A Journey in Homeschooling

BARBARA HEDGEWITCH

Summer 2001

If you're new to homeschooling, you may not be aware of the wonderful variety of options you have to help your children learn. Homeschooling can be ever so much more than recreating a school environment within the home.

Many homeschoolers begin by trying to create a miniature classroom environment in their home. They set aside a special area, perhaps an entire room, for "school". They may have chalkboards, desks, the works! Some families have "school hours" and a set schedule for doing things. They may purchase a curriculum package from a publisher. They may give their school a name. The advantages that "school-at-homers" have over their schooled peers is that they are allowed to proceed at their own pace, going faster or slower than they would be able to if they were in school. Their parents have control of the subjects taught.

At the other end of the spectrum are the "radical unschoolers". These folks believe that children are naturally hardwired to learn, and that they can learn everything they need to know by pursuing their own interests. Parents are merely resource people.

Most homeschoolers fall somewhere between these two extremes, with many starting out at the "school at home" end of the spectrum and relaxing a bit more toward the middle once they discover that children do indeed learn well on their own, without a whole lot of structure. Our family's experience was typical of most beginning homeschooling families. I attended a big state homeschooling convention the spring before we started, and I went hog wild buying packaged curriculum: math, spelling, grammar, etc.. I am a former teacher, and I had planned on recreating "school at home". It was the only thing I knew.

Our "school at home" experience lasted all of two weeks. We were bored with the curriculum. There were so many more interesting things to do, playing with LEGO's was one of the main ones. The Discovery Channel and PBS had so many interesting special that caught our attention. The library was full of so many marvelous books! There were so many places to go and things to do! Our stack of school books lay gathering dust in the corner.

I worried a bit, when I had time to think about it. Our new daughter arrived in late September from Korea. Experienced homeschool friends suggested that we make it a "Baby101" year. They assured me that my son would indeed learn without me having to teach formal lessons. I still worried a bit, but was too busy with living to do much about it.

The proof that we were on the right track for our family came with my son's evaluation in the spring. He assessed right at grade level. I was both amazed and not amazed. I knew he was learning. The assessment validated things for me. I was finally able to drop that little nagging worry that had been with me off and on all year.

Our homeschooling style has evolved over time. My son has chosen to take some formal classes. Our learning at home is still very casual. I read to the kids a lot. We still watch PBS a lot, and still visit the library a lot.

For us, textbooks have become tools rather than taskmasters. When we need a specific tool, we'll pick it up and use it. We pick and choose which tools we want to use according to our needs and interests. We keep our own crazy time schedule.

If you're brand new to homeschooling, the biggest piece of advice that I can give you is: relax. Your children will learn. Use curriculum if it helps you, but don't feel that you're tied to it. Drop it if it's causing frustration and tears. Learning is not about following other people's agendas. It is all about what sparks the imagination and makes the mind soar. What works for your neighbor's family may be abysmal for yours. Your family will naturally find its place on the wonderful, diverse spectrum that is called homeschooling. Enjoy the journey.