In the July/August 2009 Home Education Magazine, the article titled ‘Winging it with Curriculum,’ by Stefanie Hofman, is a lyrical, lovely examination of what it means to be a family, Stefanie explores the similarities between a family of wild geese and her own family rhythms and approaches to learning.
“Everything I ever needed to know about homeschooling I learned from geese. Our recently thawed pond heralded the departure of winter and the arrival of spring. In Minnesota, spring brings cherry blossoms, red buds and Canadian geese.Sitting there, watching the geese shepherd their babies around the grass, pecking, protecting their territory, patiently slowing their determined march towards the water, it struck me just how similar that goose family was to my own.”
You can read this article online, free.
Tags: curriculum, homeschooling, learning from animals, nature education, Stephanie Hofman
With no particular place or project in mind I came across a reference to a highschool level course of study for a homeschooling family posted on the Daily Dish. The post titled The Varieties of High School Education quotes from A homeschooler’s bleg, which in and of itself is recognizable as a homeschooler’s exploration. But then the Dish author notes:
The post goes on like that. At the end, Alan asks for feedback and advice from readers, and the comments section includes some wonderful suggestions. The whole exchange makes me jealous of young Wes, and the education he is receiving. It is so obviously superior to my own academic experience in ninth through twelfth grade.
The Varieties of High School Education is worth reading. The comments in the original post, A homeschooler’s bleg, are worth skimming through.
What occurs to me as I read these posts and the comments is how ‘normal’ homeschooling is taken. Underlying this for me, is the realization that test scores and curriculum are not going to drive meaningful educational reform. Change will be driven by the easy way that family life can foster a love of learning.
Tags: Conor Friedersdorf, Daily Dish, family life, homeschooling, homeschooling and public school, reasons to homeschool
‘Dice Child,’ by Margaret Reitz, in the July/August 2009 Home Education Magazine: Seventeen year old homeschooler Margaret Reitz loves playing games. She was brought up with games that required critical thinking and strategy gave her a thorough grounding in mathematics, language arts, science, history, geography and logic.
An excerpt from the article:
Here in the United States, games are usually viewed as something for kids only. That view is changing as European influences are being imported along with European games. In Europe, games are a lifelong pastime, and game designers are viewed much as authors are in the U.S. The reason for this is that people across the ocean have realized what we are only beginning to: games teach useful skills and learning techniques that last a lifetime, and provide fellowship with other human beings. Using games as educational tools is just a conscious extension of those benefits.
Complete content for the July/August issue can be seen at the link above.
Tags: Dice Child, educational tools, games, games for children, learning games, Margaret Reitz
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof:
“Pry your kids away from the keyboard and the television this summer, and get them reading. Let me help by offering my list of the
Best Children’s Books — Ever!“
Tags: best children's books, children's books, children's classics, New York Times, Nicholas Kristof, reading
News & Commentary: HSLDA
Important analysis and information, with many links and references, from our News & Commentary blog regarding HSLDA and the National Guard:
Continue reading at the link above.
Tags: HEM News and Commentary, homeschool commentary, homeschool news, homeschooling and the military, homeschooling politics, HSLDA, National Guard