If you’ve read my blog over the years or my forum posts you may be excused for wondering what type of homeschoolers we are! One month we seem to be favouring an unschooling approach and another month we seem to be doing school-at-home! Looking at our homeschooling timeline may not help clear the issue either.
So which is it?
Neither and all!
We have seasons. I don’t like labels as they are too constricting. Rather we go with the flow. So we have had times when we have fully unschooled, but then our life has changed a little and a new season begins so unschooling stops. Because this is following the natural rhythms of our family it is easy for the children to adapt- it is natural.
Therefore I cannot say that we are unschoolers, or natural learners, or anything really… other than home-based-learners. I find it difficult to truthfully answer questions like this. I want to answer but even if I respond by painting a picture of what our homeschooling season looks like now, in a few months it will have changed and that picture will no longer be an accurate portrayal of our life.
I know that doesn’t help new or inquiring homeschoolers much (when they really want a concrete picture) but it is the truth. Over the years we have just done what needed to be done. Sometimes this has meant formal spelling lists and at other times it has meant NO spelling focus at all.
There is a time for everything. Observe your family rhythm. Observe your children. Be decisive in your course of action. Embrace each season. Live together, play together, pray together, love.
Oh, how true! Surely the biggest benefit of homeschooling is being able to tailor make a program for ‘your’ student/s. Some seasons are bound to look different from others! Forcing a child to learn using one programme with no alterations appears counterintuitive, doesn’t it! Bit like enrolling them in a class of 20 really…
True, too true 🙂
Home-based-learners. I like that. Homeschooling can be like Christianity… we humans love to put things in nice neat little boxes. LOL. It will only work for a season, then something always comes to rock our little worlds… causing us to reassess things again.
You have learnt through time and experience Susan. That’s why I love your philosophy (outlook)… in christianity and homeschooling.
I feel the same. We have changed approach depending on circustances and even had short periods where nothing formal happened. These were the greatest periods of character building…for me at least!
Right now being registered is a little more restrictive but I am also finding the accountability of that useful at a time when I might other wise be drawn away and not get done what needs to be done.
Thanks for sorting the Aussie Homeschool thing for me, too.
Thanks Amanda!
Ruby, I haven’t done anything to sort out your issue on AH but I see that you’ve found your way back there so I guess it’s all good! Love the way you see the positives throughout everything from being slightly restricted to informal hsing 🙂
Hi Susan,
The curriculum that we started out with is so different to what we have finished up with, but as you say, there are different seasons, and what suited us in the beginning wasn’t what we continued with.
The curriculum that we are using now, and the way that we are using it is also completely different, as my son is completing his school work at night time – it works for him.
This way he can milk the goats in the mornings and have time for his web design, too. He seems to be more settled in what he’s doing, too.
My daughter prefers to do her school work in the daytime, and just gets stuck into it and does it.
Homeschooling is about what you are doing at the time, and what works for one may not necessarily work for someone else.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Blessings,
Jillian :heart:
Hi Jillian,
I think it’s great that your son is working at night- if that is what suits him. Once my daughter was older she did similar as she was doing her lessons around a part time job and her sport. Thanks for popping in!
I would wholeheartedly agree.
In fact I am about to launch one child off into the realms of unschooling officially, with Master 3 tailing along, while keeping up book work to possibly three (but more likely two) of the others.
Finally took the plunge into LLATL for English, so looking forward to that, and need to formalize giving ACE up.
So yes, in 3 paragraphs and a line, that about sums us up. And I have no doubt it will change again with the ebb and flow of family life.
Hi Ria,
Keep me updated as to how LLATL goes for you 🙂
‘There is a time for everything. Observe your family rhythm. Observe your children. Be decisive in your course of action. Embrace each season. Live together, play together, pray together, love.’
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love this especially.
words of life, love and encouragement to me. thanks Susan 🙂
did i mention i loved what you shared? lol
blessings lovely sister in Christ,
Lus x
Lusi, you are so sweet… a true encourager. 🙂
Labels box you in, so it is great to create your own! I love you blog, Susan. I have an award for you at my blog.
Morning Susan,
We’re all eclectic– composed of elements drawn from various sources. Biggest lesson I learned my years of homeschooling is I don’t have to like what my friends like.
We just started hybrid homeschooling. We’re using Alpha Omega and HOW> If ay one would have told me I’d be using workbooks a few years ago I wouldn’t believe it but for now its working (with living books). Its fun to mix it up.
Super quote Lusi!
Thank you Bek, for the award. That is so sweet. 🙂
Robin, hybrid homeschooling – love it! LOL I did see that on your blog but was in a hurry so I’ll pop back over to your place now 🙂
Morning Susan
I too enjoy that fluid-ness. When things need tweaking or changing out-right it brings a freshness and motivation.