We’re just a few short months away from wrapping up our 5th year of homeschooling! I can hardly believe that even as I type it. Homeschooling, like everything in life, has been a journey for us. We haven’t always used the same style or methods year-to-year, sometimes we’ve even changed things up in the middle of a school year. But that is the very best, and most important aspect of homeschooling- it’s tailored to the learner’s needs. If something isn’t working, you change it. We love that about homeschooling, and it has served us so well!
Over the past 5 years we’ve tried a a few different styles and approaches. We’ve done a traditional school day, interest-led unit studies, DIY curriculum, pre-made curriculum, Charlotte Mason, and unschooling. What seems to work best for us is a hybrid of some pre-made curriculum and the rest unschooling. It definitely takes some trial and error, combined with your own goals and values regarding your children’s education to determine how to homeschool in a way that works for your family. There are things I really love about many different philosophies and approaches, and so we incorporate those aspects into our schooling.
If you’re interested in homeschooling your kiddos at any point in their K-12 careers, I can promise you that it’s less complicated than it seems and YES, you CAN do it. There is truly an option to fit absolutely everyone’s needs. There are 100% online programs that require almost nothing from the parent’s end, and there is radical unschooling which is 100% hands-off let the kids play and explore the world. There are subject-by-subject curricula you can purchase and work through, and every single thing in between. Not only can you find all of this to suit your needs, but then you can use it in any way you see fit for your learner(s). Homeschooling is endlessly customizable.
