Amy’s Garden

Homeschooling Part 2

There were so many great comments and questions on my post about homeschooling, that I am going to address some of them here. Also, my primary laptop computer has died, and we are in the process of getting all my usual programs and settings put on another laptop. So, getting a post with pictures of Lydia’s fishing trip (so cute) will have to wait a few more days.

Plus, responding to the comments helps me to get some of my thoughts better defined. So, here goes:

Janet said she wishes I were her mother. Aw, shucks, Janet. That made my day.

Mom and Katie both said they would like to hear more about the convention. As Keith knows, I could talk all day about what I heard, and I only went to four sessions! The keynote speaker was Dr. Susan Wise Bauer, author of The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home.

Classical education has been around for centuries. This book describes her recommended method for carrying it out. Classical education is based on the trivium, which states students can accomplish different types of learning at different ages. Grades 1-4 is the grammar stage, which emphasizes rote memorization and drill. Grades 5-8 is the logic stage, when students can begin to analyze and ask why. Grades 9-12 is the rhetoric stage, when students can write and speak their ideas fluently and defend an argument.

I read the book a few weeks before hearing her speak. Since I’ve been an educator, I was fascinated by these ideas. She talked about (and she is right) how the schools expect very young children to come up with original, creative ideas when they have very little life experience on which to base those ideas. On the flip side, we often ask middle school students to read a chapter in a history book and answer questions, when they are actually ready to move on to deeper thinking and analysis. This is a long book, but it reads fast. I recommend it for anyone thinking of homeschooling. (Check your local library.)

I also heard speakers address the heart of homeschooling. Melanie Young did a session on “Three Simple Goals for the First Year.” She encouraged us to get relationships right (within the family, with the law, and with other homeschoolers), to develop of love of learning (I am definitely excited about learning along with my kids), and to get the basics done (include family devotions and Bible time each day).

Another resource I have enjoyed (that was not covered at the convention) is Simply Charlotte Mason. Charlotte Mason was a British educator in the 1800s, and many of her ideas have become popular with homeschoolers today. The Simply Charlotte Mason website and its accompanying resources have been put together by Sonya Shafer. There is another Charlotte Mason handbook by a different woman, Karen Andreola, which usually gets mentioned first, but I didn’t find it to be nearly as useful and Sonya’s material. Charlotte Mason was a classical educator, but her approach seems a bit more relaxed than The Well-Trained Mind. Also, she places a heavy emphasis on being outdoors and learning about nature, which I love. For parents of preschoolers, I would highly recommend reading The Early Years: A Charlotte Mason Preschool Handbook. You can download the first half of the book for free. I liked the whole book, but I found the first half the most useful.

Okay, back to the comments. Lindsay had a very well-thought out response to my post. She mentioned my experience teaching young children. I will admit, this made my decision easier, because I know I can at least handle kindergarten! With that said, I believe any parent can teach a child at home. I’ll be the first to admit that reading is not rocket science. There are TONS of resources and approaches out there.

Lindsay also mentioned concerns she has had in the past about homeschool kids and social opportunities. In this area of the country, there are many, many ways for homeschool kids to make friends and do extra-curricular activities. There are a homeschool choir, orchestra, sports teams, and educational co-ops.

Then there is the homeschool family who looks down on public schools, and worse than that, who looks down on families who send their kids to public schools. This was a major hangup for me to get over in my decision. I so much don’t want to come across as self-righteous on this issue. Life is too short to make enemies over education (or breastfeeding or daycare for that matter). I have many friends who use the public school system, and I would like them to remain my friends.

On the issue of Christian kids (and families) being a good influence on others in the public schools, I can understand that argument. I think each family needs to make an individual decision based on the personalities and maturity level of the kids. Some kids have a mature faith and can easily stand for Christ in a secular setting, and others might be more easily led astray by negative influences. The key is to know your kids. Good thoughts, Lindsay!

Madalyn asked if we are planning to homeschool just the elementary years or all the way through high school. The answer is: I don’t know! We have committed to teaching kindergarten at home. I imagine we will continue homeschooling as long as things are going well. If a major life circumstance or a need from one of our kids arises, we are open to re-evaluating.

Whew! Did some of you actually read all of that? Thank you! As you can tell, I am very passionate about education. I certainly don’t have everything figured out yet, but I am ready to learn!