Sinking the Boat
Picture with me a speed boat zooming through the water. Behind it is a large triangular wake. Once students know their greatest talents and passions, they can zoom ahead like a speed boat on a path to learn all they can about that topic. Everything else they need in order to excel in that specialty area they will seek out and learn in the wake of their own speed boat. If they are expected to learn everything about everyone else's specialty areas, it's as if you have tied lead weights to the back of that speed boat and it holds the boat back like anchors from all directions behind the boat. If it continues to try to speed ahead, the boat will actually begin to take on water and, if the lead weights aren't cut off, or the boat doesn't slow down, the boat will sink.
From What State?
“Are you enjoying homeschooling?” I sat in stunned silence as I contemplated my dear friend’s question. She may as well have been speaking a foreign language. Enjoying? Homeschooling should be enjoyable? My institutional mindset could not compute. As the cogs in my brain kicked into high gear, contemplating this new idea, my friend (and homeschool mother of ten) sat, radiating peace. That single question completely changed my trajectory, and I am forever grateful.
Cooking with the Heat OFF
Well, have you ever sat down with your child to help them with homework or school, and they quickly get that glazed-over look? You had all the right books, curriculum, and strategies to help, but they just weren’t engaging. It’s so frustrating. That’s about where I am usually tempted to give up. I have done all the things that I can think of to make school look, feel, and sound the way it is supposed to, but my little student just isn’t primed to learn.
Emotional and Mental Health
This is why one of the basic building blocks of parenting should be a healthy relationship built on trust and love. But we aren’t perfect, and even when we try our best our kids can still shut us out. No worries, not all is lost.
Taking Back the Fun in Learning
Unfortunately, when the focus is on performance instead of actual comprehension, kids can walk away feeling like they are just stupid.
Basing Education on your Child’s Interests
If you are privileged enough to be a homeschool parent, I would strongly encourage you to let your kids choose a topic to dive into. Let their learning revolve around it. Learning is so much easier when it is a subject that interests you. You might be surprised how easy it is to use a single topic to incorporate writing, reading, math, science and even social studies. Helping them research their interests can be a great way to model how to study independently and how to share what they learn.
The Freedom to Fail
If you are on this journey, or just starting it, I want to encourage you to keep going. Let them fall and get back up. Let them struggle in this process. Let them fail and help them get back up. It’s a part of the larger learning experience. It’s a part of our learning experience.