Our Teaching Style

I wanted to share a bit about our homeschool teaching style.  We are eclectic homeschoolers following fairly closely with the Charlotte Mason ideas of education.  Charlotte Mason was a British educator who began to shake up the methods of education in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  She wrote several books outlining her philosophy of education which many homeschoolers have applied to their own students. 

One of my favorite principles of Charlotte's is "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life."  You see, to me being a homeschooler is a lifestyle.  Learning happens day in and day out whether it is traditional school hours or not.  In our family we try to grab the learning opportunities as they come.  Sure, we have normal traditional hours of schoolwork otherwise it would not get done!  However, if we happen to be outside and a bird lands in front of us we take the moment to notice the bird and perhaps apply things we have learned about birds.  We talk to each other a lot!  We read living books a lot!  Hmmm., reminds me of another favorite Scripture.  "Therefore ye shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 11: 18 - 19

Along with that principle it is important that I as the mom-teacher provide an atmosphere of learning.  We provide resources for the children that are engaging and we allow opportunity for those resources to be studied and savoured.  We also work hard to provide a pleasant atmosphere where children will want to exchange ideas. 

The discipline part of that principle means we are attempting to teach our children to have good habits to carry him throughout life.  Habits such as attentiveness, self control, obedience, truthfulness, order, cheerfulness and many others.

I hope that when my children are grown they will continue to learn.  I want them to have the tools to be able to learn.  I want them to love learning.  I want them to be able to discern wisdom and to continually grow in love with the Lord.