Finding My Homeschooling Groove
Filed Under: Homeschooling, Parenting
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you might have noticed that the “homeschooling” facet of “Parenting, Homeschooling and Thriving (PHAT)” is a bit lacking in content. I read a lot about homeschooling. I think a lot about homeschooling. I actively participate in homeschooling. But when it comes to writing and discussing homeschooling, I’ve had some trouble.
Neither my family nor my husband’s family is entirely on-board with our decision to homeschool. No one is openly critical, they are simply silent observers. Every now and then the question comes up… “Do you ever think about sending them to school?” My answer is always, unequivocally, no. So when I started this blog, I intended to write mostly on homeschooling. I wanted to share this wondrous journey with those who didn’t quite understand what it’s all about.
When I sat down to write about “homeschooling,” I found it challenging to succinctly describe our days, our activities, our learning, our philosophy. We read books and magazines, had playdates, did housework, took field trips, played computer games, did workbooks, watched TV, played piano, played sports and learned about whatever happened to come up in conversation. We didn’t do “school at home,” or follow a curriculum, or define a specific time of day to do specific activities.
As my son got older, he began asking more intense questions, yearning to dig in and get all the details. I struggled to define my homeschooling philosophy. How exactly did I plan to answer these questions? How would I quench his thirst while continuing to whet his appetite?
Would I unschool? Would I take bits and pieces from various curricula? Would I create my own unit studies? I researched and discussed the options with other homeschooling Moms. And finally (duh!), I asked my son what he enjoyed. It was then that I realized it wasn’t about me.
When you first start out, finding your homeschooling groove can be quite a process. My epiphany came when I admitted that I did not need to wrap up my philosophy into a neat package that could be tied in a pretty bow and presented to inquiring friends and family. Homeschooling is about my children. It’s having the freedom to accommodate their passions to the fullest extent. It’s allowing learning to happen naturally and pursuing any interest with unlimited time and gusto.
Now, as I move forward along our homeschooling path, I know how to write about the process and how to help others understand. What did my children learn today? They learned about everything they wanted to learn. And that’s exactly what they need to know.
PHAT = Parenting, Homeschooling And Technology. That about sums up my life at the moment.
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Karen | Mar 6, 2006 | Reply
Wow. I give you a large ovation for homeschooling. I could NEVER do it, but I commend you on the commitment. Every homeschooled child that I have ever encountered has been brilliant, so there must be something to it! Bravo!
Michele sent me!
Melissa Markham | Mar 7, 2006 | Reply
Oh man, this is me entirely! I have a hard time putting into words about our homeschooling days and my thoughts on homeschooling and I have continued to refine the way we do things as the children have grown older! Keep up the good work!
Trixie | Mar 7, 2006 | Reply
Very well said, Shannon. I think this is precisely the way I think of our “unschooling” approach. Unschooling to me doesn’t mean “no structure” or avoiding anything found in a curriculum or otherwise school-like. It only means not imposing any pre-determined structure or limits and simply letting learning unfold naturally, according to my children’s individual interests, skills, and needs. It sometimes strikes me as odd that this should seem such a foreign concept to other parents that it warrants any further explanation at all.
Unschooling may mean formal lessons or workbooks at times for some children (Finn has loved doing math workbooks for stretches and at other times has completely lost interest in them, while continuing his interest in math by instead playing hours upon hours of card games and exploring/counting the money in his piggy bank). Unschooling may even mean signing up for formal classes, where a child can have designated time, space, and resources to pursue a particular passion. The most fundamental difference to me is the “why” behind what my kids are doing. No matter what they’re pursuing on any given day (recent popular activities in our house have included indoor basketball, coloring competitions, mazes, marble-run building, and computer card & skateborarding games), they’re doing it because it’s meaningful and important to them at that very time… not because it’s “reading period” or “math time” or because coloring in the lines is on our curriculum’s list of objectives. I think perhaps this is the biggest difference between my kids’ days at home and the days of those in school.
Happyheartsmom | Mar 7, 2006 | Reply
Great summation of your thoughts on your hs journey! And you are SO right in saying it’s not about “me” it’s about the kids, great post, thanks!
mikmom | Mar 13, 2006 | Reply
Thanks so much! Found you while researching Harper Lee as part of Alabama History that my Luke found while reading his New Alabama History book (c. 2005 - even has 9/11 in it - his comment - no, I don’t know, yet, what that has to do with AH), essay contest of Harper Lee’s specifically stipulating it has to include HSers (her requirement). Anyway, we’re not going to the AH co-op class this afternoon (may not go back); he wanted to go to learn, not do public speaking, a presentation on a famous Alabama person he was assigned to do (Hank Aaron) only thing he really got out of it was he threw over his wife for fame.
Anyway, we’re off to the gym (also has a learning center - see what we learn there!) Sorry so long, just so excited Bye!
Josie | Apr 9, 2008 | Reply
I’m an aunt to 9 homeschooled kids and have a great time incorporating lessons into everyday life.
If you are wanting a good source of history, science and culture check here: http://www.OurAmericanParks.com
It takes tells stories that made our nation great and hopes to be adding a section of study guides and lessons for homeschoolers.
Good luck!
Josie