People often ask me what kind of homeschoolers we are: Classical? Charlotte Mason? Eclectic? Delight-Directed? Unschoolers? How, they want to know, does learning happen in our home? Am I in charge or do I let the kids lead the way?
Over the years, I have written with enthusiasm about the Charlotte Mason method (which is highly structured) and unschooling (which is not). These educational philosophies seem to have intertwined themselves in our home, so that the what we do – read great books, study nature, dive deeply into history, immerse ourselves in other cultures (geography and language studies) – is highly influenced by Charlotte’s writings and their application to our modern world; and the how we do it – through conversation and leisurely, child-led exploration – is influenced by the writings of John Holt, Sandra Dodd, and other unschooling advocates.
There are times I read Charlotte Mason and think, “She makes so much sense!” Other times, I will read Sandra Dodd and say to myself, “That’s it! We are unschoolers!” But in reality, my philosophies do not line up solely with either. Instead, I take what works for us from both. As stated in the title of this post, our homeschool motto is Homeschooling. Naturally. We have a nature-centered curriculum and use a unique blend of materials and methods suited to our lifestyle of learning. The way in which we approach education flows and changes direction as comfortably as the tides. There are five things I try to make a part of our every day:
meaningful work
good books
beauty (art, music, nature)
ideas to ponder and discuss
imaginative play
With the “rule of five” in the back of my mind at all time, I have come to realize over the years that very powerful learning takes place in unexpected little visits, errands, jaunts, and of course our travels. We travel often and we love visiting historical sites and national landmarks. Though we generally know in advance where we are going, we don’t always know in advance what we will learn and what adventures are in store for us.
The following list is a collection of the learning adventures which have entered our lives because we were open to the opportunity. I hope you will find some value in them.
Oregon
- The Periodic Table of Elements
- The Benefits of Service Learning
- Romeo & Juliet
- Twelfth Night
- A Midsummer Nights Dream
- Tide Pools & OIMB
- Gold :: A Nature Study
- Shore Acres Geology Walk
Hawai’i
California
- Lucero Olive Oil Company
- California Coastal Native Americans
- Rock Stacking & Penjing
- Acorns from Harvest to Food
- Dunsmuir Railroad Days
- Castle Crags & Mt. Shasta
- Looking for Birds, We Discovered Caterpillars
- Lawrence Hall of Science
- Science of Bee-Keeping – An Introduction
- Science of Bee-Keeping – Bee Anatomy
- Exploring the Redwoods
- Mud Daubers
- Feast or Famine: An Historical Nature Study
- Bonanza: Gold Rush Experiences
- Wings of Freedom Tour
Mid-west
- Discovering Bryce Canyon National Park
- Ranger Programs at the Grand Canyon National Park
- Exploring Death Valley National Park
- Ancient Petroglyphs Inspire Us Today – Free Art Lesson
- Homeschooling on the Road :: California Highways 58 & 178
Eastern U.S.
- Trail of Tears
- The Mining of Iron Ore
- Etowah Indian Mounds
- The Civil War & The Underground Railroad
- Art Lessons w/ Pinot VanGogh
Beyond the United States
- Lime Nail Galls (Norway)
I’ll be adding to this list as we progress along our journey. If there is a post you feel belongs in this list, please let me know. 🙂
I have barely gotten time to look around your site, but I tell you, I am I love.
Thank you and welcome. I look forward to getting to know you. 🙂
Hi! My name is Peter. I’m going into Sixth grade and want to study mammals. Is your zoology book amazing animals challenging enough for me? i’ve been through the apologia book land animal books and am looking for something more in depth!
Hi Peter! Thank you so much for reaching out to me with your inquiry. I have sent you a private message and have attached a sample of the unit for you. I thought I would post here as well. I have not personally seen Apologia’s materials so I can not compare. However, I feel strongly that the materials in Zoology: Amazing Animals are advanced for middle school. Though evolution is not a component of this unit, the lessons are secular in nature. Please let me know if you should have further questions.