School at home?

Often, parents think that they should re-create school at home. I’m going to argue that you absolutely SHOULD NOT. Schools are set up for large groups. So much wasted time and energy on busy work to keep everyone together at the same level. (Are they actually on the same level? No. That’s another blog post…) In a traditional school environment you have to contend with discipline issues, school assemblies, distractions and standardized testing. At home, you can inspire your child(ren) to be in awe of the world and seek out learning of all types. Learning shouldn’t be worksheets and workbooks for 7.5 hours a day.

My kids often tell me that they feel they were mostly “road-schooled.” We did a lot of field trips and outdoor experiences. The great part about homeschooling is that you can visit places during the school day that are insanely busy after school and on weekends. It’s so nice to visit a science museum and actually be able to participate in all the stations without waiting in a line!

My oldest son exploring pulleys.