Weekend Edition~Learning Happens!

Homeschooling family, making blueberry muffins.

So many parents, are worried they aren't doing "school" enough, they aren't teaching enough. They aren't doing what ever it is they think is "enough".

In my opinion the main reason they feel this way, is the public school brain washing, that learning only happens when workbooks, and testing. Sitting at a desk. Throw those thoughts away. Rethink what learning, and teaching really is! Again I highly suggest any book by John Holt but especially How Children Fail. Children do not learn much from worksheets and tests... they learn so much through life though!

This photo above, was posted by a mom who was feeling guilty she wasn't teaching school enough, as a homeschooling mother. This is ONE of many things she had done that morning with her children. When you find out how children really do learn things, you can look at this photo in a totally new light. Off the top of my head, I told her several things, I could see just in this one photo that she was teaching her children.

1) Math-They had to measure and calculate the ingredients.

2) Science-Learning what ingredients you need to use, to make the dough rise, fluffy, be sweet enough, tasty, etc.

3) Health-As you can see, she keeps her kitchen immaculate, this teaches the children the importance of clean and safe food handling.

4) Budgeting-Many people go to Starbucks, and other such places and spend the same amount of money she most likely spent to make this whole batch of muffins, for just one muffin! Again ties back to Math as well.

5) Home Economics and Life Skills, Independence-how to make things for their selves.

6) Language Arts-They most likely had to read a recipe to make these muffins.

7) Last, and as they say, certainly NOT least, they are having fun with mom, and building memories that will last a life time. How many worksheets are going to give them warm fuzzy memories to look back on? However, when they are making blueberry muffins with their own children, do you think they are going to remember these days with their mother? They sure will! Something they will NEVER be given in a worksheet at a desk.

And this was just ONE photo into this family's life. You can be sure that she taught her children much much more that day! And so are you! Every day, we teach our children many things, with out even thinking about it. And none of it has to involve worksheets or tests, or sitting at desks! So let the guilt go. Rethink your definition of teaching, and learning. And feel confident you are teaching your children more every day, every minute. You got this Momma!