The Happy Homemaker

When I was in University, the professor said he could tell the difference between those who went to private school and those who went to public school. He guessed almost everyone correctly. I was the only one he guessed wrong. He was for sure that I went to private school. I grinned and said, “No, I went to public schools my entire life!”  I know that is because my mother always taught me at home and didn’t leave it entirely to the schools. She taught me how to read. My dad used to teach me math. I still remember him teaching me square roots and “gozindas”. He also taught me about geography. My mother taught me a love of history and current events. She also would read stories to me. Not baby stories, but “chapter books” like the Wizard of Oz books.

I am now reading the Wizard of Oz to Victoria and she loves it. We study Math and Aziz teaches her how to use the computer. We also teach her Russian. I teach them gymnastics when we go to the park. Aziz has them run and swim. Whenever they want to learn about something, we get books from the library and watch videos. If possible, they go learn more about it at a museum or the zoo. Learning is a full time job. The teachers teach the basics, but the family is primarily responsible for learning.

I think I shocked a parent once of a student who at 6 could not count to 10. I told her that she needs to work with him at home. She didn’t get mad. She just said, “I’ll try to do more.” I think most parents want to teach their children, but they don’t know how or what to teach. That is why open houses and parent teacher conferences are important so that the teacher can give a parent advice and the parent can tell the teacher things about the child that can help the teacher.