This past year we covered a lot of material. However, my children dislike "school". So, it was with excitement that I purchased the book, Little Way of Homeschooling. It is a collection of essays about how unschooling works in different families. I started to read it then decided to read Suzie Andres first book, Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling.
I'm not finished with it yet but am getting close. I like the philosophy of unschooling. Now, it's considered "not schooling". It's a way of life where the child takes the lead and pursues his/her interest. This is such a great way for my son to learn. We'll be taking his interests and taking off with them. For instance, right now, he wants to learn Spanish. Two very generous great-aunts of his, have purchased the Rosetta Stone for him. So, he'll learn Spanish. He's already been learning words by using the Dummies book. He listens to tapes and has great pronunciation. So, we'll be pursuing the Spanish.
He also has an interest in learning Latin. I'm going to give him the books and let him go at it.
Baseball has captured his interest as well. So, we'll be learning all about the history of the sport, the different teams and locations plus anything else he wants to know. We might even learn about the physics behind pitching the ball so he can learn how to throw better.
We'll take it as far as he'll want to.
So, besides math which I have absolutely no confidence in teaching them in an unschooly way, we'll be taking a break from formal school at home.
We will learn. I know that. It also forces me to focus on my children so I can see where their interests lie. I will spend more time with them and learn with them as well.
I write this because, well, this is a journal of sorts. I don't know how we'll do things. I'm feeling my way around and it's pretty dim still. I know in my heart that this is the way to go. It's been weighing on me for a while now. So, we now take the plunge.