Life is Learning
In my secret heart of hearts, I’m an “unschooler”. For those of you who may not know that term, it’s describes a philosophy behind homeschooling that means learning by what the day brings and where your children’s interests take you rather than with a stack of school books and a lesson plan.
We move in and out of various philosophies. This year, as I saw pregnancy and baby ahead, I leaned much more toward lists and plans and official curriculum to make sure school was happening even on the low days. Last year, we had many fancy free days of learning through trips to the zoo and hands on projects. The unschooling approach I usually save for the days when all plans escape us due to sickness, exhaustion, or undeniably great weather, it’s when I look back at the day and see their make-believe games and the cooking we did together,wipe my brow and say, “See, the were still learning”.
There are major influences that build up my fear of unschooling more of our days. Expectations from family and non-homeschooling friends, the comparative standards of our school system, the neighbors who might report me for neglecting my children’s “proper” education, and then my own etched memories of conventional school all group together to form a strong voice. Despite that, a deeper voice tells me there is a better way to learn than at a table.
This past week we came to a day that I lacked good judgement and scheduled dentist appointments(for 3 children), swim lessons(for 3 children) and an night excursion for myself. School, as the mainstream think of it, just couldn’t happen for this mom to stay sane. So between getting teeth cleaned and putting on bathing suits the children went outside in a perfectly breezy spring day for four and half hours.
Then spent most of those hours drawing.
With an enthusiasm far beyond their regular art lessons(even though we all like those too) they drew still life, self-portraits, and one another. Later, as we traveled in the car we listened to the story of Hudson Taylor, the missionary to china. We didn’t have to call it history or Bible Time to be just that.
That day was a day their minds were wide open. Joyful. Learning without calling it “school” and all the better for it.
