Goals

Throughout the year, I evaluate how homeschooling is going. Is each child learning? What is the special focus for each child and am I helping them to grow in it? For example, if a child doesn't know how to read well, that is the subject we hone. All other subjects are secondary. A natural reader and writer needs to be pushed to understand math facts. I pick a goal, or a few, for each child. If nothing else gets done in the week, those particular areas are touched upon. During the Christmas vacation and at the beginning of the school year, I delve more deeply how the year has been going and what I might consider changing.

This year, one of the areas we have been weak in is "PE." I want the children to be physically active and fit. I would like for them to be able to run fast and far, dribble a ball, shoot a goal, do a cartwheel, touch their toes. We don't have a television and the kids do spend plenty of time in imaginary play, but they are less active than I would like. We don't have a street down which it is safe for them to race their bicycles. When they ride in the driveway or "outback" (the covered cement slab behind our house), they can't go fast or far. They need a bit of extra help to find the potential for strenuous activity in our home.

Several times last year, I went downstairs with them for "PE." We practiced "basketball" with a rubber ball - dribbling, passing, and guarding. More of a keep away game since we didn't have a goal. I certainly kept moving and gave myself some exercise, but the kids had fun for awhile until they dropped out one by one. They didn't have enough motivation to push themselves.

This year, I introduced fitness goals. Each child had two pick goals in two of four areas: cardiovascular, flexibility, strength, and skill. I gave them examples of each and they all choose the same. All of the wanted to be run for a certain amount of time. We did a "pre-run" to see how long they could run now and used that to develop their goal. They also wished to be able to do good headstand or handstand.

With these goals in mind, the children have been headstanding and running nearly every day. Their headstand/handstand form is improving. They feel good about their successes. They are running more than they have since we've move to this house and slowly seeing improvement. Some days - especially hot and humid ones - they notice setbacks, but they continue to press toward the goal.

This trial of "homeschool PE" had reminded me of the importance of goals. If we have only a vague idea of what we want to accomplish, only inconsequential achievements will result. However, if I present a clear and tangible objective (to myself, my children, my husband, my patients, etc.), it is more likely to be realized. If the target is straightforward; challenging, yet within reasonable grasp, odds of actualization increase. I need to use this tool more often in my teaching and maybe even personal life.

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:14