Tag: curriculum (Page 1 of 2)

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Deschooling For Seasoned Homeschoolers: Why It’s Not Just For Newbies

September 19, 2023 /

Have you heard of “deschooling”? Deschooling is the process of peeling away the layers of what we’ve been led to believe about education (a result of traditional schooling) and coming instead into a more natural way and understanding of learning.

Many families who leave the school system will take time to deschool, where they put academics aside to spend time adjusting to the lack of rigor, forced work and learning, and instead focus on relaxing, enjoying natural interests and spending time together. The goal is to establish family bonds and connection, and reignite a child’s natural love of learning. 

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3 Things New Homeschool Moms Need to Unlearn

August 14, 2023 /

3 Things I Had To UNLEARN As a New Homeschool Mom

As a new homeschool mom over 7 years ago, I knew that I had a lot to learn. But I never could have imagined that first I would have to unlearn so many things. Having spent my entire education in the public and private school systems I was used to only one way of learning: being fed information through a qualified adult, memorizing and regurgitating, being tested and graded, then moving on to the next subject. 

Naturally it made sense to me that our home education would look similar. Afterall, there was 13 years worth of information I was fed that I would now have to figure out how to feed to my own children. Realizing I had a lot to unlearn was a sobering thought, but its necessity brought about true freedom in our homeschool and family life.

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Back To (Home)School – How To Successfully Begin Your Homeschool Year

August 4, 2023 /

Remember summertime as a kid? Gosh it was purely magical. The days were wide open and long, and the air and ocean was warm. Kids ran free in the streets until well past dark playing cops and robbers and hot days were filled with lemonade, ice cream trucks, and popsicles.

Then September came. Sleepy mornings were replaced with early alarm clocks. Tank tops were tucked away in favor of shirts with sleeves and backpacks were stuffed with heavy books, gym clothes and squashed lunches. We said goodbye to the magic of summer and replaced it with homework, sports practices, and desks.

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Homeschooling Through Hardship – Job Loss, Uncertainty, & Death

August 2, 2023 /

Homeschooling Through Hardship & Life’s Most Difficult Seasons 

I’ll never forget where I was and what I was doing the day I got the call that my dad was dying. It was a call I had been mentally preparing myself for for years. I feared it every time the phone rang. But as much as I always knew it would one day come, I never quite expected it to actually come. It’s easy to assume you still have more time.

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Why You Don’t Need a Homeschool Room And What To Do Instead

July 3, 2023 /

You’ve seen the gorgeous Pinterest worthy homeschool rooms and spaces. The clean walls, bookshelves filled with original copies of the classics, botanical wall art with scientific names hanging uncluttered by an open window and clean wooden tables and chairs with markers neatly arranged in adorably tiny metal pails.

These spaces are beautiful. I’m sure they are a blessing to the families who have them. But are they necessary? And are you at a loss if you don’t have one? I say no, and no. Here’s why.

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The Biggest Obstacle to Homeschool Freedom

May 22, 2023 /

I think that one of the biggest obstacles to having true freedom in homeschool… to having a truly fulfilling experience… is leaving behind the constructs that have been built up in our minds by society’s version of a successful education.

In an age where many parents are starting to ditch the idea that students must be college graduates to be successful, there is still a general belief that children must go to school from ages 4 to 18. That they must complete grades K-12 and follow the curriculum and standards set by the schools and their governing authorities. The board of education knows best; what they deem necessary and in what manner it’s taught is the golden standard.

But is it?

We’re living in an era where the world is moving and changing at such a rapid pace that even the internet algorithms are changing daily.

Traditional schooling tells us that children need to learn a variety of subjects, for 7 hours a day, for 13 straight years. That’s a lot to put on a parent who is stepping into the role of teacher. Yet we go into home education under the impression that we must follow in tune with the schools lest our children be “behind”. Or even worse, that as homeschoolers it’s expected we dedicate extra time to our children’s studies so that they would be “ahead” of their peers. But why are we even making these comparisons? Take your children off that field. It’s not “homeschool” vs “school”. We’re not even playing the same game.

True Freedom in Homeschool

True Freedom in your homeschool comes when you move past the expectations, whether it’s those of society, your family, or even your own. For those of us who were raised in traditional schooling, it can be challenging. Even after 7 years of homeschooling, I still find myself working hard to shed what was so deeply ingrained in me. Often, I hold beliefs that I didn’t even realize were there. But as I continue to question the “whys” and the “hows” of our lifestyle, I can see that much of what I expect and know come from my own childhood experiences in school. The good news is that if those things no longer serve your family well, you can ditch them for something entirely different.

It’s exciting that there is a whole movement of parents who are taking back childhood. They are ditching the norm and educating their unique children in unique ways. They are honouring childhood for what it is: a time of innocence, curiosity, and fun. That’s not to say that there isn’t structure – it’s just that by putting family first, we’re better able to serve our children’s individual needs, give them a beautiful childhood, and raise up strong, confident men and women who have soaked in 18 years of truth, beauty and goodness.

If you want to break out of the tiny, constricting box of the American standard, try asking yourself these questions:

  1. What type of people do I want my children to be?
  2. What kind of childhood do I want my children to have?

This should be the basis of your homeschool. If what you’re doing isn’t serving these two goals, then perhaps you need to reevaluate and try something new. It’s not always easy; families are complex things and nothing will ever be perfect. But your homeschool can be more beautiful, and it certainly can feel more free. 

Break free, my friend. Break free.

Confessions of a Homeschool Adventure Mom
Adventure Homeschool on a Budget
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Why You Shouldn’t “School at Home”

May 8, 2023 /

“School at Home” wasn’t really a term that was used before the world came to an awkward halt in 2020. Up until then it was known as just regular old homeschool, home education, or other names that more closely reflect the various styles of homeschool. (If you are unfamiliar with homeschool styles, you can read more about them here.)

When the schools closed and eventually switched over to Zoom, suddenly everyone was a “homeschooler”. People were home all day with their children, setting them up with a computer so they could log on with their classmates. Parents were printing out the daily worksheets and helping their children through what needed further explanation (if they had the time and understood what was being taught). These families finally understood what their home education friends were experiencing… they were homeschooling now, too. 

Except that really, they weren’t. Like, at all. What they were doing was “school at home”, and that is not the same. And “school at home”, if I may be so bold, is the death of homeschool.

The Death of Homeschool

School at home is just what its name implies: it’s taking what the school system says should be done, how it should be done, and in what order, then checking all those boxes at home. Sound thrilling? Sure, there’s some flexibility. Math can be taught in the morning OR the afternoon. Recess can be a full hour. Lunch can include food that’s actually healthy AND appetizing… sound freeing yet?

There is a reason most home educators choose to structure their homeschool much, much differently than the traditional school model. It’s that schools are not run in the best interest of the child. They do not help raise up children who truly know and care about the natural world around them. Instead they are designed to pump children with information they won’t remember, repeatedly test them for the sake of statistics, and make good law abiding citizens ripe for the workforce. In addition, schools today are accepting children as young as 4, then expecting them to read and write and sit still and quiet for circle time. So much for the joys of childhood. And if this is how you choose to homeschool, I would have to ask you why you chose to home educate in the first place. Reproducing the school environment at home is far, far from the point.

The Beauty of an Education Well Done

While “school at home” isn’t necessarily as bad as all that, it is not a recipe for homeschool success. And if it’s being overseen and directed by an actual school, it likely will not produce the fruit and beauty of a true home education. 

As parents and home educators, homeschool can be whatever we want it to be, and there are as many different ways to do it as there are families doing it. I’ll have you consider this: what type of person do you want your child to grow up to be (values, etc.), and what type of childhood do you want them to have right now? Forget about which facts you want them to memorize, which wars you want them to be able to write a 5 paragraph essay on, and how many aspects of science you want them to be able to recall. First, just focus on the personhood of your child. Enjoy lots and lots of free time together. Heck, even try doing NO school work at all for a while.

So what should you do? That’s not something I can answer for you. Only you know what’s best for your family. And if you’re not sure what that is yet, it’s okay. Take some time to test the homeschool waters. Read up on different homeschool styles and find out which one resonates with you and your family. And just remember, you don’t have to do it all. Even if you feel like you’re doing nothing at all, you’re probably doing more than you realize. Just love on your children. Give them time to enjoy what they’re passionate about. Go exploring. Adventuring. Find reasons to smile together. I promise you won’t regret giving them the time to just be kids.

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Confessions of a Homeschool Adventure Mom

May 1, 2023 /

Forgive Me, Lord 

Ever had a week where you just want to run away and hide for a while? We’ve had a really challenging year, but the stress levels last week were just extra. The small amount of “official” homeschool we typically do was mostly put on hold, but there was just so much going on that I found myself even wanting to walk away from momming for a few days. Definitely not my best week, or a good representation of my role here.

Extra hard weeks, months, and years aside, nobody is perfect. The internet so easily paints a picture perfect life in our heads, then we feel crappy for falling short of what was never a reality. Nor is it achievable, anyway. Or if it is, it’s probably not healthy. So to help you feel a little better about your own mess ups and dirty secrets as a homeschool mom, here’s a few confessions from my own real-life adventure homeschool lifestyle. Buckle up; I’m about shed some light on what goes on when the camera isn’t out.

True Confessions

I’m usually still in my PJs at noon. Sometimes until closer to dinner time. Pretty much I have little motivation to put clothes on unless I absolutely have to leave the house. So if you drop by before noon, don’t judge me. Also, maybe please keep all drones away from my backyard. In summer time I don’t wear pants.

We don’t have an area for digging and it’s not going well. Nope. No mud kitchens here. We had a “digging spot” for a while, but one kid decided to make mud balls with rocks inside and throw them over the fence at cars. So since that obviously wasn’t going well either naturally we had to ban all fun from the backyard. The children now find other ways to destroy the house. Three cheers for creativity.

Some days we don’t do schoolwork for no other reason than I don’t feel like it. Honestly, I’m leaning more and more into Unschooling these days, anyway. Give the kids some chores, tell them to make their own fun and call it a day of natural learning. A+.

Some days I don’t go outside. GASP! I know, and this from someone who is always saying to get outside. Well sometimes a girl just wants to chill at home in her PJs all day. Besides, down time for mindless Instagram scrolling is probably how I’ve found the majority of exciting places we’ve ended up exploring.

We’re not well equipped adventurers. We don’t own much gear. My 12 year old only owns one pair of shoes (they’re sneakers). We have no rain jackets or hiking boots. No emergency water filter straws or rain boots. No extreme cold weather gear or hiking poles. The first aid kit I carry in my water backpack amounts to chapstick and approximately 3 bandaids. Also tissues in allergy season. I’m also directionally challenged and awful at reading maps.

Contrary to the previous confession, at one point I think I owned 11 different baby carriers. How many kids did I wear at that point? Two for sure, sometimes the middle kiddo would ask to get carried. But baby carriers are like shoes and accessories. You obviously would never wear tennis shoes to a fancy dinner date (unless you’re my 12 year old), nor would you wear snow boots to the beach. You also wouldn’t use your purse in place of a backpack in most cases. Well baby carriers are basically like that. Basically… Plus I like to colour match my moods when possible.

My kids play video games and watch mind numbing television. It’s really not my preference. If I had it my way, we would throw away all the screens, except for one that we would only pull out sometimes for educational purposes. But my boys really like video games and watching Pokemon. And I like when they’re all sitting happily in one place for a blissful hour of time when I can actually complete a thought or two without a slew of interruptions.

If my little kids bathe once a week it’s pretty much a miracle. My older kiddos at this point are realizing that they smell bad and their hair gets greasy if they don’t shower quite frequently. But the little ones… uhg. It’s still like wrestling with a wet cat. Being clean is not something they care for, and I don’t generally have the will to fight them. So if you see my kids with marker all over their arms and legs and dirt streaks on their faces and feet, just know that yes, they’ve probably looked like that for at least a day or two. Or five.

One of my kids doesn’t like hiking. Yeah, I know. Ouch. He’s never been my great outdoor explorer, and has always gravitated toward screens and other hobbies. That’s okay – I know that hiking isn’t for everyone. But he’s a good sport and I don’t give him the option to stay home. I figure in the end, he’ll either learn to appreciate it or for the rest of my life he’ll remind me how I constantly dragged him out into the woods or the desert to torture him with sunshine and fresh air.

We don’t have a homeschool room, desks, or even a lot of books. Now, a couple desks in quiet places would actually be great. And I wouldn’t mind having more books. But 7 people living in 1400 square feet, or sometimes 150 square feet, really leaves not much room for anything extraneous. Also, I prioritized having a guest room. #sorrynotsorry

Keepin’ It Real

I’m sure if you followed me around for a week you’d have a long list of other things I should add to this confessional. But hey, I’m sure you’ve got a list, too, and hopefully mine makes you feel a little better about yours. I really do love scrolling through the beautiful Instagram photos, but let’s also remember to keep it real and encourage our fellow homeschool moms to rest assured that the rest of us have a mess behind the pretty pictures, too.

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Do You Need A Homeschool Style?

April 18, 2023 /

What is a homeschool style?

Homeschool style refers to the approach a family takes to their home education. There are several common styles, and a whole bunch of new ones popping up as families continue to seek out new ways to learn and live.

Without going into an exhaustive list, you might recognize some of the more common styles, like Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unschool, Montessori, Eclectic, Unit Studies, etc. Then there are other coined terms for styles like Adventureschool, Wildschool, Lifeschool, Natureschool, Deschooling, Minimalist Homeschool, Roadschool, and so many more. Each one has its own unique take on how to raise up a child, just as each family’s approach to parenting will vary. 

Why Choose a Style?

Many families like to choose a homeschool style because it gives them direction and community. They can connect with other like-minded homeschoolers, join co-ops that support their preferences, and find curriculum that aligns with their beliefs.

Choosing a homeschool style can be a great way to get started on your homeschool journey. For example, one question I am asked quite often is about what curriculum we use. But over the years our curriculum (or lack there of) has changed. And what is right for our family, might not be right for your family. Plus, with entire thick catalogs of curriculum to choose from, plus all of the beautiful curriculum created by homeschoolers that is for sale online, the thousands of choices can make us freeze in confusion. How is one to choose with so much available?

Finding Your Style

Identifying with a style can save you a lot of time, confusion and frustration when it comes to choosing curriculum. Knowing what style (or multiple styles) you feel most fits your desires for your home education can eliminate the majority of curriculum on the market and point you in a general starting direction. However, keep in mind that finding your style doesn’t have to be a forever commitment, and it most certainly does NOT have to define your homeschool – it is simply a tool. A starting point.

To find your style, head to your favourite search engine and type in “homeschool style quiz”. Take any quiz that pops up, and it should help you rank which of the most common styles fit within your preferences. Once you have that style, start researching curriculum, local meet ups, co-ops, etc. that follow that same method. BUT! And this is a huge but… remember, that you do not have to identify as that style. This is simply a place to start. Of course you might find that you’re a Classical purist, or you adore absolutely everything about the Charlotte Mason method and want to follow it to the letter… but the many families tend to grab pieces from many different styles of learning. Plus, what works for one child may not work for another child, and you might want to change it up from year to year, depending on what you end up liking or not liking. Don’t be afraid to change! That’s the beauty of homeschool – if something isn’t working, try something else.

Do You Need a Homeschool Style?

The short answer is, no, you do not need a homeschool style. In fact we started our homeschool journey having not heard of homeschool styles for probably the first three years of our journey.

When I finally learned about homeschool styles, however, it came as a relief to me. I was able to narrow it down to two styles (which funny enough are complete opposites). What we’ve since grown, and what continues to evolve, is our own completely unique approach to home education. I have no word for what style it is – it’s just ours. But identifying our top two styles put me on a path to discovering what would end up working best for our family. It allowed me to research within a certain mindset and find other people who are similar.

So do you need a homeschool style? No. Should you have one? Perhaps, but that’s a personal choice. Should you take the quiz? Yes. Especially if you’re new or trying to figure out where to go next. It just might illuminate the best direction for your homeschool.

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