Are you taking advantage of the teachable moments?
One of my favorite things about homeschooling my children was all the impromptu teachable moments that came along the journey. I loved my curriculum and it was a great guide to get us through our day. We had a schedule to keep us on track and moving forward as well. However, I grew to understand that the teachable moments were just as important as the academics.
Are questions going unanswered?
Do your children ever ask you questions? Do they want to know, “What does that mean?” or “What is that?” or “Why?” Do you stop and answer or do you push it aside and move forward with the bookwork? Have you ever been driving somewhere and you see something interesting out of the window and your child says something like, “What is that out there?” Have you considered stopping and checking it out or taking a pic and looking it up together when you get home?
I remember passing by a cotton field and one of my children asked what all that white stuff was out there in the field. As I was explaining to my kids about the cotton field, I saw a car stopped by the side of the field. A mom was standing with her two young children outside the car. She was pointing toward the field and seemed to be explaining about what they saw in that field. I did the same thing from inside my car as we passed by slowly. I vividly remember thinking about how that mom and I seemed to have the same philosophy of teaching. We believed that it was worth the time to enjoy the teachable moments with our children.
Sudden Life Event
Have you had a sudden life event that is disrupting your homeschool and you aren’t sure how to maintain? Find the teachable moment within the event to teach.
We went through so many life events while the children were growing up. From job changes, to job losses, family illnesses, and family loss. Each life event brought disruption to our academics but not to our education. All of this moments were teachable moments.
Teachable Moments Appear Daily
There are teachable moments all throughout the day. Driving in the car, at the grocery, in church, at events, during life-changing events and sometimes just when little inquiring minds want to know.
Prepare for Independence
Teachable moments are not interruptions. They are still very much a part of learning and preparing our children for independence. Please don’t let your curriculum or your schedule overshadow the teachable moments. That math class can wait until the next day if necessary. Remember you are not trying to finish every lesson in a curriculum. That curriculum is simply your guide to help you teach your children. Those life happenings that come across our path are there for a purpose.
I find it interesting now as I watch my children in their adult lives. They don’t always see it but they are using tidbits from those teachable moments in their own to lives to solve problems. Life skills are taught in those teachable moments. Those skills will last a lifetime. The beauty of homeschooling is having that opportunity to teach the skills our children need for independence.
Life skills should be taught daily.
Sometimes the homeschool day doesn’t go as planned. Technology fails us or illness comes into our day or something just interrupts our day. Use that time as an opportunity for a teachable moment. Make a list of things you could be teaching on those days. Go to that list and pick something. Add to the list as you think of things you would like to teach your children. Are there some life skills you have been needing and wanting to teach?
Here are some Ideas.
- Baking (cookies, bread, candy)
- Cooking (meal, planning meals)
- How to use kitchen appliances
- Laundry (sorting, delicates, special handling)
- Gardening
- Mowing Grass
- Landscape Care
- Decorating a room
- Cleaning (how to clean)
- Grocery shopping
- List Making
Do you take time of the teachable moments in your homeschool? Do you recognize the teachable moment? Share in the comments below some of your teachable moments. I would love to hear your stories.
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