Schooling In Real Life

I've found that usually those who "dis" homeschooling are those who know the least about it. Scientifically conducted studies have proven repeatedly that homeschooling works. But that's not what my blog is about. I'm just going to share, from time to time, how and why homeschooling WORKS for our family. This isn't about "homeschooling apologetics," or proving ourselves to anyone, it's just glimpses into homeschooling family life, especially for those who know nothing about it.

Yesterday I shared a photo of our oldest daughter at work. A couple of months ago she noticed a help-wanted sign in Petsmart and went through the whole process of applying online for it. She got to the last page, only to find that applicants needed to be at least 18. Bummer. But a few weeks later we were picking up our dogs from the boarding kennel after being away for the weekend. The owner (a lovely woman that we've come to know well) asked if any of our daughters would be interested in working a few hours a week for her, and learning about the business. She was especially interested since they are homeschooled, and have flexible schedules. Well, how cool is that!? That "few hours" a week has turned into quite a few, and our daughter is learning everything from how to shampoo a variety of dogs, to how to properly socialize very expensive puppies, to how to custom mix healthy dog food, to how to keep accurate records and process paperwork, and interact with customers. If she decides she wants to apply again at Petsmart when she's 18, do you think she'll be well qualified and have good references?

Here's where it gets interesting. She also loves to write, and her earnings are going directly to buy her own laptop. How like real life (or at least how real life should be) --WORKING to meet a specific goal. This month she is participating in NaNoWriMo. For a gal that has a half-dozen novels started, this is an excellent way to write one through to completion. She has a goal of 40,000 words this month, and is well over half way there...right on schedule. Anyone who writes for a living will understand immediately the importance of learning to write on a deadline, and to a specific word count.

Because she is homeschooled, she CAN coast a little on the other subjects for a couple of weeks, to concentrate on NaNoWriMo and working a lot of hours while the other kennel helper is less available. And she's racking up $$ toward that laptop. What immediate, positive reinforcement. Don't worry...she IS learning Geometry and Spanish and Literature and Art and History and Biology this year...but right now, at 9 a.m. she's not sitting in a classroom. She's doing some real-life learning.