I feel refreshed!

There was a homeschool expo here in St. Louis this weekend. It was right down the road and I was able to spend some time there thanks to some great friends who helped with the boys, since Jared was working. I’ve been to a much larger homeschool conference in the past, and I found that this one was much less overwhelming. I think I prefer it that way. Since we are right down the road, I was able to swing in and out quickly and pick the things that I most wanted to hear about. The first thing I attended was the vendor workshop by Joanne Calderwood on self-teaching. I feel like it added another piece to the puzzle for me. I told Jared that I feel like I’ve been on a search for just the right combination of ideas to make Gage’s homeschooling experience fit him best. I think this is going to be great for Gage. Our goal has always been for him to become a self-learner. We want him to search for answers when he doesn’t know them, rather than always asking someone else. So, I’ve decided to make a schedule for Gage every week. We’re going to fill it in together, and I’m going to let him make some choices about what he does and fill those areas in himself. Then, he will be responsible for checking off the things he completes. I think he needs to feel more control and freedom in his schooling and that this will help him in feeling this way. Ever since reading the book “Edison Trait: Saving the Spirit of Your Free-Thinking Child in a Conforming World” this summer, I’ve been trying to give Gage choices in his schooling and let him feel a sense of ownership over his education. The book was so good for me and helped me understand Gage more than I ever have. I’m sure many of you have heard me say that he is difficult or challenging. He has always been this way. But, for the past year or so, I have been on a quest to figure him out and tailor his education to fit who he is. It’s been an interesting journey, one that I am really passionate about. If you’re interested in reading about the Edison trait, click on the link to find out more. I’ve found it to be really helpful in parenting Gage. I don’t own the book because I checked it out at the library. But, I plan to buy it and re-read it as soon as I get the chance.

Friday night I attended a seminar by Mark Hamby, entitled “The Strong Willed Parent: Bring Them Up, Don’t Crush Them Down“. If you click on the link, you can hear his message. I came home so excited. He is literally the best speaker I’ve ever heard. The message I linked to is not the actual one from the conference, but it gives you the idea. I bought the CD, so if you’re nearby and want to borrow it, or want a copy, I’d be glad to do that.

Saturday morning I attended a vendor workshop and then spent 2 hours at the book fair, mainly gathering ideas and writing down book titles. I’ve taught myself to check our library first, before buying, because most of the time, they have what I’m looking for. Works out great, considering we rarely have spare money to buy books! So, now that I have some new ideas, it’s time to put them into practice. I’ll let you know how it goes!