Nov. 21, 2007 - Effective and Inspiring Homeschooling
Effective and Inspiring Homeschooling
Question from a Reader:
"We're in our second year of homeschooling, so I'm still sorting many things out. We have hit a page in my daughter's history that announces this is the point where she is to do a unit of state history. Since this is not provided, I am stuck. What have you used for state history?
Second, I'm wondering what little add-ons you have discovered for any subject. Have you found a web site or a book that supplements your main curriculum with short, interesting lessons or worksheets, for any subject?
One of the reasons we decided to homeschool was to be able to feed our children's nearly boundless curiousity and I don't feel like I have achieved that as well as I would like to. At the same time, I don't have the time or courage to tackle big supplements that require a lot of prep and assembly time."
Terri
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Dear Terri,
I remember my early days of homeschooling. Some of the curriculum that I had chosen curriculum for the kids, frankly, didn't work for them. But that didn't stop me from pushing and nagging for them to keep trudging forward, because if they couldn't or wouldn't do it, then that meant that I was a failure.
My children had a variety of aptitudes and a wide variety of ages. Gradually, over time though, I have learned to really tailor each child's education to their aptitude and interests. Whether a certain subject is an area of strength or weakness, I try to find a creative way to challenge, but not frustrate, the child where he or she is at.
I believe one of the keys to an effective and inspiring education is creativity. For example, in our home, I teach history to all of the children together by reading aloud from biographies, and historical fiction. The four at home now range in age over 7 years, but each grasps the material at his or her level. Because the readings are so interesting they look forward to history everyday. I also try to incorporate special age-appropriate projects to supplement from various resources that I find on whatever subject we are studying.
To directly answer your question about Iowa history, I would search out famous Iowan biographies and historical fiction that takes place in Iowa. It's an unconventional approach, but I believe it truly engages their minds and makes history exciting. Because, after all, history is about real people. Then, as I am moving forward, I would sprinkle in little things about Iowa that I find along the way. An Iowa coloring book for the little ones, a trip to Living History Farms in the spring, perhaps some other field trips in the state that we discover through our reading.
I believe that the only drawback to this method is that you absolutely can't run through it. The children really enjoy exploring an era (and you will too). It is not hard to plan, because you just pick the topic and do a library search. Once you choose a topic, and go looking, you will be amazed how many resources are available. The hard part is deciding which resources you won't have time to include. In my home, you won't find any history "textbooks" written by someone who is not absolutely passionate about the subject. No dry and uninspiring textbooks allowed!
Another idea I have incorporated into our homeschool, is "specials." Each year, each child picks a particular subject that he or she is interested in, and I go searching for age-appropriate resources for them to delve into it independently, if possible. For example, Taylor (14) chose web programming this year, Hayley (11) chose Animal Science, and Josh (12) and Jessica (9) both chose Art. These are all great subjects and the children love that they picked them themselves. Taylor and Hayley have been working independently and I recruited my artist Mother to teach a weekly art class to Josh and Jessica. David graduated last year, but he really delved into Greek and Roman history last year. Now he's at Drake on a Presidential Scholarship and majoring in Law, Politics and Society. Dustin graduated in 2005, but he spent months making videos before graduation and is now a Junior at Oklahoma Baptist University majoring in Digital Media Production. As a homeschool mom, I view my job to find their "bent" and develop it to the max.
There is a lot of trial and error, and I always spend a sizable amount of time in the summer months praying, planning and preparing for the following year. Each year we get a little closer to our goals, and each year we look for new, creative ways to achieve our goals.
To wrap this all up, I recommend a school prayer journal. I have a little notebook I jot ideas and prayers in just for school. Sometimes I go for long periods without using it, but other times, particularly during the planning phase in the summer, I use it often. It's very haphazard, but I get inspired when I read back over my notes and see how God has answered my prayers.
Although this is just the beginning to achieving an effective and inspiring education for your children, you are asking the right questions. Asking the right questions will take you where you want to be.
May God bless your homeschool.
Hugs,
Sallie
© Sallie H., 2007. All rights reserved.
