Throughout my 23 years in education, I have found myself using
most teaching styles. During different seasons, I have used traditional,
classical, unit studies, Montessori, and unschooling approaches. I saw the strengths of each method and wanted to incorporate them all. I was elated when the new
buzzword “eclectic” became popular about a decade ago because I felt like there
was finally a word to describe how I taught.
But as time went on, I discovered a better word to describe
my family’s homeschool- ORGANIC. The term “organic” seems to be a common word
nowadays. It can be used to describe types of food, businesses, churches, and
even more.
When I think of the word “organic,” I think of natural, wholesome, and fundamental. That's exactly what I want my children’s education to be like.
Learning becomes a natural process.
- I no longer feel pressure from what others are doing. I remind myself that my children are created uniquely by the Lord and He has a specific plan for each of them.
- Frustration is rarely present when things don’t go as I plan. I realized that most of my frustration in homeschooling was when things were not going my way. It was simply a control issue. I wanted my lesson plans and goals to be met on my timetable. I didn't welcome life's interruptions as possible lessons but viewed them as hindrances to my original plans. When I learned to lay aside my plans for His plans, homeschooling became a joy and not a burden.
- I stopped pushing my children to finish the curriculum. When I find myself rushing to “finish the book,” I am missing the beauty of homeschooling. Our homeschool days should be about teaching the child, not the curriculum. Read more HERE.
A wholesome learning environment is created.
- I strive to provide the best nutrients in our soil to produce the sweetest fruit. One way I do this is by using teaching materials that are rooted in God’s word.
- I use unit studies that incorporate most subjects, instead of teaching individual subjects separately. This approach is teaching learning as a whole, which leads to better retention and is less time-consuming for the student and teacher.
Build upon the foundation with the fundamentals of a solid education.
- I choose to focus the majority of my teaching time on the Bible and building upon that foundation with the core subjects- reading, writing, and math. Read more HERE.
- I avoid using "preservatives and extra additives" by eliminating busywork. To be honest, homeschooling four children makes my teaching time valuable. I cut right to the chase and avoid any "fluff" in the books or curriculum I use. Three hours of solid teaching time with active learning is much more important to me than a full day of teaching with little real learning.
If I had to sum up organic homeschooling in one word,
it would be FREEDOM.
