to learn!!!! This is only our second year of homeschooling.
We have three boys in grades 5th, 3rd and 1st. I have found I am a very structured person and
because of this I like to have everything like "school." I am trying to change this.
We have added a fun day during the week, where we study areas of education differently than
through the week and play educational games. I always worry in the back of my mind though that
we're not going to get our books done at the end of the year! I also feel the pressure is really
on, because of all the homeschool "success" stories. What happens if we don't measure
up? L.S., IL
A. I know it is hard to break away from the traditional school mode in our thinking.
We need to have some goals and objectives for our children some idea where we are
headed for the year, or we won't know whether we accomplished anything or not. But to equate
finishing books with finishing the year is really not what education is all about. Let the
books be your servants. As long as the children are happily productive each day, doing their
lesson in a math text most days, including practical application, engaging in exciting projects
and doing things, it means learning will take place and you don't need to worry.
If your children don't do well it is not because you don't "measure up,"
but because of other things you may impose, such as forcing your children to study topics continuously
in which they have no interest, presenting concepts for which they are not ready, either emotionally
or physically, or that are coming at them too fast.
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