Images of Homeschooling

We are a homeschooling family.

The term 'homeschooling' seems to conjure up images in people's minds, that I assume are based on their own opinions, viewpoints, or experiences. Comments from some folks make me wonder if the images in their minds are of sheltered children locked in a room, completely removed from the rest of society. Comments from other folks make me wonder if the images in their minds are of us re-creating a classroom setting at home, with my children handing me an apple every morning and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to a desk-sized flag. And, then, there are the mental images of us neglecting our children's academic education entirely, and simply playing or watching TV all day long.

Since our family does not fit well into any of those categories of stereotypes, I thought it would be fun to show off some images of our homeschool.

Sometimes, our homeschool involves books, charts, pencils, paper, and all things academic...

We actually have high academic expectations for our children. Their education is important. Our academic goals, during their formative years, focus on preparing them for success in college. Reading is our first priority. A person who can read well, can learn anything. We invest in an academically strong curriculum. We decorate our home with shelves of books, and with maps and learning charts (as well as family photos). We play academic games....for fun! We also provide our kids with some educational movies and computer software. We hope to encourage their love for learning, and to instill the realization that learning is a way of life, not to be limited to a school day or school year.

Sometimes, our homeschool involves structured activities in classrooms with peers of the exact same age...

Sunday school at church, AWANA, and our homeschool co-op are great for providing this traditional "classroom" experience in small increments.....and with teachers who share our Christian values. We actually want our children to learn the basics of classroom ettiquette, so that they may be prepared for future attendance in college classrooms, job trainings & seminars, marriage & parenting seminars, and Bible study classes. We expect learning to continue throughout a lifetime, and we are responsible for training our children for life.

Our children are well aware of classifications of age and grade. They know how old they are, and they know what school grade they are in. We use age categories as milestones for responsibility and privelages. We use grade categories as milestones in their educational journey. When they complete the requirements for one grade, they move forward to the next grade. (This is where I appreciate the scope & sequence of our boxed curriculum). Most folks are gifted in specific subjects, not across the board. We assess the school grade of our children based on their age, maturity, and areas of academic strength. When they show interest in one subject over others, we add supplemental resources in that area, to challenge them and encourage their interests, while they build upon their weaker areas until they are ready for the next academic grade overall. My husband knows from experience that it is painful to be bored in school. Boredom dampens the love for learning. We do not want our children to ever grow bored in their education. Learning should be exciting.

Sometimes, our homeschool involves field trips, play time, and fun family outings in the middle of the day...

We enjoy visiting businesses during off-peak hours. We often have the entire place to ourselves, and admission prices are sometimes discounted. It is wonderful to be able to enjoy family outings on our own schedule. Field trips provide hands-on learning, and help lessons come alive. Meeting friends at the park, zoo, or aquarium keeps us active. It is important to learn the skills to build healthy relationships with friends and family.


Sometimes, our homeschool involves enrichment classes and sports activities...

This is where I say I "manage" our children's education. I keep an eye out for classes being taught at the local museums, or classes being taught by friends that would be of interest to our children. I do not expect my children to do everything....that would actually be impossible considering all that is available to homeschool families in our town. But, I want to give them the opportunities to follow their interests and build upon their education. We provide the foundations for their learning at home....and there are many ways to add to it in our community.

Sometimes, our homeschool diverts course based on the needs of our family...

We school at home. We school in the car. We even school in the waiting room of the hospital. Sometimes that means bringing worksheets to medical appointments. Sometimes that means reading a book in the car (something The Referee and the older children can do, but I cannot, because I become motion sick). Sometimes we turn a health visit into a field trip and learn a little more about some of the procedures and equipment. Sometimes we double up on the academics one day, to be able to focus on medical needs another day. Sometimes we throw academics right out the window while we learn those hard lessons about life and death, and all that runs in between. Sometimes life educates us in ways that a curriculum cannot provide.


Our homeschool does not look exactly the same every day. In fact, our daily routine does not look very routine. The Referee and I chose a structured curriculum to bring structure to our homeschool. We have structure in our family in that we are a team that works together to achieve our educational goals. The rest of our homeschool is very dynamic, and we try to go with the flow. That flexibility to blend education with life, on our own schedule, with our own style, is one of the reasons we love homeschooling.