Homeschooling Methodology

Homeschooling Methodology

In one of my friendly Sonlighting chats my friends were discussing which 'homeschooling method' do we use....Hmmm.  Such a good question!  The answer to that question has changed and remained under the same umbrella "eclectic"; all these years.  Although, I guess I kind of declare it a "Sonlighting Umbrella" now. 

Here is my small portion of the dialog - not well thought out or rewritten; just some basic thoughts off the top of my head.  I thought it might be interesting for me to look back on and read in a few years time to see where I am today.

"When Dd was born I was all into sign language and we did that until she began to talk; then see moved on and didn't want to sign with me anymore (huge bummer for me b/c I am fluent)...the it was the Montessori method and we did LOTS of that. Dd had her own brooms and dust pans, and helped with all our chores---we did it all, bought the books--the whole 9 yards.  Then it was Charlotte Mason through and through!  Then we went towards Raymond Moore, and the Better Late Than Early phase--now that we are older and Larkin is finally ready and old enough for some of the Classical Education we are definitely incorporating that into our lives.

I think all of those methods are STILL apart of who we are and what we believe; and are important.  They each had a significant part in helping us where we were and where we are going.  I don't think we could be whole without the combination of "all of the above"!!!!

I would feel like a HUGE failure if I was a die hard 'classical educator'!!!  Boy, oh boy!  I've checked out TWTM (The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer) at least 3-4 times and I do pull out some gems each time I read it; but I absolutely get the feeling that if I were to be a "success" with that program I would have to change how I parent.  At my core, I am an "attachment parent" that has had to draw lines and be firm and resolute as I encouraged growth with my daughter.  But, to incorporate THAT level of dedication to achieving that high level of academics with MY child, I would have to buy a whip!  It may work for some children.  I do hear that some children get up early and get on their homework by themselves, and are self motivated....but this is not (at all!) the type of kid I have.  I have a very artistic, creative, 'outside the box' type of thinker.

I like to incorporate the best things I see from the classic education format and put in as many as I can; while still keeping our lessons not SO intense.  I really do think that Dd needs hours each week to play.  We have spells of doing a lot and spells of playing a lot.  She thrives much better when she gets to play--which for her is when she will go build things, and paint things, and play piano...it isn't on a screen or out of a box...she creates stuff.

In the warmer months we move towards being outside and nature/growing things and Charlotte Mason.  Right now, in winter, we are doing a lot of TWTM type of things, but I still wouldn't say I am more one method over the other.  I think "Sonlight" homeschooler seems like a one-word description that can fit in all the different types of styles, plus being a CHRISTIAN, plus loving BOOKS, and music, and science --all at the same time!"