The world of homeschooling offers so many CHOICES.
When our family first began homeschooling five years ago I spent endless hours on the computer investigating those choices. I spent time with seasoned homeschool moms who shared their choices with me.
By the time we had finished our first year, I was doing a little bit of a lot of things, convinced that I was giving my children an eclectic education that inspired curiosity and learning.
Please don't misunderstand: I do not regret our first few years of homeschooling. They definitely served their purpose. My children and I strengthened a bond that had been weakened through time spent in traditional school. Our family traveled together and learned so much. I cultivated wonder in my young children.Those years were full of much goodness.
I have, however, come to a realization.
We can deepen our children's learning through simplifying our choices.
If I choose one path and STAY THE COURSE, my children retain more information and make more sense of their learning.
As my children are growing (with one approaching high school next year - oh my goodness) we need to be very specific about their educational goals and plans.
Our family has been simplifying our lives over the past year. Our homeschool has been simplified as well. We are seeking out a very few things that WORK and sticking with them. (I think this is why the Classical model works so well for us.)
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Simplify Your Curriculum
I cannot keep random pieces of curriculum in my house. They distract me and make me feel guilty if I am not using them.
I have gotten rid of all curriculum we are not currently using.
Our curriculum consists of:
- Living books, Read Alouds - LOTS of them! (we read all the time and love the library)
- Saxon Math
- Classical Conversations (history, science, Latin, geography, English grammar, and fine arts)
- The Bible
That's it. I promise.
I'm being very intentional about keeping only the best materials on hand that we will USE. I am limiting our homeschool to one large bookcase.
Less is more.
Stop Trolling the Internet
Ok. Please don't stop reading THIS blog, but do limit your blog reading/Pinterest browsing to just a few sites you find helpful and encouraging.
I would get so overwhelmed by the choices and ideas I found online.
It left me with the feeling that my children were missing out on something big, when really they were just missing out on ME because I was losing focus by spending so much time on the computer!
I have found a few encouraging books and sites that I refer to when I need help or inspiration. If I do spend time online looking for something for my homeschool I am very specific about what I search for and try to set a timer for myself.
My favorite books and online resources are:
- The Core
- The Well Trained Mind
- Notebooking Pages
- Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood
- Classical Conversations Connected
Allow Children PLENTY of Unstructured Free Time
I believe this is one of the best ways to allow your children to think deeply and develop interests.
Give them TIME to be bored, time to wonder - time to just be kids.
Let them spend a summer crafting, reading, and figuring out what to do with their time. Make sure there is plenty of time to do things together as a family. Play games, take walks - enjoy being together.
Life can't always be about being entertained. We give our children a tremendous gift when we teach them to be content with the simple things in life.
Model Simplification in Your Own Life
Do you take time to be STILL? Do you model inquisitiveness and contentment?
Do your children see you reading a book so you can learn something new?
Do they witness you trying a new skill and working to get better at that skill?
I'm trying (not always successfully) to simplify my own life, so my children will have a good role model. I am trying to focus on just a couple of things and be excellent at those. I am trying to reduce the "noise" in my life so I can focus on what is really important.
Would you believe I sat in my backyard and read a book for two hours last weekend? Yes, I did. It was a book I had been wanting to read for some time and I am so glad I had the time to just immerse myself in the book.
Kids pick up on the habits of their parents, you know.
{By the way, I recommend Radical... that's the book that kept me reading for so long!}
It's all about quieting our minds and hearts so we can focus on the best things for our families.