School at home

None of our kids have been to what we call 'away school'. We do school at home. It's just what we do.  We always have.  I'm not going to defend it or try to convert anyone right now.  Maybe next post... 

School at home in America was pretty easy and fun.  There were plenty of resources available, and lots of books at the library for my voracious little readers.  School at home in Cambodia is harder but still fun.  We don't get to go to the library anymore so we use e-readers.  We currently have six devices that are used for reading.  LOVE them!  Love that we can still access good quality books in our native language.  We are learning to read Khmer, but most of us are still at a kindergarten level.

This year I have four students and one small person playing and distracting. We are venturing into the world of 7th grade.  Yikes!  I really need to get my act together so we don't fail at high school.  We also have 6th, 3rd, and my least favorite K.  Okay, I don't hate teaching kindergarten, but I do dread it a bit. Teaching small peeps means a lot more hands on time for the teacher - me.  The older ones pretty much teach themselves with some guidance from me.  New learners, however, need an adult to be with them to encourage and lead them in each step.  Math is easy, we just relate counting candy to the numbers in the book.  History is fun, everyone loves hearing stories.  Science is great because we get to explore the world around us.  Reading is what is hard to teach. 

I approach reading like I approach big roller coasters.  I'm not naturally very adventurous.  I don't like dangerous things.  Roller coasters are fun, and I've been on them before and enjoyed it.  I especially like getting off and feeling proud for having not lost my lunch on the people in front of me.  When I'm standing in line I am very nervous.  I hesitate and consider not riding.  My stomach is in knots.  Teaching small people to read is like that.  I know I will be proud of my little reader.  I will be able to say I taught him that.  And when he can read he can learn anything he wants.  But, it's hard to get started and it's hard to keep going.  It can take a while.  I have to be calm and patient, and give him lots of practice working out the sounds.  I know I can do it, but I also know it's going to be hard.

One of the things I love most about teaching my own children is that I get to keep them with me.  I don't have to cry when they get big enough to go to school.  I love my kids, and spending all this time with them helps us develop better relationships with each other.  I am so thankful that God has put us where we are, and has given us the technology to learn pretty much anything from pretty much anywhere - even in Cambodia.