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Connections
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| Posted: June 24 2009 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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After I thoughtfully set aside a projects/inquiry based approach to our learning a few months back, it turns out that our own version of projects-based learning may be exactly what will help us to soar. It is shaping up to provide some of the "freedom within limits" we desire within our family.
Between that and adding daily requirements (something I was unsure I would ever do), I am realizing how very little I know about this homeschooling journey and how very much I am learning along the way!
It is a good thing that we are not held to one way of doing things because I have found that the needs of my family are not something I can anticipate too far into the future.
While our real learning goals remain firmly in place, the best way for us to achieve them often feels like a moving target.
Anyone else experience this?
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Blessings,
Tracey
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Sarah M
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| Posted: June 24 2009 at 5:19pm | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
It is a good thing that we are not held to one way of doing things because I have found that the needs of my family are not something I can anticipate too far into the future.
While our real learning goals remain firmly in place, the best way for us to achieve them often feels like a moving target.
Anyone else experience this?
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Absolutely I do. It seems that as soon as I've gotten comfortable with a certain way of doing things, our circumstances or needs change, and I'm at the drawing board again, creating (from the same set of values- the same original vision) a new form to carry us through our days. Sometimes that looks more structured- sometimes it looks pretty darn unschooly. Sometimes I rely on pre-written curriculum more than others. And I'm finding that I can't decide what will work for us a year at a time. For example, I can't say what will work best for us for the whole 2009-2010 school year. Instead, for me, it's best if I regroup at the beginning of each month and decide how to best proceed.
I love your topic starters, Tracey. I look forward to reading on this one!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: June 24 2009 at 6:39pm | IP Logged
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Absolutely! I recently looked back at some old posts on my blog from a few years ago and we have changed so much in that time. I love that we are not bound to one method or one set of materials, but that we are free to grow and change with our children.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 24 2009 at 6:48pm | IP Logged
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I understand what you're saying, Tracey. My answer is yes and no. Yes, certainly I see an evolution of sorts as I have been homeschooling in that evolution implies change, but evolution implies a change from simple to complex. From the outside my homeschooling may appear more complex than it did from the beginning, but my own attitude and philosophy has definitely found freedom in simplification.
I've been thinking about how this juxtaposition and apparent contradiction can take place - an outwardly appearing complex vehicle of learning coupled with a simplification and contentment in becoming who I am. Finding myself, growing into our "family norm-ish-ness" (if you will allow me to make up a new word  ) and staying true to core philosophies that seem to echo my own thoughts allows for a great freedom of movement in expression. So those expressions may take varying forms, but they are all rooted in a core philosophy which makes them related and grounded somewhat. In this way, what seems a change on the outside is actually simply a different way of expressing something. There's less a feeling of having moved away...or moved on...and more a feeling of enriching and going deeper.
It would seem that is where you are finding yourself, Tracey, growing into your own "family shoes" so to speak. Finding the language/philosophy you speak and where that intersects with your children opens this amazing door that opens onto possibility. It's a beautiful place.
So, yes, I think there is change, growth, and a growing comfort in your own shoes with each passing experience. Homeschooling for me has been a vocation that allows for great depth of observance. If I'm open, watching, and quiet (especially interiorly) I see how the Holy Spirit has used moments to prompt growth, questions, and solutions. I'm so grateful for those moments!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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TracyQ
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| Posted: June 25 2009 at 9:21am | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
It would seem that is where you are finding yourself, Tracey, growing into your own "family shoes" so to speak. Finding the language/philosophy you speak and where that intersects with your children opens this amazing door that opens onto possibility. It's a beautiful place.
So, yes, I think there is change, growth, and a growing comfort in your own shoes with each passing experience. Homeschooling for me has been a vocation that allows for great depth of observance. If I'm open, watching, and quiet (especially interiorly) I see how the Holy Spirit has used moments to prompt growth, questions, and solutions. I'm so grateful for those moments! |
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Jennifer put this SO beautifully, and exactly the journey which we've been on for the last 15 years! We have changed and grown in so many ways. And now, looking back, looking at the last 4 years ahead of us, and reflecting on the last 15 we've already walked, I'm seeing that the reasons to which *I* thought God called us to this vocation are much different than what I originally had planned. But God's plans are not our plans, and God's ways are not usually our ways either.  In my reflection, I've also come to know that the reason for this journey has not been about the academics at all (primarily), but about the preparation for our eternal journey with Him. And that IS a beautiful thing!
What we use, how we use it, and why we use it are only the tools that God helps us on the journey, and are varied and many, according to His purpose for us. It's not that the academics aren't important at all. In order to raise beautiful, Godly servants for our Lord, they need to be able to communicate effectively, and critically reason so they can do their best for God. But there are SO many ways that can be done well, and I've found to trust that to the Lord as we discern His plan for our education at home is so important, because He knows our children, and our family the best, and His plan is what's best for us. I've had to pray hard, and try to resist the temptation to use every method, use every great curriculum out there, and listen to every single person that thinks what they are doing is best. I've BEEN one of those enthusiastic people in the past! But in my growing as a home eduator, I've learned now to try to offer ideas and thoughts, but encourage and support other home educators to trust their instincts and discernment for their family.
I've often kicked myself over and over and over because I wasn't *consistant* in what we've done and used in our homeschool. But in the past few months, I realized something. We HAVE been consistant! All throughout our home education, LITERATURE BASED LEARNING has been the crux of our education and philosophy, and what our learning as all revolved around. We haven't used literature based learning in every single subject every single year, but the underlying philosophy and curriculum of our home education has been literature based learning. We may have done that in a more Charlotte Mason way one year, and maybe a more "boxed" type of curriculum another, and one year may have been heavily literature based, while another a little lighter in that way, but consistantly through all 15 years, we have been consistantly a literature based learning family in our education. That gave me SO much peace to realize that!
Another thing that I realized recently is that when children go to school, they have different teachers every year, where every teacher does things differently. They teach differently, expect different things of their class, grade differently, and run their class differently. So for me to change things up so that they work better, even mid year, gives us the ability to really find what works best for each child, each year. I believe that's been an incredible blessing in our family, and in their education.
To change and grow on our homeschooling journey is inevitable, and I believe the way God intends it to be. As we trust Him more to lead the journey, instead of us trying to lead it, often stumbling, getting bruised and bloodied, we keep turning our trust and faith toward Him, and the growth puts our focus more on Him in all things in our life. I know now that's always been the biggest part of His plan for us!
What a great topic starter! I like your name, Tracey. There have been more of us around here lately! 
Blessings and peace,
Tracy Q.
__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Homeschooling evolution
