I’ve
always thought of October as a transitional month. It’s not a “new beginning” month, not an “ending
of anything” month, but a changing month.
The weather changes from stifling hot, to somewhat
cooler days and the colors of nature change
from green to the red, yellow, brown and gold of fall.
I
remember teaching a 2nd grade science class in Florida many years
ago. The subject was seasons and
weather. I asked the class in a
sing-song voice, “And what colors do the leaves and grass change to in the fall?” They stared at me with a questioning look and
then one little boy raised his hand, answering, “Green?” I suddenly realized I was using an old lesson
plan prepared while living in North Carolina.
Teaching Florida seasons and weather with NC lesson plans would not work and I had to “tap dance” quickly to get the class back on track!
You
will, most likely, never run into this kind of situation. You have the great advantage of teaching in
the moment to your individual child, even if you have two or three students at
home. You may use lesson plans to help
you move comfortably towards the mastery of concepts, but on a daily basis you
are free to adjust your plans to what is happening in your child’s life, your
home, and your community. Whether the
circumstances are good or bad, happy or sad, you are in control of your time,
your daily plans, and your adjustments to schooling. Happy Homeschooling!
