CREATIVE HOMESCHOOLING ~ do it your way!

Whether you are just beginning to explore homeschooling or you are an " old pro ", there is much food for thought about the varied teaching  philosophies and approaches to homeschooling. In addition, there's no shortage of curriculum's and learning materials to choose from which speaks volumes for how much the homeschooling movement has grown. For many homeschooling parents the choices can be overwhelming when trying to choose learning materials for their children. After all, every child is unique in how they gather and process information. This is one of the many joy's of homeschooling!


With a little strategic intuition you can CREATE a happy home and an enriching learning environment for YOUR  whole family...

Classic Literature

While knowing and understanding how your children learn is important, it is equally important to have realistic expectations of yourself as to how you will approach your homeschooling days.  If you know you are not big on routine, or high on structured text book learning, you will have a hard time selling your children on that kind of program too. Don't panic! Just live! In other words, learning happens all the time. While you are busy reading late into the night then lying awake the rest of it worrying, your children are growing and learning anyway... Finding your style takes time. In the mean time...

• Share your interests and passions with your children. Do you love to read, draw , sing,  paint, ride horses, garden, watch baseball, sew, knit, run, swim,?
• Read allowed to your children daily.
• 
  
• Go to the library and let them check out books they like. Tuck in a few you want to introduce as well.

• Plan fun field trips! Visit nearby nature centers, art galleries, natural history museums, science museums, 
• Schedule  time with family and friends along the way. Invite grandparents to science fairs, art shows,music recitals and important ceremonies or award nights  for your children
•  Volunteer, care for animals, garden, create, dance, make music, grocery shop... you get the idea!

 LEARNING and LIFE go together!

NATURE Science 

Here are a few of my favorite ground breaking educators that homeschoolers and parents turn to for guidance and inspiration!

Charlotte Mason  ~ But give the child work that Nature intended for him, and the quantity he can get through with ease is practically unlimited. Whoever saw a child tired of seeing, of examining in his own way, unfamiliar things? This is the sort of mental nourishment for which he has an unbounded appetite, because it is that food of the mind on which, for the present, he is meant to grow.

music music music

Montessori ~     "Children teach themselves." This simple but

 profound truth inspired Montessori's lifelong pursuit of educational reform, methodology, psychology, teaching,the self-creating process of the child.

ART

Waldorf ~  If you've had the experience of binding a book, knitting a sock, playing a recorder, then you feel that you can build a rocket ship-or learn a software program you've never touched. It's not bravado, just a quiet confidence. There is nothing you can't do. Why couldn't you? Why couldn't anybody?"  Peter Nitze, Waldorf and Harvard graduate, and Director of an aerospace company.

       SNAKEY  By Zachary~ ( acrylics)


Over time we have created our own

 CREATIVE , ECLECTIC and INTUITIVE homeschooling style.

Paper Treasure Chests  ~ By Nicolette

Think  Liberal Arts,

with an emphasis on THE ARTS!

 Children are natural born artists. Their natural curiosity and desire to learn will take them far in life if it is nurtured. Encouraging creativity in our children has been the core of our homeschooling approach from the beginning. I believe in having plenty of  hands on things for them to do as part of their learning whether it is a child led interest or a particular subject that has a project to go along with it. I don't believe young children especially need an art curriculum but there are many good ones out there if you feel more comfortable introducing your children to art this way.

In the GARDEN~ by Nicolette

What children need is access to plenty of Art's and CRAFT supplies and a place to get messy! 

Nature and animals were some of our children's favorite subjects to explore in their early creations. 

• Provide plenty of art supplies( glitter, glue, poster paper, construction paper, sculpy clay, bees wax, tape, buttons, old magazines for making collages, yarn, string,  a disposable or in expensive digital camera and don't forget to make the time to let them create. 
• Look to your local community for studio artists and community art centers that offer classes for children. 
• You might even have some artsy homeschooling friends who offer classes from their homes or studios, or perhaps you will host your own ART classes for kids!

DINING ROOM TABLE + art supplies + children = instant art studio!

ECLECTIC homeschoolers are known for using a smattering of learning materials with a less formal approach on many subjects, often times only using specific texts for individual subjects such as math and language arts. We use Oak Meadow which is based in the Waldorf philosophy and we have found it to be a great fit for us because it's foundation is rooted in art, is centered around the 4 seasons and it offers great flexibility for the student and home teacher. 

INTUITIVE

Real learning comes from those things a child is truly interested in and engaged in. Don't be afraid to let your child lead the way when it comes to learning...You'll be helping them develop their own intuition for a lifetime of joyful learning.  

CREATIVE

 You can be very creative in how you plan your day as a homeschooling parent. Each day is yours to do  what ever you wish! You can be very scheduled, super relaxed or someplace in between.

• Use your local community, support groups and your IMAGINATION to make your homeschooling days fun and rewarding for all. 
• Get your young children creating art from the beginning! Stock up on art supplies, turn up the music and get busy! 
• You can make creative time with your child specific to particular lesson, create with the seasons or just let the creative juices flow naturally!

Let your children be the guide.

 My Big Beautiful Flower 
~  By Nicolette

I just LOVE her pink clouds don't you?

START WITH ART!

How do you bring the arts home? 

Who has inspired you to be more creative with your kids?

Deborah Jean~

" If you can picture it, you can make it "
 ~ Nicolette