I’m so glad that I’m not beginning the homeschool adventure now. When I started it was a tad lonely. All networking (if it could be called that) was done via word-of-mouth and (gasp!) old fashioned letter writing and monthly newsletters! I remember fondly hearing of a family in Adelaide who homeschooled… so I hunted them down. 🙂 The family didn’t mind at all as they also liked getting together with other’s to talk about home education. Can you imagine my delight when I found out that this family also had a homeschool supply business, mainly supplying good living books? Oh my! I was in heaven.
Back then, there wasn’t a load of information available. Various families would share all the scraps of information they had. Homeschooling books would be mailed all over the country, from one family to another as they were simply hard to come by. I was part of a family based newsletter. Once a year it was our turn to write the newsletter – describing activities we had participated in and resources we were using and good books and finds throughout that year. I printed about 34 copies of the newsletter and sent them to each family on the mailing list. It was such a delight to receive a family newsletter once a month. I would eagerly tear open the envelope and sit outside in the sun with a fresh, hot cuppa to devour the newsletter. Now many of you may laugh at how primitive it all may seem but there were some advantages to this simple, basic style of homeschooling.
I didn’t know a lot about ‘learning styles‘. I didn’t know much about scope and sequences or anything else. I had a few workbooks. Ewww yuck! But before you exit the page let me tell you what was so good about those days.
Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9
Not having multiple resources for each topic within a subject meant that I had to use whatever was available to me- regardless of if it suited our learning style, teaching style or even our beliefs! I had to make do. I had to get between the resource and the child. In other words, I learned to naturally adapt the material while teaching each child. I didn’t need to read a book or do a course on learning styles. By interacting with my child I naturally learned how they learned best. It was truly a natural process.
One child preferred a just-the-facts-ma’am style book while another preferred living books. One child narrated back easily while the other struggled. As a parent who is concerned for her children I simply naturally addressed those needs. I was very aware of those needs because of the close, one-on-one interaction I had with each child.
Many teachers in a school setting don’t get to choose their materials and even when they do, they still must use the curriculum as a tool, as they cater to a wide variety of learning styles. I believe that attitude, motivation and teaching the child how to be a self directed and lifelong learner is much more important than learning styles and finding the perfect curriculum or resource.
One thing I taught my children early on is to have an “I Can”, “I Will”, “I Ought” motto. I don’t want to hear any excuses like, ‘it’s too hard’ or ‘can’t I use another resource?’. Adaptability, diligence, perseverance, self control, thankfulness and hard work are just a few character traits that can be learned throughout the process of tending to lessons.
I have learned that my children will do just fine without the latest curriculum or program. They can still thrive even though I’m a far-from-perfect mother… so long as I am *with them*- sharing my life with them. Want more reading on this? Read the article series by Robin Sampson.
Back then, we didn’t ‘do’ homeschooling. We simply learned things together. Homeschooling is a natural extension (continuation) of parenting.
I had very few homeschooling resources. I had less distractions.
Now, I have far too many resources. And many, too many distractions.
I’m quite glad that I’m not a homeschool newbie. It all looks too overwhelming for me.
Yep, those were the days!
I am thankful to be in a place where there is an active and committed group. Two of us from the old days (!993 we started) are still here and we love to see so many newbies each year. Just talking to a young friend yesterday who is getting started and suggested keeping it simple to spare being overwhelmed. She was home schooled herself, so has a fair amount of sense.
Another think I miss Susan, is the SAH aspect! These days, once the older children have jobs and such and everyone wants to get into sports, music, art, etc. etc. one can get very worn out. I think it is good for me, and my children still at home, to stay at home as much as possible. Not only doing school work but learning to get along together 🙂 and learning to work in the family environment first.
Glad I’m not just starting out…….but then I do wonder how I will cope in five years time when it is all done and dusted?
Hi Ruby, I do think that those who were homeschooled themselves will find it easier. They actually have loads more experience at homeschooling than what we do. we were simply the homeschooling parents- they were the guinea pigs- er students.
Ruby, I totally agree with you about staying at home. I don’t have a lot of choice right now as we have two cars. DH needs one to get to work and DD needs the other to go to work. So I am at home, all day, every day. However, my sons have cadets and sports but that usually happens after lessons towards the early evening. But if we can’t get along with each other then how can we expect to get along with others in the community?
Ah, empty homeschool nest? Let’s not go there just now eh… I have such mixed emotions about it all 😀
Hi Susan, it’s good to hear about the earlier homeschoolers. I agree that it is a bit overwhelming when you first start to research which way to go about teaching your children. It actually took me 5 years to change to a CM style curriculum and I am still not there yet. But the natural one on one can never be replaced, they are priceless.
Good post.
Love Sarah xxx
Hi Sarah, Taking five years to learn new methods and then implement them is pretty good though. I mean, you have probably implemented them in such a way that they are life long learnings rather than simply ‘another subject’, if you know what I mean. Good on you 🙂
Susan, I take my hat off to you and all the other “pioneer” homeshooling parents!
I often think about and talk to other newer mums about how it’s so much easier for us now than it must have been for you guys, especially pre-internet days!
You guys are champions! We wouldn’t have it so easy if it wasn’t for people like you:)
I also agree, there’s just too much out there now and easy to get overwhelmed! I am so thankful I started researching home schooling when my dd was 2. By the time it was time to register her I had already read so much that it helped me formulate the approach I wanted to take and the curriculum I wanted to use. I do feel for others though that didn’t have this prep time like me.
Hi Rosemary, I’m not too sure that I fit into the ‘homeschooling pioneer’ category. When I think of Aussie HS pioneers I tend to think of Beverley Paine and the Angelico family. But I have to laugh. You think it’s easier now… but I think it’s harder!!! Mind you, I can get overwhelmed just going to do the grocery shopping. Choice is good but too much choice can leave me feeling paralysed and I end up not taking any action at all. Whilst I found it a little frustrating at times (the lack of networking and information) it forced me to do two things:
1. end up on my knees
2. become comfortable in my own skin and discover what works for us
I look around at some of the homeschooling blogs I see and I just wanna do what they’re doing! Even though it isn’t *us*. KWIM? I get homeschool envy!
Thanks for popping in… and staying with me despite my lack of regular blogging 🙂
ah Susan, I think you’re too modest:) You’ve done a lot for the h/s community!
yes, I agree, too much choice paralyses me too:)
I also get tempted looking at what others are doing and wanting to do the same but I’m also learning that it’s part of my fallen nature – I need to do what’s right for us and what works best for us, need to keep reminding myself of that when I get tempted, lol:)