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While the entry below speaks to the backdrop of our homeschooling journey, this entry is a peek at how we practically apply those thoughts.
We are not true unschoolers. We cannot claim a pure classical approach. We love Charlotte Mason, but doubt that purist of that group would claim us either. We decided that we are "eclectic homeschoolers". We borrow from many great ideas to build a custom plan for our children. Here is an example of how we arrived at where we are in our studies.
It is hard to pull out a slice of our daughter's homeschool "curriculum" without an explanation of why and how we got there. There is a fluidity to her education that would probably only be apparant to us. We base each choice of curriculum, structure, outside activities, etc. on several factors. It is a very intentional program. To begin with, I have a meeting with my daughter periodically. It will usually go something like this. We will go out to a local coffee shop and settle in. I will bring my notepad. I will ask her questions and take notes on her answers. It is a very conversational thing - no pressure. Typical questions would include: "What have you enjoyed learning about lately?" "What books do you still enjoy using and why?" "Are there any books that you are bored with and why?" "Is there anything you really would like to know more about?" (Answers for this one have varied from, I would like to know more about Betsy Ross - I would like to try a karate lesson - I would like to look into the girl scouts - I would like to know how an elevator works - What happens if people don't pay their speeding tickets?) Try to treat any area as a valid area for study. You may be surprised at what you end of learning about. After asking all of the questions I can think of, we might go look at books in a bookstore for ideas. It is useful to stand back and see what they gravitate towards. I try to be able to buy at least one book on these outings - strike while the iron is hot. It is also good to ask questions about their "ideal" homeschool day. When they would like to read, do math, etc. and why. Usually at this point, I have a pretty good idea of how to proceed. My daughter has always liked workbooks (hard for me to understand, but there it is!). She will usually say that she is still enjoying "Spelling Workout" or whatever workbook she is presently interested in. She did "Explode the Code" last year and loved it. Then suddenly, she was tired of it and took up "Spelling Workout". She had seen her friends book and wanted to try it. We did Miquon Math with great success so far. But changes within the structure of our days have made it necessary to pick out another math that is easy for anyone to pick up and help her with. She decided to try Saxon. She took the online placement test and ordered it. She now does Saxon with a day of Miquon mixed in. I am going to have to work more (outside of the home) and my husband and I are going to be splitting up homeschooling next year. It is okay for choices to be made year by year and based on what will fit for that time. We did "Story of the World volume 1" last year. We had been reading straight through the "Children's Story Bible" and she was interested in ancient times. She was only in kindergarten then, so we skipped around and took our time. She loved learning about ancient Egypt. We made an "archeaological dig" in the back yard. This past year we skipped to American history. She had a fetish for the American girl dolls, so we ordered the unit study, "Portraits of American Girlhood". This is a unit study on different periods of American history. This would probably be a good time to mention another aspect of our homeschooling. Homeschooling is not just for the children. I try and pick an area that I would like to learn about and focus on it from year to year. It helps if it could correspond with the children's study, but it isn't necessary that it do so. I chose to learn more about sewing last year. I made her historical costumes for the time periods we studied. I was delighted with the results and I learned so much about different stitches and piecing things together as well as about clothing in the past. Next year, we return to a chronological study of history with "Story of the World volume 2". She is very excited. Please don't feel that you must "re-invent the wheel". I used to find it smashing fun to write my own studies for the children. I had the time then and I loved it. My life is at a different place now. I no longer have the time to build it all from scratch, but so many beautiful studies and books are out there. It is possible to do these things without doing it all yourself. We also did our history this year with another Mom and her daughter. We got together each Thursday morning to study the book of the week and to do activities relating to that time period. This worked for us as it kept us plodding along and encouraged us to plan our fun activities. We could also share supply costs. Creative problem solving is the name of the game. You do not have to homeschool in a vaccum. I have learned this the hard way. I used to never do lesson plans ahead. We just recorded as we went - journal style. It was a lovely way to do it, but it no longer will work for us. This year I did lesson plans by the week or month. They were flexible and left plenty of room for change, but they enabled me to do the "fun" stuff that kept things lively. You can't do the experiment if you haven't purchased the supplies. I found that a level of organization was necessary for providing this. Next year will be even more planned out ahead. As I return to the out-of-the-home workforce, our homeschooling will have to change with us. I am presently typing out all 36 weeks. I simply divided each subject by how many lessons I thought we would do and then divided that out by week. My plan book will have one day for each week and will list the minimum to complete and still cover the desired material. My daughter has already had lots of choice in this. She chose her own curriculum. So I do not feel this is too much structure for her. In order to continue with both parents working, this is what we must do. I cannot cover here the vortex of feelings and struggles that have gone into the decision for me to work and the health problems that have made it necessary. Suffice to say, life is what you make it. We can play with the hand we are dealt or whine about it. I feel like I am gearing up for a very busy year, as you can imagine. My husband is very excited to take on more of the homeschooling. I think it is good for the children to see us working together on this. Choosing what curriculum to use is difficult. I read reviews, I look online, I go to conferences, and I share things with my children. Then, together, we decide what would be a good fit. I usually take the "meeting" results and do a little foot work. Then I might show her a few different approaches. We all discuss pro's and con's and the price. Then we decide. I do feel that this offers your child a feeling of being invested in their education. Motivation doesn't seem to be much of an issue when they helped to choose what they wanted to study. I keep plastic rubbermaid boxes and put their work in there during the year. Periodically, we go through it and choose what to keep and what to take a photo of. In this way, it is easy to keep a portfolio of work. The notebook idea in the "Well-Trained Mind" has worked well for us too. Other areas that I feel might be of interest are: * We do let the phone ring if we are busy, they can leave a message. * We all have chores. We all work together, play together, learn together, and cook and clean together. The house is still not always clean. I try to put a good morning of cleaning in when I can. We all do it together, but it seldom looks like the magazine pictures. (Okay, it never looks like the magazine pictures, but somedays it is very clean and organized. Many days it is not.) * If you have babies or toddlers, do the easiest thing you can to cook, clean, or lesson plan. It will pass soon and then you can do more. Babies and toddlers first - elaborate projects and immaculate floors later. * We have a son with celiac disease and anaphylactic food allergies. We cannot eat out. I have to cook every day. When I make an organized meal plan and grocery list, life is 100% easier. I easily feel overwhelmed without it. * Those of you who have read my entries and commented about how great it all sounds - It is great. I love my children and I love home education. But my life isn't simple or easy. We have bad days here too. Extend grace to yourself and your family. If you have to take a day to lie around and the kids have too much computer time or PBS, that is okay - just so it isn't every day. Some of my most productive days come on the heels of a day like that. * Every family member is important - even the Mom and Dad. Try to follow some of your interests. It is a good example to always be learning something new. * Make lists. I make lists of fun projects or ideas that I really want to do. Then plan for it. Sometimes you will have to make it happen if it is going to happen at all. Put it on the calendar and guard the date. * Limit your committments. Live in seasons. You may not be able to teach Sunday school, lead scouts, volunteer, and head any committees. Prioritize. You can do all that after the kids are older. We don't have to have so many programs anyway. We pick and choose carefully. Remember, what is good this year, may not be for the next.
I hope these entries will offer you a glimpse of our journey. Forgive any typo's, misspelled words, run-on sentences, etc.! It is getting late and I am going to go watch a movie with my husband! Happy homeschooling! |
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