Back on Track
It has been a very long time since I have been able to blog. This past year I moved cross-country with my family and getting everything adjusted, takes some time. Thankfully, we are settled in and I am going to get back into blogging, as well as adding some freebies to the blog, so stay tuned!
Here’s the Scoop
There is a new phenomenon occurring in the Homeschool world, called “unschooling.” Many Moms are realizing that the Public School System is riddled with flaws, but we have reached a level of indoctrination at its worst and Parents are taking back control of their children. I personally think that whether you’re a Christian or not, the craziness should be getting your attention. It is much easier to place your child’s education and influence into another’s, than to have to juggle it all on your own. So, as far as the Homeschool community goes, what is all the fuss with “unschooling” and what exactly does it mean?
Unschooling-Unboxed
To put it simple, unschooling is the mentality of removing the structure of the educational system and making your own Homeschool, just that, your own! Many Parents are realizing that it is a cookie-cutter system that is business based and basically screens and teaches all children at the same level. The public school system has a total disregard for the fact that children are not all the same and learn best in different ways. It might be that your child is a visual learner and won’t do well in a setting that focuses only on audible methods. Yet, the public sector does not care and will test kids based on its own standards. Its goal is to create a mentality of kids that will begin to lose their critical thinking skills and will be easily swayed by what they have been “pre-conditioned” to believe. By the time they grow up and have their own children, they will just pass the baton of repetition.
With that being said, many have pulled their kids from the public school system and have created a way of learning in their Homeschool the way they see fit. Some Parents completely remove books from their teaching and use a nature setting. They might not focus too much on handwriting or book reports. Their focus might be on how well their child retains information and can retell why an animal lives in a certain habitat, than doing a research paper. Other Homeschoolers are unschooling by being child-lead and having their child show them what their interests are, and are going from there.
Unschooling is also seen as doing the exact opposite of what the public school system does. So, if the public school system says that the child needs 6 hours a day, plus 2 hours of homework, the Parent will decide that their child only needs 2 hours a day and no homework. There are many different examples I have seen from different Parents. I know a Mother that chooses only to teach her four children one hour a day. I’ve also spoken to Mothers that are unschooling by only using a Charlotte Mason method or only using a visual method and having their child learn everything, visually.
Unschooling and the Christian
While every Parent that chooses to Homeschool their child is free to do so, it has been a journey for me to unschool myself and my children. Everything I post is always going to come from a Christian perspective. With saying that, I believe that obeying the laws of the land is important, unless it goes against God’s Word. So how do you apply that when you’re choosing to unschool your child?
How We Unschool
As a Christian, we have chosen to “unschool” by removing all the junk that comes from a Public School setting, which includes: bullying, stress, testing, large homework packets, peer pressure, safety issues, Parental restrictions, etc. I’m a product of “the system” and basically brought it into our Homeschool, at the beginning. I was hyper focused on scheduling, the best curriculum, classroom set up and everything else that a first time Mom gets caught up in. I no longer focus on outcomes, scores or timelines. Now I’m focused on creativity, effort, imagination, and honesty.
We had our struggles, but take note: it is your struggles that will determine what isn’t working in your Homeschooling.
If there’s something that is causing your kids or yourself stress, cut it off and revamp your approach. For example, in the beginning, my kids were younger and I was in charge of cooking and cleaning. But, as they grew older, I continued to be the House wife and Homeschool, yet it was overwhelming for me. It’s a main reason for many parents sending their kids back to school! So, chores were assigned and order was beginning to take shape in our home. Now, my kids are involved with major tasks and projects that are going on and you know what? It keeps them engaged and responsible.
When it comes to school work, I no longer get wrapped up in the fear of wondering whether or not my kids will pass entrance exams for college or University. I am allowing myself to remember that my children will always strive for what they want in life and for now, my job is to encourage them and make sure I guide them to use God’s wisdom and grace throughout their lives.
What Should Your Focus Be?
Don’t get distracted and caught up with the fear and threats that stem from the public school system. They want “cookie cutter” humans, but we are so much more complex than that! Learn how your child learns and support them in their learning style. Stop focusing on their “testing outcomes” instead, focus more on their character, their judgment, creativity and interests. The school system focuses on a child’s performance of data, rather than focusing more on their development process and learning style. Children are not designed to be robots, they’re designed to be limitless in their education, not confined and controlled.
When I first became a Mother, I never wanted to expose our children to any kind of technology. I was very against it, but my Husband is tech savvy and encouraged it. Now, as a Homeschooling Mom, I see the value of being able to have our kids learn concepts about Photo editing, keyboarding, Podcasting, or even Web Game design. When it comes to technology, creativity is the focus, I’m leaving the rest in God’s hands. The reason I am saying this is because I have known Christians that want to unplug completely, but unless you’re Amish, it’s not really happening. We allow our kids to explore concepts and instill our Christian values into their learning. It’s giving them tools to gain knowledge, yet allowing them to explore and experiment with a different kind of outcome.
We can be intentional about some things, but not all things at all times. So, what I am saying is, don’t exhaust yourself, as a Parent. Be intentional, but give the rest to God because He is ultimately the one in control of all things.
Proverbs 31 Woman
One of the things I think all Homeschool Moms possess is the fact that they are never idle. In Proverbs 31:26-28 it reads,
26″She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
If that doesn’t describe a Homeschool Mom, I don’t know what does!!! We are busy instructing, when we’re not teaching, we’re tending to the house, when we’re not cleaning, we’re racing our kids to Co-Op or sports events, when we’re not doing that, we’re doing something productive! That’s exactly what God designed us to be like. I once heard a Pastor say that a Woman that is idle is a Woman that makes time to gossip. Hey, God has called us to be busy and that is exhausting at times, but the blessings of having your children praise you and a Husband that appreciates you is ideally what every Woman craves from those closest to her.
Not only did God design us to be loving Moms, but He also wants us to train up our children without being overwhelmed and stressed. You’re no good to anyone if you’re struggling and stressed everyday. Instead, let’s be known for being the Super Mom that uses Gods strength, when our own runs out.
