So long the journey is progressing overall...

Are you flexible in your home learning journey?

This does not just refer to changing the lessons or the day schedule, or even the resources. 

It means the acceptance to go back a step when necessary in the teaching process.

This can be seen as a negative in traditional schooling, the aim being always pushing forwards to set goals and aims.

In home education, you can travel at the pace which is right for your individual child, and if they need to return/retrace and repeat a step because they've moved forward too fast we need to acknowledge this as their teachers and explain it to your child in a way that it's not seen as a failure.

Kira has been decreasing her handwriting size with smaller lines for a time now by her own choice, she's wanted to stay abreast with Sophia.

The difference however in this skill set is noticeable. Again this is not a negative. It is a fact, based on Sophia being a year and a half older, and she has larger hands, with longer fingers. She has reached the stage where it is quite clear her finger bones have developed enough, so that writing is a pleasurable activity and one she initiates herself and enjoys. She has moved away from wanting to play with playdoh and practice hand stretching activities.

Kira has not reached this stage yet, her hands are far smaller and her fingers are shorter, she has only recently turned five. She really enjoys hand stretching activities still and gravitates naturally towards them. 

She writes very large when she writes for fun and free hand, where it is clear this would not be causing her pain as she is under no obligation in her free time to write. 

However when she writes with me on a project she has been pushing herself smaller and smaller. I've noticed she is struggling and she's lost the joy, therefore things must change. 

We had a chat about it and agreed she will be returning to double spaced lines for a while longer. She seemed relieved that I'd given her permission to take a step backwards, back to the right level for her to be at. 

There's no question that she won't ever get to Sophia's stage, she will get to that stage in Kira's timeline. I am supportive of going at their pace and follow what they want to do, but the outcome cannot be detrimental to their health or interest. They need to learn to recognise the place where they're most happiest, and feeling comfortable, in control and in charge. 

Notice I'm using positive language here, its not focusing on limitations and going backwards. 

It's the same with reading, Kira likes short stories, she gets very involved and retains the story and recalls the message behind it. She doesn't like to spend too much time on one story for weeks however, so it's a question of working with her to make sure we are cultivating the love and passion for reading new stories. 

We take it in turns, sometimes it's a line each, a paragraph each, we choose to be a character each or we'll read a page each before switching. She chooses the flow. 

This way we travel through the books faster, at an enjoyable rate for her, she's practicing reading, we're having bonding time. I know she can read the whole thing, she knows the words, she retains the story. She has fun. 

I've found if they don't volunteer to do a subject, or practice a skill, there's a reason behind it. She's been initiating reading all week, she doesn't mention her diary or writing in general. Let's see how things may change this coming week.