Fall isn’t even here and yet, everyone seems to be back to school shopping. Parents buy new clothes and school supplies to get kids ready for the first day back. Our homeschool routine is a little different. My DH and I meet to discuss our educational plan for each child and I purchase items that we need to accomplish our goals. Again this year, there is a huge increase in the number of families who have chosen to homeschool. As a service to other homeschoolers and as entertainment for everyone else, I am sharing some of our plans for this “school-year”.
Homeschool families have TONS of choices when it comes to the style of homeschooling they choose (This is a whole post for another time – there isn’t a right or wrong style of homeschooling – just different strokes for different folks). We follow an eclectic approach taking what we love most about Montessori, Waldorf, and Unschooling styles to make our own version of a Child-led Learning Style. If you don’t understand that, don’t worry about it, it’s just shop talk for homeschoolers that tells others we follow our children’s interests, spend lots of time in nature, and prepare an environment that will nourish our family’s innate curiosity and love of learning. We look for every opportunity to learn and try not to intervene if a child is “at work”.
We interview each kiddo in our house about what they want to learn. They each list what they want to learn. The subjects they chose this year include; how our bodies work, computer coding, climate change, learning to play an instrument, Greek mythology, chemistry, and literally a whole list of other things. Because our children have so much input into what they are going to learn, we don’t have to fight with them to “do school” because, they are begging to learn. Natural curiosity peaks when it is fed. If you answer a child’s question they will continue to ask more.
Roadschooling – We are starting the year off with a road-trip. We plan on taking advantage of the fun with science experiments on the beach, reading and music in the car, gym class in the ocean, and a sprinkling of history, mythology, and geography with books, toys, and a live show featuring pirates and mermaids.
Field Trips – Everyday is a field trip when you are a homeschooler (the irony is not lost on me). Although options have changed this year, we are planning to attend the orchestra, a Broadway show, camping trips, a touring youtubers show, as well as lots of libraries and museums. We will continue to add to these as opportunities present.
When we are home we like to continue the experiential learning. We have a plethora of science, geography, and cultural study kits, tons of cooking and baking to do, an unlimited amount of books to read, videos to watch, programs to participate in, handicrafts to make, and activities to accomplish. Our simple way of doing things is sometimes easier and sometimes harder than traditional schooling, but we have chosen the way that works for our children’s unique learning styles. After over a dozen years of homeschooling our way feels natural and there is a rhythm to our days that is comforting to all of us. Our “schooling” hardly ever looks like what you might picture and that’s the way we like it.
The AMAZINGLY SIMPLE way to educate our whole family.
simply,
bridgette
AMAZINGLY SIMPLE 