Making Jellyfish & the Background Behind Them

Schooling

You may recall that I started trying to teach Rebekah her letters a while ago.   My mother-in-law is an elementary librarian and also has taught reading.  She advised me not to rush our children to read because they could get burned out early and they had plenty of time to learn.  I wholeheartedly agreed (and still do)….until so many of my friends with children my children’s ages decided on homeschooling.  All of a sudden, I felt like a minority and unsure of what to do.  I felt like a total slacker for not being more intentional with Rebekah.  When I did try to teach her her letters, she fought it, and I stopped.  I felt like I had failed and this recent failure was evidence of why I would never homeschool- I’m obviously rubbish at it.   Then, Rebekah started asking to learn her letters (mostly due to her desire to read and write, I think).  I paired learning individual letters with a craft theme revolving around that letter and amazingly Rebekah started retaining the information.

All the wrong reasons

As for my heart, I finally realized (through prayer, oddly enough) that I started teaching Rebekah out of a misplaced desire to look godly instead of a desire to teach contextually.  I think a competitive side of me reared its ugly head and didn’t want to look like I wasn’t doing my part or wasn’t godly enough to do the “Christian” thing.  I think a hot topic among Christians is how we school our children, whether it’s homeschooling, public schooling, or private schooling.  I honestly believe we all want what is best for our children, and so we try to choose the system that fits our convictions and our children.  Since Josh and I only have a 3 1/2 year old and a 2 year old, I wouldn’t exactly call us experienced enough to really know what is actually best in those regards.  We are mostly choosing a system (public school) that we feel is mostly equipped to teach our kids   and will also allow our children to be lights in the world.  I was a public school and a private school teacher, but at a high school level, so not only do I not feel equipped to teach at a lower level myself, I also do not not really know what elementary years are like at either place these days.  So, all that to say, we’re shooting for public school right now, but who knows what will really happen when both kids mature a little and get a taste of life outside our home.  All I know is I want to be humble enough to change my mind if I need to and not feel like a loser when other people choose other systems. Chances are nobody really cares what I choose anyway!  (Here is a fab post about choosing public school by the way if you just can’t figure out why we would!)

So, a few weeks ago, it was time for “J.”  We were making jellyfish and invited Joshua and Abigail over after Rebekah and Joshua finished nursery that afternoon.  Keeping everyone safe around scissors was trickier than I imagined, but we had fun and learned J. 

(Disclaimer: Please do not read these as fighting words for what choices you have made, will make, or are making.  That is up to you, and I promise I will not judge you.    My opinion isn’t that important anyway. )

All the supplies and 4 children

Rebekah and Joshua hard at work

Pleased with her work

Luke mostly liked messing with everybody else's craft.

Abigail also enjoyed making a jellyfish.

Delighted with the finished product!

Showing off her craft, too!

Picking apart his jellyfish. Typical Luke. Destructive.

Related posts:

1. Making Lions
2. Things I Love Thurday: The making of an outfit
3. Background Check on Luke Timothy Malone
4. Tips for Making Good Choices Online {as a family}
5. 1st Day of School