• Sunday, September 21, 2008 - Question for all homeschoolers
I have a problem that I have been dealing with this school year. I thought, I would ask the homeschoolers on here how you all would deal with this. Interuptions during the school day. It is getting to the point I am really stressing over it. For example, Thursday, while teaching science to dd2 my cousin stopped by, then my mom kept running in the house checking on her clothes in the washer and dryer. Then my aunt came in asking me if I had eggplants. All this within 45 mins.. I put out 5 plants, I have plenty. By the end of the day I was so stressed out. It is like this every school day. It is like Grand Central Station around here anymore. I have asked that during school time, that unless it is important don`t bother us. What can I do? I school for 10am-3pm and I can`t unstand why it is so hard for my family to wait until 3 to call or come over. I feel like my whole life is turned upside down and I am to the point, I am so stressed out. I hope someone has some good ideas on how to get the point across to my family, school time is school time. They sure don`t get it in plain terms.
Good morning - sounds like you have a huge problem. Would it be possible to start putting signs on the doors that school is in session - maybe locking them until school is out for the day or list times you take recess? Do you have a answering machine? You could turn the ringers down on the phone(s) and if you wanted the volume on the machine. Leave a message that school is in session and you will return the phone call after you are done for the day.
I agree with the other comment about turning the ringer on the phone down, putting up signs etc. Maybe a drastic way to help them understand, is to have a "family meeting", including your children. Explain that if they continue to interrupt during your normal school hours of 10-3, then you'll be forced to have school at night, on the weekends or during a time in which they (the children and you) were suppose to be visiting with them (the ones during the interrupting). If your kids are like mine, they might be moaning about this time because they'll be giving up their "free time" (nights/weekends). If you say this, then you must be able to follow through with it. Of course pointing out that if your children were in public school, these interruptors wouldn't be allow to go to the school and continously interrupt the classroom. Good luck to you in solving this problem.
www.homeschoolblogger.com/Chelelew
The phone thing in easy..turn it off...but you knew that already and heard it a few times. As for mom and aunt...explain to them that you are not trying to be rude but you need concentration. Give them your school hours and explain that you are on a schedule. I am sure you have mentioned this before but you sometimes have to remind...And if they see that homeschooling is not all fun and field trips they will understand more. My family did the same thing. They thought we homeschoolers were a flighty bunch that just went around and did science in mudpuddles and math at the grocery store....Little realizing that the fundamentals have to be taught fiirst then applied. Again, just tell them when your breaks normally are and that some times are just really really busy. Help educate them on how a real managable homeschool works...they will understand. Once my mother actually witnessed and seen the time we put in she really slowed down the interupting. It will never completely go away...even teachers in classrooms get disturbed at times..but it will slow down....be brave!!! I know how tough it is to ask mom or aunt to do anything!!!
Next time they come over involve them.
Then every time they come over, involve them in your school.
If you are teaching science, and someone comes poppin' thru your door........say "Hey mom, do your remember this or can you help me show my daughter that".......or "Can you go fetch me a ____ we're right in the middle of a lesson and I don't want to get up".
If your family doesn't support your decision to homeschool they could be doing this (interrupting) on purpose (even sub consciencly) to show their disapproval OR they don't understand it and want to keep poking their heads in to see what you are doing..........
Either way, if you involve them, they will either leave you alone, or they will be helpful.
We take a little more relaxed approach to homeschooling and I don't sit there the whole time. If other people show up the kids have learned to keep going and be self-motived. My goal has been self-directed learning.... but then my kids are 15, 13 and 10 and it works best for the older two and the younger one is learning.
Then again.... my mom is across the ocean and my sister in another country... wouldn't it be lovely if they lived close enough to bother me :-)
Angela
I am a stay-at-home, Christian homeschooling mom. My husband and I have been married for 19 years. We have been blessed with three kids,ages 18, 10 and 8. We live on a family farm and have several animals. I`m just a simple farm gal, who loves her God, family, friends and life.
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• Sunday, September 21, 2008 - A possible idea
Good luck with that !
Michele