Hi friends,
Today I thought I'd share about our journey to homeschooling with you. I've had a few inquiries on my Instagram account about what got me into homeschooling lately and I'd love to take you on the journey with me while I reminisce :)
So lets go back to the beginning, a little over 9 years ago my kiddos and I were living a completely different life. We were barely hanging on by a thread and just trying to survive another day. That's life, living with an abusive alcoholic and meth addict. I am so grateful and beyond thankful to say that my kiddos and I are survivors of domestic violence/abuse and that we are here, thriving and living an incredible life. One that God has brought so much restoration and healing to, we are safe, happy, healthy and loving the life we are privileged to be living. If you or anyone you know happens to be in a horrible situation, living with a violent partner I encourage you to seek help when it's safe for you/them to do so and to keep hope that your/their lives can be transformed, rescued and redeemed too! My thoughts & prayers go to anyone in that environment. If you need advice or someone to talk with please reach out, I'd be so happy to offer any assistance that I can to help you find safety, peace and hope. 💗
8 years ago God dropped an amazing man in my lap who changed my whole world. He helped to fill the gaping wholes that had been left in my life from all of the damage my ex had done. The holes in my heart start to mend and the ashes that had been left were used to create something new, something that is beautiful, and provided me safety, trust, reliability, support, and more love than my kiddos or I have ever known. God used him to change our lives and to bring us hope and a future. 7 years ago we were married and life has been a beautiful, wild adventure ever since.💕
6 1/2 years ago, my kiddos were attending a public charter school as a 1st grader and 5th grader. The amount of home work & extra after school activities expected, pressures to perform, academic pressure and level of stress placed on my kiddos by the school was intense and it was crushing them. It was devastating to watch them both have anxiety and so much stress over schoolwork and all the academic pressures placed on them (we had just switched from a public school where there had been issues with bullying over to the charter and both kiddos had been expected to skip a grade level in almost every subject), it left them both struggling to keep up with the high level of expectancy placed on him them. It became apparent rather quickly that we needed to make a change, that's when the idea of homeschooling was somewhat dropped in our lap by a good friend who had contemplated homeschooling because she was worn out from dealing with the same pressures from her sons charter school. After our conversation I spent several months researching, pouring over every book I could find at our library, reading blogs, magazine articles, listening to podcasts, looking at 100's of Pinterest boards and anything else I could find that had to do with homeschooling to gain a better understanding of our options. It was quite overwhelming initially but I was very intrigued and excited about all the possibilities for our kids futures. To say it was an "aha moment" or a little light switch that flicked on is probably the best way to describe my moment of discovering that home-schooling would be the best option for our family. We pulled the kiddos from the charter and have been homeschooling for the past 6 1/2 years and haven't looked back ever since.
Having a support system has been so beneficial for our success and ability to stick with homeschooling through the difficult days over the years. My hubby was homeschooled in elementary and middle school and has been very supportive and encouraging throughout this journey. I couldn't do it without his unending support, daily help & encouragement. I am so so grateful for such an incredible man in my corner. 💓 We also joined a co-op and a few other local groups of homeschool families to build our community and support network, which has been such a blessing for all of us. If your area is lacking in homeschool groups, co-ops etc I would encourage you to look at social media as a way to connect with other like minded families and to grow a support group that will encourage you through the hard days/weeks/years and be a source of community for your family. It is so uplifting and will help you to feel/remind you you're not in this alone!
At the end of 2013-2014 we knew for sure we would be making the switch to full time homeschooling and had pulled our kiddos from their charter school. A friend had brought distance learning programs to my attention so we applied to a few of them in Oregon. If you're unfamiliar with what they are a DLP is: an online, public charter school distance learning program created specifically for home-school families. Most states have several options. These special programs supply state funds to homeschool families for use towards purchasing their curriculum, supplementing their curriculum with other lesson plans/materials, using the funds towards activities such as sports/music lessons/extracurricular activities etc., field trip options, educational opportunities, lessons, tutoring, community groups & connections and other benefits for homeschool families. We were thrilled when our kids were excepted into multiple dlp programs. We researched them and chose the program that was the best fit for our kiddos. We chose the program that was close to where we live, provided many field trip activities, in person enrichment classes and opportunities that we otherwise wouldn't have had. It was an amazing opportunity that greatly enriched our first 3 years of homeschooling. As part of this program we enjoyed guided assistance from our school guide (they provided insight, tips and references for curriculum options that might best fit our kids individual needs and learning styles), swim lessons, dance classes, horseback riding lessons, jujitsu lessons, music lessons, art lessons & classes and a huge assortment of other opportunities. The largest draw to this type of program is that kiddos are provided with the freedom to learn in the way that best caters to their individual needs. I am very thankful that my children have had the amazing privilege of joining 2 of these programs over the past 6 years because it is such an amazing opportunity to be apart of. I would encourage anyone looking to home-school to look into options in your area.😊 *One important insight about dlp programs: any student who joins one of these programs is "technically" considered to be a public school student due to receiving state funds. This means that for all the high school students your child should receive an accredited education which comes with a high school transcript that will be acceptable to any college your child may wish to attend. That alone might be your reason for seeking one of these programs out. For our family this was just an added bonus. It is important to look into all of the details before you choose a program to register for and join as each program differs and will have differences in benefits or provide options that others may not. *Although your child is considered a public student, this doesn't negate the fact that your child(ren) is still a home-school student. Primarily all of your child's education will be your responsibility and up to you to determine what it looks like. While in one of these programs your family still has all the control over which curriculum you use, your hours, days, amount of weeks you home-school and when and where you do it. As enrolled students there are some hoops you may be required to jump through but generally they are minimal in comparison with what your child is receiving ie. funds for almost any educational lesson, activity, class, sport, educational event your child is interested in. The only thing different really is that you will have a program that you are accountable to, perhaps to submit monthly lesson plans to, some work samples or connect with their guide or educational facilitator and discuss your child's growth or struggles. Also, they will provide the necessary state testing options for your child so it helps minimize concerns or the need to figure that out which I see as an added benefit. For us, it has been such a blessing and we are so grateful for the privilege to be in one of the programs. It has opened so many opportunities we never would have been able to include in our schooling and we are so excited for others that will come in the future. Truly, the possibilities my kiddos have are endless! We have so enjoyed the dlp programs we have been fortunate enough to be enrolled with and would love to hear your stories and adventures you have with yours. :) *I'll share even more about the benefits we've received from a dlp program in a future post ;)
For those of you are unfamiliar with homeschool methods I will do my best to do a quick break down several of the most common ones for you here:
*Traditional model: usually involves having a set schedule, following a set schedule or routine closely with set days & times for each subject, typically working through a textbook for each subject from start to finish throughout the school year, mostly seat work & activities that accompany each subject. This approach seems to be chosen most by parents who like structured lesson plans and a fairly simple to follow along curriculum that is all mapped out for them.
*Classical approach: also known as the Trivium method uses a simple and natural learning structure to expose a student to many ideals through utilizing 3 stages of learning: grammar, logic and rhetoric. This is a good option for Christians who are looking for a biblical approach for their teaching/lessons.
*Eclectic: This style/method doesn't really seem to have a set rhyme or reason to how you go about things, it is much less organized (as far as schedule or organized events goes & how strict to be with keeping on track), more freedom to teach what you want when you want to and to focus on "unit" studies (small or large amounts of a year spent focusing on one or more topics/subjects"). It is also know as the style or method that incorporates little bits of all of the methods. *We have dabbled in this style a lot over the years; this mixed with carschooling & Charlotte Mason have been our main styles/methods for our homeschool. it truly has allowed my kids to blossom and discover their individual strengths, to grow and stretch in their weaker areas and to embrace & enjoy learning.
*Unit studies: a style/method all on its own but generally used or combined with other styles such as Charlotte Mason approach or eclectic approach. We like this approach because we've really benefited from digging deeper into areas of their interests and explore at great depth subjects that have peaked their interests over the years.
*Charlotte Mason approach: this style uses living books, copy work, narration, dictation, short lessons, nature studies and generally follows "Charlotte Mason" style books. Charlotte was an educator in the 1800's and early 1900's who primarily focused her teaching style on atmosphere, discipline and life.
*Unschooling: I wasn't aware of this style until I read about it in a blog. It was the perfect fit for our family for our first 6 months/year after we left the public school system as it allowed our kids to shake free from all the "have to's" taught to them in the public school setting, which allowed for more freedom, less pressure, and more freedom to teach them how they learn.
* De-schooling is usually acompanied with or piggy backs off of unschooling method of teaching. Both are a natural & relaxed approach/method. Generally these methods are more delight directed (follows the leading of the childs interests to dictate which areas are studied, main focus of learning). Opportunities are set up for a child to learn through the types of books, videos, shows watched, magazines laying around, toys & activities in the home, craft supplies, creative/inspiring games or activities the child has access to or they might take a trip to do etc. All of these options provide the child with opportunities to learn but in a non-traditional, non "schoolish" type of way. *A few things I picked up about this method to "strew" learning devices/items/thinking materials around your home, car and other places your family spends a lot of time that are easy or relatively simple to pick up and browse or engage in with little to no help. These items might include: magazines, books, puzzles, craft supplies, learning videos or computer games, inspirational music, learning toys or games that cause the to use thinking skills or learn a new skill while using it. This method was pretty useful in our first and second year and my kids really enjoyed "discovering" fun new ways to look at items they might not have considered before and getting to explore at their own pace. I believe it is important to always have inspirational, motivating, fun activities and learning opportunities in every area of our home and have enjoyed finding ways to incorporate these kinds of "learning" supplies/items into our daily lives over the years.
*Delight Directed method: primarily focuses on training a child to utilize their individual interests and learning styles to guide their learning. It is inspired by determining the life interests, goals, and learning style of each child. We have incorporated this method every year because it tends to focus on figuring out how each individual learns best and teaches them to work independently using the skills they have acquired and the style that best suites their individual needs. I like this method because it can easily be paired with one or several other methods. For us it has paired well with an Eclectic approach.
*Carschooling method: in short it is teaching on the go and utilizing many different types of learning options when you travel. For instance, using audio books or games like seek and find games, alphabet licence plate game or signs to teach math/spelling/reading/history (usually for younger learners) to learn skills and learn information. Language arts could be journaling about destinations visited and recording information learned, writing a paper about a favorite place seen etc, spelling can include using words from signs to broaden their vocabulary & using a dictionary to search the meaning of words can increase their understanding of common words etc. Story telling may grab your kiddos attention and entice them in a subject they may otherwise not enjoy while making fun memories as well. Stopping at and taking the time to read signs, visit visitor information centers, historical sites, national monuments, national parks and making time to take detours are all some of the benefits of this method.
*Lastly I read about the Thomas Jefferson Education method, the Montessori method, the Principle Approach & the Waldorf Methods. All of these are still a bit new to me and I don't have as much info about them. From what I've gathered the Montessori method is best known for being used in a small school setting or for teaching highly independent children. The Principle approach is based on American Christian History & Government philosophy and is based on a biblical Christian worldview. In this method the teacher tends to take on more of a mentor role. The Waldorf Method utilizes art and generally spends a long period of time focusing on one subject to do an in-depth study of. The Thomas Jefferson Education Method tends to primarily focus on 7 principles and a delight directed education. The 7 principles are taught in 4 phases throughout the child's life which allows the child to fully embrace their role in life while discovering their strengths and interests.
The list above is just a brief summary of what I've learned in my research over the years. I know may have missed a few or info that would better describe these methods and that many of you know way more than I do on these subjects. I'd love your input so feel free to comment below or message me and I will update the list accordingly 😉 If you are a family who is considering homeschooling for the first time, or just getting started I'd suggest you take the time to read more about all the different home-school methods you are interested in. It will require some weeding through it to find what is most pertinent to you and your family, but there is a wealth of knowledge out there and a huge pleathera of info just waiting to be found. However, I will caution you to take it just one thing, one day at a time as it could be overwhelming and time consuming initially depending on how in depth you search. Try not to worry and remember to breathe 😏😊
The best thing you can do is take the time to prepare yourself by researching and having the mindset that there is no pressure to know all the things before you begin! Remind yourself often that it's okay to not have all the answers or even any answers when you first begin. I felt that I was stumbling into it even after 6 months of research before we "officially" began and my best encouragement to you would be to consider that learning happens everyday, whether it is something we organize & plan for or not. I adjusted my mindset to think and focus on every opportunity being a learning opportunity, each challenge and new skill helping to develop future skills and provide my kiddos with countless moments to learn and grow. That has helped to shape their learning environment into one that we all enjoy and look for the potential in every opportunity to gain new skills and retain new information.
Lastly, for new home-school families I would also suggest setting one day a month (or more) for a field trip, science experiment or art day to give yourself permission for some extra fun with your kiddos and to provide a day of exploration and adventure at least once a month. :) If you are running short on ideas or interested in a list to inspire you check out my other posts that I've compiled a list of 100 field trip ideas & it's follow up post that includes 75 more field trip ideas your can find those here: https://thishomeschoolerslife.blogspot.com/2020/09/100-fabulous-field-tripeducational.html & https://thishomeschoolerslife.blogspot.com/2020/09/hi-friends-here-is-second-half-of-my.html. If you have ideas of field trips or other activities you don't see listed I'd love to include them, so leave me a comment and I'll update my list :)
I hope that you've found some useful insights, tidbits and info from our journey that you can apply to your own. Thanks for following along with us! Watch for future posts where I will share other helpful links, info and insights I've gleaned over the years that I hope will benefit you as well.💗 Also, you can expect to see several posts about exciting opportunities we've found as a home-school family as well as information about local & nationwide events that pertain to homeschoolers.
Happy schooling friends!
~K
*Part III will be coming shortly and will include several field trip options we have really enjoyed all throughout Oregon and other areas of the pnw. If you ever find yourself in this incredible state I encourage you to try some of these places out, especially anything outdoors because Oregon nature never disappoints!
**Listed below are some helpful links for several online resources I've used to benefit our schooling, to learn from or just for fun. Hope you enjoy!
***Disclaimer: the links listed below are not affiliated with me in any way and I receive no compensation for listing them in this post.
Affiliate links:
http://unschooling.com/
http://www.discovery.com/
http://historychannel.com/
http://www.pbs.org/
http://www.coolmath.com/
http://www.pandora.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/
http://www.lego.com/en-us/
http://shop.cricketmedia.com/
http://www.exodusbooks.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
http://fossildlp.weebly.com
http://www.paisleyschooldistrict.com/
http://dallascommunityschool.org/
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/space/
http://www.adaptedmind.com/reading.php
http://www.education.com/worksheets/all/
http://www.loc.gov/
http://www.english-zone.com/
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
http://kidsolr.com/
http://www.crayola.com/
http://www.chem4kids.com/
http://homeschoolcentral.com/
http://www.screenit.com/
http://www.pluggedin.com/
https://www.netflix.com/
http://beakman.com/
http://greatestplaces.org/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/
http://gutenburg.org/
http://www.poemhunter.com/
https://www.duolingo.com/
https://www.verbling.com/
http://www.ifeveryoneknew.com/
https://answersingenesis.org
http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.rainbowresource.com/
http://www.carschooling.com/
http://clickschooling.com/
https://www.khanacademy.org/
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