Can I take the plunge to homeschool?

[mcmom]

Hi!

I am the mother to four young ones; 7, 5, 3, and 10 months. We have always homeschooled. I have never been a big curriculum user. I have however used math and language arts programs for my oldest. Last year I began to follow a four year chronological history cycle, and I would pick living books to read aloud. Our lessons have always been super short, because I would rather my children play together and enjoy being children than be bogged down with work. Although an eclectic and relaxed homeschooler, I have felt the need even more to plan less. I sat down for an hour and a half the other day trying to write a schedule. I only included about 30 minutes of reading a living history book, a short language arts lesson, and a short math lesson utilizing hands activities and reading living math books too. However, even this little bit of planning seems to dominate our whole day as I try to squeeze in feedings with the baby, housework, quiet time for myself, etc! I feel like trying to get my oldest to do anything is like pulling teeth. She always says "I don't want to." So I am so torn at to continue on our gentle learning path that I have chosen, or to throw caution to the wind and follow a very unschooling type philosophy. I have never done lessons with my five year old, and she is reading and writing on her own. So, this is encouraging to me, but my oldest is a different learner. She doesn't like to read or write, and she hasn't shown much interest in academic "subjects:". She prefers to play and go on walks and dance. I LOVE the idea of unschooling, but so nervous to take the plunge. I know my MIL would just have a fit, and I am nervous that somehow I would fail my children if I didn't give them a solid start in reading and math. Should i do some, none, a little? Should I pick living books to read like I have been doing, and keep my lessons short...like 20 minutes? I am just so lost....and not sure how to continue. Part of me wonders if I am considering unschooling because the alternative, planning lessons and following a curriculum, is too much work for me. I'd love your insights, how you decided to take a leap of faith and unschool, and any words of encouragement you have to offer.

Thanks!

Ashley

[mcmom]

I mean unschool, not homeschool by the way.

[midnightwriter]

Your children are so young, that you can easily take a year (or even two) off and not get 'behind', if you'd want to return to more structured homeschooling later.

There's so much that you can actively teach for years to very young children, without them either retaining it or benefitting, while in a year or two they will 'get' those very same concepts almost in minutes.

I'm also constantly amazed at how much my kids retain from books that we read for pleasure, documentaries, and other resources.

Think back to when you were 7, and how the world of your 7yo is different. Anything she is curious about, you can google, find images, animations, explanations. If I wanted to learn about the human ear when I was 7, it would be a black and white diagram, and I'd need to go to the library to look it up. My kids and I spent this morning watching dozens of youtube videos on hearing and ear anatomy and it was simply amazing, very accessible, and everyone had so much fun. The resources that are available are nothing like what we had as children, both in terms of ease of access, variety, and modes of presentation. I don't think we can compare this kind of learning to the kind of learning we experienced as children. What was a 'solid base' then, is not necessarily what a solid base is now.

Good luck with your decision!  

[SweetSilver]

I agree that your kids are young enough for you to relax and take a break from any imposed lessons.  You've probably already seen how little unplanned moments just erupt--I have no better word for it!  And at this young age, play really is very important.  I believe not telling them how they should observe the world, how they should label it and process and record it.  Their open, "unlearned" curiosity actually enriches their experience.  The labels will come later.  That's my view.

    Unschooling will look different for every family, and indeed every child.  Some kids love structure, and if they ask for that, you give it to them for as long as they prefer that.  That's unschooling, too.  I do think one important quality to unschooling is that your own activities are open and welcoming to kids as much as possible.  Trust them as much as you can.  They can take responsibility very seriously.  My 6.5yo  is using our digital camera and does very well.  That took a leap of faith, a brief tutorial, a reminder about putting it back, then..... relax, breathe, yikes!  She didn't kill the camera.... phew!  And she didn't drop it in the river canyon we hiked to this weekend!

     Good luck!  Don't be afraid to adjust your approach as often as you need if you feel something isn't working.  That's just good parenting.