Lightening the load. When our off-road journey began, we chucked certain subjects to lighten the load. This allowed us to focus on core subjects more intentionally and provide extra time for personal development. Please note that we had no plans to return to the school system at this point. If you plan to return to a school system, this post might not be for you.
The core subjects. We felt the core subjects of reading, writing, and math should be given utmost priority because they are skill-based. Skills are additive. The more knowledge-based subjects like science and history could be delegated to informal status during the elementary years.
Formal study can wait. We rationalized that formal study in science and social studies could wait until the 7th or 8th grade. Our kids would be more mature and have better learning skills by then. We felt that delaying these courses would decrease the risk of road-weariness and negative attitudes about education.
Too much too soon. I think it’s easy for kids to develop a negative attitude about a subject if they have a negative experience with it. Unfavorable curricula, immaturity, and information overload can turn a student off of learning. We are fortunate as homeschoolers to have the liberty to change curricula and push out a subject.
Science and social studies the organic way. Rather than use formal instruction, we trusted our kids could learn about science and social studies through life experiences in the elementary years. The natural world and the human world surround us. Observation is an excellent way to learn.
Spend time outdoors. For my family, learning about science is easy and fun because we like the outdoors, and we love science. We walk the trails of a wooded park pretty much every day. Creation is a wonderful teacher of science. We often take photos of interesting specimens and try to identify them. In doing so, my kids have developed a love for nature, photography, and research. We pay attention to the night sky and talk often about weather phenomena.
Visit the library. It has been pretty easy to nurture my children’s interests with library books. The library has offered my kids the freedom to explore and choose the topics they like. I think learning is more effective when it’s elective. Reading is also one of the skill-based core subjects that we hold in high regard, so the library has been a huge blessing in our life.
I think learning is more effective when it’s elective.
Visit museums, nature preserves, and zoos. There’s so much to observe and experience at science museums and zoos. I can’t think of a better way to learn about science than seeing it in action. History museums are an excellent way to learn about America’s past. Thankfully homeschool allows us to travel during the week and visit museums.
Watch science and social study videos. Movies and internet videos have been valuable resources for us. My son was obsessed with watching “how it’s made” videos in his elementary years. Experts create YouTube videos to explain science phenomena or historical events. Whenever we have a question about something, we look it up to find the answer.
Include science and history excerpts in reading and writing assignments. I used dictation and copy work for my son during his elementary years. This provided the opportunity to include ancient Greek and Roman works as well as passages about scientists.
Join a co-op. My kids learned science and social study topics through fun classes at a teaching co-op. Classes met once a week for an hour. We tried to pick courses that required very little preparation.
Drawbacks of delaying formal study in science and history. An effect, although we did not experience it, might be lower scores in the science and social studies sections of the yearly standardized test like the Iowa Basics. This might alarm folks who tie their hearts and souls to the results of scoring systems or who want to transfer into a school system. But a lower-than-expected score in this case would most likely be a reflection of circumstance rather than intellect.
How did my kids do in the 8th grade and beyond? They handled their science and history classes perfectly well and went on to earn college credit in both subjects before graduating from high school. Over the 7th and 8th grades, my son studied for the US History I CLEP exam and earned three college credits. He had absolutely no previous history instruction. He also passed the General Biology CLEP exam in the 9th grade. See my posts US History I CLEP and General Biology CLEP.
I am not an expert in education. This post is to offer rescue ideas and inspiration for families who are feeling jaded from their journeys. If you are at a point in your life where education has you overwhelmed, take it to God. You are not alone. Pray for guidance and wisdom for your next step. God has a plan for each of us if we simply ask and trust in Him. The plan may seem unorthodox, but when God is backing it, you will be at peace.
For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37
Read another post about elementary education: An Off-Road Approach to the Elementary Years.
Read: How My Kids Spend Their Extra Time
To learn basics about CLEP exams read: Earn Early College Credit by CLEP Exam and CLEP Q & A.
Musing: a period of reflection or thought. As such this post reflects my thoughts, opinions, and experiences on the topic. The choice to home school and the methods you choose are yours to determine.