We officially started our "school year" back in June.  I continued our search for a method, trying to find a way of "doing school" that would work for Jack.  And work for me as well.   It seems that ever since we started homeschooling, we have been testing out different ways and methods.  We would start with one---tweak it a little---then a little more---then give up and go another way! 

All along I heard people talking about unschooling---and I even read a lot about it myself.  I liked the idea of it, but I was way too nervous to take the full plunge!   I tried incorporating some of the child-led aspects of unschooling into our approach.  I had Jack choosing what subject he wanted to study---or choosing what pages to do out of a workbook.   No sane person would ever call us structured, but we weren't exactly unstructured either!

Today we had an epiphany in our HSing journey.  Although we have been pretty relaxed HSers so far, last week seemed especially relaxed.  This week I decided to not plan anything out and just write down what Jack does all on his own that could be considered educational.  I was really surprised at the amount of stuff there was to write down!

First of all, Jack does an incredible amount of reading that he doesn't get "credit" for (now he does!).  Then there are a lot of things I had viewed before as just playing around that I now realize have educational value in them!  For example, today Jack was using a swimming pool noodle (with a hole through the middle) to listen to our heartbeats.  Then he listened to the cats and dogs heartbeats---and breathing.  Then we listened to our digestive tracks, and it was so fun and interesting!  Before today I would only have considered it a fun thing to do---now I see it's also educational.   I wrote it down in the book as a "science experiment"---because that's what it was.

In just the last 2 days, I have 5 science entries, 1 logical thinking entry, and 2 each of literature, music, and technology entries!   I used to use the planner to plan what he would be taught, now I am using it to log what he has learned.  I feel like we are finally hitting our groove!  =o)

It all became clear today when I was showing Jack my planner, and he saw everything educational he had done for the past 2 days.  His eyes got big along with his smile and he said "I feel so smart!"   He was so excited that he just glowed and it hit me that this is what it's all about.  This is why I homeschool him and this is how I always want him to feel about himself and his education!

---Shannon =o)

It's been a while since I've blogged, but here I am! =)

We have been studying Science the past few weeks.  it's going pretty well.  I really like being able to delve deeply into a subject.  It really seems to help with retention---at least for Jack it does!

We have also been reading quite a bit.  I just read The last 2 Harry Potter books.  Jack is re-reading the first.  He had read the 1st three, but decided to go back to the first.  I guess it's because it has been a while since he read them---I can understand that!  In fact, I could probably read the entire series several times!  I told my mom that I finished the series and she couldn't have been more unimpressed.  She said I was "such a child"!  I was like---"yeah, I'm the only adult who reads Harry Potter!"    Sometimes the things she says are so far from reality that I begin to wonder how I ever take her seriously!!  =oP

Right now Jack has his PS friend staying the week with us before he has to go back to school.  They are having a great time, but I am getting a little crazy(er)!! =o)

---Shannon ♥