I believe all children are born with a love of learning.

I had to create a podcast for my English class.  That was an interesting undertaking.  Do you ever hear yourself in a recording or video and think, that’s not what I sound like!  Well, according to my family I really do sound like this.  Hmm, not sure how I feel about that. 
At any rate, this is my podcast. 
http://screencast.com/t/G3yvzvNqY
Keep in mind that it’s extremely difficult to get all that I want to say out in a 1-2 page essay.  This is only a small sampling of the babblings I could have displayed on this topic.  :)

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Finding the Right Method/Curriculum

After finally settling on the decision to homeschool, it was time to find the perfect curriculum. 

I wasn’t in it for religious reasons.  School was school… I had no reason to incorporate religion into our secular learning; In essence, I was planning to recreate school at home. 

My eyes and ears were always on alert for potential ‘classroom’ fillers:  Desks, wall calendars, wall mounted pencil sharpener, bulletin boards, chalkboards (or dry erase), the works.  I had no idea where I was going to set up such a space to fit it all.  My basement family room was about to get a major makeover.  And since I didn’t know what I was doing yet, the only curriculum I had in mind was K12.  Of the many books I had read about homeschooling options and such, the one that I fell in love with was that of Charlotte Mason.  The only problem was that I was still in such a public school mindset that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the concept.  It was far too gentle. 

Then someone suggested another option.  I wish I could give proper credit, but I don’t remember who it was.  All I know is that suddenly I was reading a strange book I had never heard of before.  A Thomas Jefferson Education.  This book CHANGED MY LIFE!  I know that sound cliché and even silly, but there is no other way to put it. 

The entire concept just made sense, and before I knew it I was on a new quest.  I had to find people that had used this concept and see it in action.  Was it really possible that this method worked in real life situations? 

I gathered phone numbers from friends and acquaintances that knew people using the TJEd method in their homes.  Some were less than thrilled to be speaking to a ‘greenie’ in the making over the phone, and some were far to busy to talk at all.  Of the six or seven people I spoke with, only one was willing to take the time to speak with me in person.  She may have felt slightly obligated since she was the daughter of a lady in my ward, but I was willing to allow myself to burden her for a couple of hours in order to gain some insight into this strangely appealing way of educating not only my children but myself as well.  Aren’t I sweet?  ;)

I was invigorated.  Somehow I still felt a pull toward Charlotte Mason and her philosophies as well.  How was I supposed to choose?  They were both appealing.  After much prayer, I realized that the two were completely compatible leaving me with a unique curriculum customized for my children and my family. 

Charlotte Mason brings a gentle approach to the way information is delivered to children, lots of playtime (especially outdoors), a love of nature, the arts, and a well rounded approach to discovering individual ihnterests.  Oliver Van DeMille (author of TJEd) offers a set of principles that I am able to intertwine with CM’s ways.  I’ll quote myself in saying: 

“I read the book as a new homeschooler several years ago. Up to that point I had every intention of recreating school at home. The TJEd book opened my eyes and mind to a new way of thinking. It just made perfect sense. I realized that I didn't want my kids to end up with the same 'education' that I ended up with. I wanted them to become independent thinkers and really make a difference in this world we are living in, whether that difference is small or not. I just wanted the difference to be for the good.

The TJEd principles are what I base everything on now, including my own education.

I don't use TJEd as a curriculum itself, rather it has become the cornerstone of our educational philosophies. I love the Charlotte Mason method, and I feel that I am able to use TJEd principles as a guide. I feel that they compliment each other very nicely. However, I don't use all of CM's ideas. I am very eclectic and use bits and pieces of this and that to compliment the TJEd principles as we see fit.

That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can each take the bits and pieces of different methods, philosophies, curriculums, etc. to help our respective children gain the education our Heavenly Father wants them to have. TJEd in one home can look very different than TJEd in another. CM looks different in my home than it does in any other home.”

In the Beginning

 Let’s backtrack a bit:

Miss K had already completed two full years of preschool and loved every second of it.  Homeschooling had never been anywhere even close to my radar. 

My mom had homeschooled my brother on and off which I thought was the worst decision she could have made at the time.  I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why she would take an already socially awkward child out of the only establishment in which a child can be taught proper socialization.  No other life circumstances could possibly shape a young person into a well adapted, personable, and intellectual being.  He needed to learn about the real world.  What was my mother thinking?  (**We found out later that he has high functioning autism.)

I’ve learned a tremendous amount about the error of my thinking ways… just fyi.

It wasn’t until I had already put my daughter’s name into a lottery for a charter school, and, just in case she didn’t get in, had gone to sign her up for the local public school.  As I was walking out of the same doors I used to use as a child to leave the same building I was humiliated and belittled in, I had overwhelmingly sick feeling.  I didn’t want my little girl to go through the same things I had to endure as a child at that great big school. 

While my reasons and methods for homeschooling have evolved and changed over the years, this is where it all began.

I tried to push the feelings aside.  She would be fine.  People do it all the time.  I reasoned… She needed to know how to stand up for herself; how to make a decision and stand on her own two feet. That’s what you do… you send your kids to school.  But no matter how hard I tried to push the nagging feelings aside, they just didn’t seem to subside.  Not even a little bit.  But I still had hope she might make it into the charter school. 

A very short time later we got the news that she didn’t.  At that point I was very disheartened.  I knew that the public school wasn’t the answer, but what was I supposed to do?  I couldn’t force the charter school to accept her. 

That week I went to the library.  I don’t remember if I intentionally sought out the homeschooling section or if I just stumbled upon it.  I only remember the homeschooling books staring down at me from a shelf just above eye level.  They seemed to be smiling contentedly at me as if they knew my homeschooling destiny.  I quickly yanked most of the books from the shelf (it was a small section) and cautiously walked to the… checkout?  Is that what it’s called?  I worried that I might run into someone I knew. 

We couldn’t have that, now could we?  What would said person think of me? 

I was almost ashamed to be carrying those books.  I scanned each one and got out of dodge. 

Of course once I was home, with no danger of anyone seeing what I had in my possession, I devoured each and every one of those books.  Suddenly, I was desiring to homeschool my hoodlums and I hadn’t any clue how to go about telling Anthony. 

Long story short (VERY short)… He was up on a ladder in the backyard, I mentioned homeschooling, I got the are-you-freaking-kidding-me look of death, I promised to do more research before committing, we prayed, and here we are. 

Super condensed version of telling Miss K… She cried, wanted to ride the bus (wouldn’t have anyway since the school is right down the street), finally came to terms with the idea, and here we are.  :)

The next couple posts will cover how we finally came to a final decision to homeschool and the books/methods that resonated with us. 

And just because I think every post deserves a picture, here are my hoodlums all covered in purple chalk dust and corn starch.  I think it displays each of their personalities perfectly! 

Intro Post

I am Brooke.  This is my blog.  What’s it about, you ask?  It’s about our lifestyle.  We have been homeschooling from the very beginning (7 years and running) and believe that homeschooling isn’t something that you do;  it’s a lifestyle. 

I am beyond excited to share my thoughts and ideas with you.  We’ll start with how and why we decided to homeschool, the books and methods that resonated with me then and still do today, and of course I’d be happy to answer any questions that anyone has. 

Homeschooling was something my husband, Anthony, and I never thought we would even consider, let alone that it would become our reality.  It came upon as an answer to heartfelt prayers and consideration.  We’ve fallen in love with this lifestyle!  Advocating for the cause and mentoring others into this beautiful way of educating has become our passion.  Are we experts?  Nah… just passionate. 

Join us in our journey. 

**If only I had a picture.  The computer with all the photos on it has sadly died.  I will have to add one later.**