Since our daughter was about 18 months old and I started looking into the whole idea of homeschooling, I was pretty much sold on doing the learning at home thing.
We are a hands-on bunch to begin with, spending lots of our time looking for bugs in the forest, trying to figure out what bird we just heard and matching the shells we find at the beach to creatures we know or are learning about.
I can see our daughter thriving in an environment where discovery happens at her own pace (um, that would be full gear) and foundation skills like reading, writing, math and more come naturally. I’m always amazed to see her count the tomatoes in a salad or sound out a word on the side of a building without any nudge from me at all.
Homeschooling makes sense to us, and I know that it doesn’t make sense for everybody.
But, a lot of mamas ask me how we reconciled a lot of the issues that come up when deciding whether or not learning at home is the right path for their family – socialization (a non-issue, really), not supporting the public system (a very hot argument), parental skills and more.
We haven’t.
With another year before we really “need” to get going with formal education, there is some time to sort it out. But, I talk to lots of moms and dads about this one and one thing definitely pops up over and over again – plugging in to homeschooling, figuring out which methods fit the way you live, finding a school to register at (you get lots of teacher-based support and there is a subsidy for learning tools that is very necessary when you’re teaching at home) are all fairly time consuming – which means starting early.
But, where do people get started?
My biggest concern with homeschooling is being able to go the secular route.
The community is quite often Christian-based, which while I’m cool with other people’s belief systems, isn’t our belief system.
I’ve had to come to terms with adapting some really fantastic Christian-based curriculum tools and learning books to a more secular format, and that has been challenging.
One of my favourite blogs, Eco Child’s Play, has many moms on the same path.
So, when ECP writer Julie Finn of Craft Knife posted this week about homeschooling books she loves, I had a great big smile since many of them are on our list too.
Anyway, I wanted to “re-tweet” of sorts a couple of her book recommendations and throw in a few personal faves for anyone looking to get started.
The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith is tops on both of our lists. This great book on child-directed learning is basically our bible. My vote is for starting here and then branching off to see what works for you.
Finn also recommends Montessori Home School, which I am most definitely going to have to check out. I love Montessori, but always thought it a bit too process-heavy for me to be able to implement well in a home setting. Never say never.
I have two favourite resources for homeschooling right now (they evolve, or revolve. But these two never seem to lose their appeal).
The first one is Green Teacher Magazine.
We plan on using the Oak and Orca Bioregional School home learning curriculum, focused heavily on nature, and this magazine is a serious score in terms of ideas, tools and commentary. I get it in my e-mail inbox and L-O-V-E it.
My second love is the Waldorf-based Childhood’s Garden.
Finding a way to appropriately integrate the very structured Waldorf curriculum into an eclectic home learning program is tricky at best. But, like many of you know, I dig Waldorf. So, this guide has been an invaluable learning tool in terms of pulling together the elements of Waldorf that vibe with us and integrating them into our overall school thing.
Anyway, there are a few great reads to get you started with homeschooling.
I’d love to hear what other homeschool families are using. Jump in today and help us out with some cool tools!
Hi Robin,
Thank you for this wonderful blog. I love it.
I am wondering if you know of the Saltwater School. A Waldorf school initiative. Currently in the planning stage, with a view to commence in September 2010. For those out there looking for Waldorf, a mention from you could help people find us. The blog is:http://waldorfinthevalley.blogspot.com/
Thank you,
Grainne
Thanks for the great blog topic today, Robin. Very much an interest in our household and I am excited to check out the ‘green teacher’ magazine.
I am totally loving the different homeschool resources you shared today!!! This year L will turn 6 and I need to look at registering her somewhere for school and I am still undecided where to do it. The Oak & Orca program sounds really good and I’m leaning that way but I’m still undecided *grin*. I’ve found that over the last couple of years we’ve shifted from more conventional school materials to the unschooling side of the fence and I am really enjoying it. There is a really interesting online group called the Radical Unschoolers Network at http://familyrun.ning.com/ the name sounds a little extreme but they have tons of great info to read up on and the forums for questions
Well I’m off to check out the mags you shared 
We’re just doing preschool, but I’m using “Earth School” Units from http://www.kandfshops.com – it’s very waldorf based and a good way to start out! I’m not doing anything official, but it’s nice to be able to pull a unit out when stir craziness sets in!
I understand what you mean about trying to fit Waldorf in the home environment. I think that we’re going to do a cross between waldorf and unschooling. (That is, if I make it through being the full time mom for the terrible 3’s…
)
Thank you for the Oak and Orca link, it looks wonderful!
I have really been struggling with the homeschooling idea for about a month, and over the past couple of weeks have been finding it odd that every single day something pops up about homeschooling and gives me more info and excitement about it all. (thank you for being my weird coincidence for the day)
My daughter is currently in public school in grade one, and although I had been thinking about it for sometime anyway, asked me out of the blue if she could be homeschooled. I still don’t know if this is the best option for us, she needs extensive socializing, and I can’t see her getting that if she’s homeschooled. Although strangely a homeschooled girl her age just moved in a few doors down, maybe this could work?
Can’t wait to check out some of those books/links and look into it more!
Thanks you guys for jumping in on this post. Great stuff!
Jess, overcoming the hurdles for homeschooling can be tough at times.
Socialization often comes up as a major issue. My experience has been that homeschooled kids are actually very, very social in that they are out, in the community, doing hands-on learning with people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s pretty exciting to see kids be able to interact like that and – I’m not sure where you live – but B.C. has a REALLY well supported homeschooling network where parents and kids are actively engaged in planning activities, meet-ups and lots more.
I’m excited that we can give you a few more resources to help you along the way.
Robin, thanks for more homeschool resources. I homeschool our 2 girls (4 and 6 years old) and they love to be at home. You are right about the socialization aspect, the girls are out and about in our community and we have found many other homeschooled kids in the Qualicum area. I wonder if evolving to an unschooling method just happens on its own? As parents, I think we become more confident in our abilities to educate our kids effectively and rely less and less on a concrete curriculum.
Thanks Again
Charmaine