Leaf the books inside
Homeschooling is about student-centered learning, where the child is given a range of experiences and curriculum to custom fit their personal learning style and interests. We have a very excellent selection of educational books and workbooks. Yet most days when we feel like "we learned something" it's not by a traditional means.
While we do our math and language arts at the table, our best learning is in everyday things. Things like just being a kid raking up and playing in a pile of leaves, visiting friends at the park, or having a campfire. We learn about positive relationships, God's amazing creation, using our imagination, storytelling, role playing, the seasons, outdoor survival, and we get exercise.
The books are shelved while we take in some fall experiences!
On the road, we stop at grocery and retails stores, restaurants, and other public places. We learn about needs vs wants, budgeting, tallying, self-control, size, ripening, quality, respect for others, the food pyramid and healthy eating, tabloid gossip vs real news, among other things.
We turn on the TV or pick up a book and we learn about history, government, science, careers, and even fairy tales. Each experience triggers questions, excitement, and an eagerness to learn more.
If you are considering homeschooling, or are wondering what it's all about… I hope these posts are giving you the glimpse you needed into the life of a homeschool family. At the end of the day, we as parents should evaluate our success not by the number of pages completed, but by the joy in our children's eyes and the life lessons they learned. Are they becoming good citizens, faithful Christians, and are they still excited to learn?
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