What’s the difference? A lot. People are usually using the terms “unschooling”, “child-led learning”, “child-centered learning” and “homeschooling” in ways that may not be accurate. Let’s dig into the various terms used to describe educational activities outside of a brick and mortar school…
Continue reading Vocabulary matters: labels that will make you think
I have thought an awful lot about building independence in my kids. I’ve written about it here and pondered the maturity changes here. But recently one of the Parenting Partners took it to a whole new level. One I never thought of before, but needed to.
Mamas… So help me homeschooling a 6yo has got to be the worst thing ever. There aren’t any cool classes available because all of the ones they could do last year were targeted to kids who were MAYBE taking the kindergarten year at home (and they were the upper end of the “age range” for the class. They’re not yet 7–when some classes open up for the “obviously being homeschooled”/age of compulsory education (in most states). Kids also go through a cognitive developmental milestone at 7 that changes their understanding of the world (and how they take in information).
But 6… Six just sucked. So what to do for kids who are 6 (and under)? Here are the MANY IMPORTANT THINGS you need to teach kids 7 and under (and over, too, if you need to make up for lost time). And no, it’s not “Don’t do anything! Just play!” I assure you–there are things kids need to learn…
Continue reading When you’re homeschooling a six-year-old (and under)
So, I have learned some things about myself. I think I shared with you that I need to be on “execute” mode in autumn or nothing gets done. That means I have to plan, organize and supply myself before then. And dude… I’m notsomuch going to let that stuff interfere with being at the pool, so…
It’s the word that no new homeschooler wants to hear: “deschooling”. Sometimes confused with “unschooling” and regarded with the same disdain and disgust to the newly transitioning… but this little word can change the trajectory of your homeschool experience. Continue reading The truth about deschooling that will blow your mind
Girly isn’t doing much. #fail
BigGuy is doing too much.
Here’s the rundown… Continue reading What we’re ACTUALLY doing…
And so the school year begins… fuh realz. We are on roughly day 6 of having a daily public school class for the BigGuy and Girly is lagging behind. Notsomuch in academics but just in “having things to do”. So that is my next great endeavor… What to do with Girly? Continue reading So far, so tolerable
I went to my friends house yesterday because I was in the neighborhood and she said I could. She shared with me that as she enters her first year of homeschooling, she feels overwhelmed with where to start. Her children are young (would-be 2nd grade, Kindy and toddler). Similarly, a new homeschooler on one of my Facebook groups expressed panic over the same thing–where to start??
So here was my advice to them… Continue reading It’s your first year and you’re overwhelmed–start here
We are ending our sixth year of homeschooling. For the first 1-2 years, I waffled between scheduled and notsomuch scheduled when it came to academics. If not for all our moving, I might have tried to find a schedule that worked until I gave up. Instead, I threw my hands up and said “He’s ahead–I’m not gonna worry about it”.
But we’ve entered a new phase of life…
Sho ’nuff did. So, I have not been able to get my act together–especially to facilitate Socratic/thinking discussion.
But I was inspired by my son’s willingness to write when the writing was about the fictitious land he created and made a map for. Then I saw a TEDx talk on hackschooling. Suddenly, I remembered the whole reason we’re homeschooling is to allow our kids the experience of learning by way of the things they love–that drive them to learn. Continue reading Totally hacked my son’s education today
Educated Adventures 