We homeschoolers need to stop discouraging people from homeschooling! Yes, you read that right, the homeschool community is double-minded. We constantly tell people on one hand that public schools are Horrible Places Kids Ought Not Go and on the other bemoan (or perhaps brag about) the $3,000 we just spent on curricula, the cost of our wonderful socialization group and the time spent running to this club and that outside class. Worse, we sometimes blame our lack of desire to be socially involved with others who are not like-minded on our homeschooling! I'm not saying these things are wrong... well not the outside classes, clubs and support groups. The elitist attitude of the last example is definitely wrong!
I recently got into a discussion on social media about my homeschooling philosophy and why I should NOT tell people you CAN homeschool for little to no money and very little time or effort. It was stated that this sends a dangerous message that will attract lazy people! I disagree. Lazy people are not generally drawn to homeschooling and if they are, they find it easier to plunk down a lot of money for a homeschool box that they can toss at their child and say, "Do This Thing!" I'm not saying those who buy boxed curriculum are lazy. I'm simply saying that a lazy person won't take time to lovingly gather her supplies in summer and draw a program together during her time off so that when the school season starts she can be confident in what her children will learn! (Or to gather in the off weeks for those who school year round...)
It was further stated that one could not provide a QUALITY education without expending a LOT of either time, money or effort (energy). If that were true then my children really would have been shortchanged! Perhaps I should repent here and now for following the call of the Lord to homeschool my children! Nope! Not gonna happen, no way, no how as they say where I come from! My health issues in the past left me with very little time, money or energy to work with. For me to fulfill His call to homeschool, the Lord had to show me ways to do it that didn't involve a lot of things I didn't have- and He did! Then He told me to share what He provided me, so I have,first with those around me who asked for help and now on here with you!
Now my home is a relaxed, Charlotte Mason homeschool, which means I implement as many of the CM principles as I can but not the structure of her schools. I am not a school. To homeschool with reduced time, money or energy though, you don't have to use the methods i use. You can do this with a traditional homeschool, a Classical homeschool, an eclectic homeschool, or by unschooling... ok especially by unschooling. You just need to relax the structure, substitute a routine for schedule and find the right resources. I was fortunate enough in my past schooling to be exposed to those resources. I'd be happy to share them with you! Stay tuned, as each week I'll highlight one resource I am using or have used in the past and tell you how I use it and why I like it so much!
Blessings to you!
Rachael
I recently got into a discussion on social media about my homeschooling philosophy and why I should NOT tell people you CAN homeschool for little to no money and very little time or effort. It was stated that this sends a dangerous message that will attract lazy people! I disagree. Lazy people are not generally drawn to homeschooling and if they are, they find it easier to plunk down a lot of money for a homeschool box that they can toss at their child and say, "Do This Thing!" I'm not saying those who buy boxed curriculum are lazy. I'm simply saying that a lazy person won't take time to lovingly gather her supplies in summer and draw a program together during her time off so that when the school season starts she can be confident in what her children will learn! (Or to gather in the off weeks for those who school year round...)
It was further stated that one could not provide a QUALITY education without expending a LOT of either time, money or effort (energy). If that were true then my children really would have been shortchanged! Perhaps I should repent here and now for following the call of the Lord to homeschool my children! Nope! Not gonna happen, no way, no how as they say where I come from! My health issues in the past left me with very little time, money or energy to work with. For me to fulfill His call to homeschool, the Lord had to show me ways to do it that didn't involve a lot of things I didn't have- and He did! Then He told me to share what He provided me, so I have,first with those around me who asked for help and now on here with you!
Now my home is a relaxed, Charlotte Mason homeschool, which means I implement as many of the CM principles as I can but not the structure of her schools. I am not a school. To homeschool with reduced time, money or energy though, you don't have to use the methods i use. You can do this with a traditional homeschool, a Classical homeschool, an eclectic homeschool, or by unschooling... ok especially by unschooling. You just need to relax the structure, substitute a routine for schedule and find the right resources. I was fortunate enough in my past schooling to be exposed to those resources. I'd be happy to share them with you! Stay tuned, as each week I'll highlight one resource I am using or have used in the past and tell you how I use it and why I like it so much!
Blessings to you!
Rachael
free_printable_curriculum.pdf |