Somedays I incorporate a light curriculum; somedays are pure unschooling. You'd be (ok maybe not, but I am;) amazed at the amount of creativity that comes out of these (and I'm sure any child) girls who are free to be and create. When left on their own to choose, you will see them go about their day, something like this: wake up, somewhere around 8-ish (sometimes earlier). Usually Angel Girl will lie in bed for quite awhile reading (sounds like her grandma;), and Fairy Girl will come downstairs and wake up to a cartoon or netflix show (we only have Netflix and an antenna, and we LOVE it!). Then after I make my way downstairs, she willingly gives up the tv so I can do my Kundalini yoga (which I'm now doing four days a week, Monday-Thursday) instead of the seven that I had started out doing the first month. It does take up at least 1-1.5 hours, and well, I'm just NOT an early person....I tried for awhile there; I really did;) (you know, for about a week:D) At that point Fairy Girl heads over to the computer, or just yesterday decided to pick up the first book in the "Harry Potter" series (seriously, just a few months ago she was still reading "CAT" from her basic phonics series! How did this happen!!? These girls love to read! Probably because I've always surrounded our house with books, taken them to thrift shops or Half Price Books to pick out their own books, and I've NEVER "scheduled" reading time (other than sitting with them to help them learn to read..and that was kept to a minimum and stopped the second they weren't enjoying it). And just like that...age 7 for both of them, the reading clicked. Reading is freedom....freedom to create even further...freedom to bake in the kitchen (Angel Girl started reading recipes and baking from scratch just after she turned 8....she got bored with the box mix stuff very quickly, like after the first week, which is a good thing:) (I started her out with box mixes, only to help her feel more comfortable in the kitchen...she LOVES to bake!) I also had put a "meal ideas" list on the fridge for the girls to draw from, you know, when they want to work in the kitchen! (i.e. mommy hasn't gotten around to feeding them yet;). Seriously though, it's not a bad thing....I can literally lock myself in a room all day (no worries, I don't), and know that my girls can completely occupy themselves, feed themselves, and are safe. I KNOW this because I am with them all the time (and know they will almost always make good decisions), but still give them their freedom to think and create and choose.
And today, while I was sitting outside in the most perfect weather in the world, really NOT wanting to come in....dragonflies and butterflies were everywhere, and a beautiful doe even hopped the fence to my side, while I was there, and she stood there looking at me...it was such a beautiful moment...until Piper (who was otherwise occupied elsewhere in the backyard on the lizard hunt), discovered the visitor and chased her right out;).....anyway, while I was doing "my thing," the girls took it upon themselves to start creating a website. Fairy Girl came out with paper and pen, looking for ideas (I googled free kids' websites from my iphone and wrote ideas for them to try)...and they found one that they are working with. And they are even creating business cards:) I think they have some sort of princess fashion line in the works.
Finally, after being driven in by the out of control mosquito population (they are worse at night, not so bad during the day), I fed them a noon breakfast of scrambled eggs and fruit, proceeded to make banana nut bread (because those over ripe bananas were just begging me to;), and assemble and half bake a black bean lasagna for dinner. Soon, I will get dressed (really, I am in yoga clothing, NOT jammies...I'm not THAT bad;) and work on some bracelet orders. The girls continue to sit pleasantly together, working on their website, they are SO excited about their newest project!
Does this sound like school? The way most of us have been conditioned to believe school should look like? probably not? Are they learning, absolutely! Are they on the same time-table as their traditionally-schooled peers? In some areas yes, in many areas no. Am I concerned about this....I probably was a few years ago, but now, absolutely not! Can they read, write, articulate, multiply by hundreds and even thousands? Yes! Do they have all of their multiplcation facts memorized, NO...do I care, no...that will come in time, as needed, when they are ready, as they choose. Those are just examples, but my point is.....yes, we have a "schedule".....mostly for the sake of giving them time to create, or time for us to work together some days.....our "schedule" is year round....other days we just go on our girls' day outings.....hit the beach or pool, go on a field trip....and some days we stay home and create!
I do have to set some "boundaries" during traditionally schooled days off....they are in a much better rhythm and flow if they have these times to BE and CREATE, (or the days we choose to work together with our "curriculum.")......it's hard for others to understand, who aren't in a "homeschool" situation, that homeschooling/unschooling just doesn't look the same as traditional schooling....but believe me, it is working, it is REALLY REALLY working (thank goodness, these girls are learning despite their mama;)
Anyway, this whole post was inspired by something I saw this morning on a blog called "Time to Wake Up":
"I see the current public school system as one of cultures most effective programming stations. They sit you down, tell you whats what, and if you don't memorize it and regurgitate it, you fail and you are told that you are wrong. You feel stupid and this makes you think that the better you are at memorizing what they tell you is true, the smarter you are. It creates silent, hard working conformists. And try getting a decent job without passing these tests.
If the public school system really was designed to create critical thinkers, the teachers would tell you everyday "Question everything, especially authority." (from the blog, these are not my words).
But I can't say I disagree either; at least not when it comes to my own kiddos. We choose the homeschool/unschool route, because it's the right fit for our family. It is NOT the right fit for everybody...I'm a FIRM believer in respecting one-anothers' choices. But, one of the top reasons why I believe in homeschooling for my family, is summarized very nicely in the quote above...for me it's all about giving them the best chance possible in keeping their natural creative drive, so they can truly have the opportunity to discover themselves and their own passions and interests; and family closeness! I am certainly not saying that homeschooling is the only way to achieve this, or that traditional schooling will somehow impede the progress of this....I personally LOVED my school experience and thrived throughout school; and am very close to my family; and I like to think I'm still creative;) But, this is the right choice for MY family and my girls, and my girls are having a REALLY good time along the way! I'm very grateful we have the opportunity!
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