How and Why We Homeschool

In my dream world, someone cozies up beside me with a cup of hot tea and a plate of cookies and says, "Tell me all about it!" This blog is my chance.




I homeschool our children because there are limited private school options where we live, because private schools are costly, and because I want something for our children that I don't think our public schools can provide.  That's a lot of opinions in one very long sentence, but it sums things up nicely.

I am interested in experiential education and feel the model put forth by Waldorf Schools fits us best.  Living in an area that has significant poverty and limited employment options, I know how important balance, creativity, and flexibility are.  These are among my highest goals for my children as I prepare them for a changing world.  I feel that Waldorf education will help us on our way.

I believe that childhood is sacred.  It's a time to learn to be in the world under the protective mantle of discerning adults.  I believe this happens through plenty of time for play, doing meaningful work at home and in the community, and using curative education methods.  This all sounds pretty lofty, but it is fairly simple in these years of early and middle childhood.  We avoid too much screen time, spend time each week in nature, take time to help others in our small town, and let our school time weave all these threads together.

We hear stories, move, sing, dance, draw, paint, model, jump rope, and rhyme as a part our lesson times.  It all sounds idyllic, and maybe it is.  We are interested in connecting with the peoples of the past, as well as peoples from around the world, as part of the human story.  We've used materials from Enki Education, Lavender's Blue Homeschool, and Christopherus Homeschool to plan and implement our children's education.  My house has become its own little library and the books we use have become like old friends.

As parents, we have the responsibility and privilege of molding the way we present the world to our children.  Just as we need numerous skills for coping with modern life, so our homeschooling offers many ways of learning academics and life skills.  My end goal is adults who have the tools to know how to live in the world, regardless of circumstances.  I do my best to present them with the model of adults who are always striving, falling off the horse, and getting back on again.