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[Gabriel Anast]

I hate to say this... because... it will dishearten a lot of good people, and I don't mean it to. But, IMO:

Formal education is a slave mold. It creates good worker bees. That is what it is made for.*

What your son is doing is the thing that makes great men. Its the thing that made Bill Gates and Robert Kiyosaki, Jack Welch and Richard Branson. He might not aspire to being who those men are... but know that whatever is in his heart and mind is the same seed.

This is why we use the Charlotte Mason method... or something like it... its not "better" than other curricula at producing better test scores... it might actually be worse, but it does teach the children (especially our "version") to observe. Always observe... and let their hearts, minds and creativity be the fire for the fuel.

Anyway... I would not worry a bit... just be careful to keep him out of anyone's hands that would limit him (a friend who thinks he would make a great manager... but not give him the reigns... XP... quit that job), and give him all the fuel you can.

--gabe

*To those that have formal educations or who have invested much in their children in that direction (and who value my opinion... heh), all is not lost... just teach them to doubt and re-consider everything, as in everything that they have been taught.

If you cannot figure out what that means or what to do next... try something very different... something that modernism hates... try to make an economics class / project based on the manorial system. Not the re-enactment version... the real thing. Talk about breaking out of the mold... that should help. You can even choose Japanese, East Indian, English, Continental or many others. The trick is to figure out how things actually worked... whether they were morally right or wrong and why... If you do this, don't believe the typical analysts... look instead for the true historians, the ones that just looked and recorded. Find old stories free of modern criticism and condensation of "outmoded economic systems."

Do you have any more practical suggestions for moms who would love to move towards this?

OK... so I know the post I quoted above is too over-the-top for most people. My own mom and dad would not have approved or believed it, and even insisted that I finish all 4 years of high school even though I had taken all the math my high school offered by the 10th grade, and by the 11th grad had finished 5 years of French, one of Latin, and all the AP Sciences the school offered. In the last half of the 12th grade I was so put out (not something that I am proud of or that I recommend to other's in similar situations) that I just dropped out and failed almost my entire final semester. I still graduated 5th in my class of 450ish... I would have been Valedictorian... but it all seemed like a sad joke to me by that time. Despite this I received an appointment to the Air Force Academy and two appointments to the Naval Academy (yes, my Representative and both Senators offered me appointments)... but since I didn't receive acceptance at either MIT or Cal Tech, I threw a fit (19 going on 3ish), and I figured, "Who cares," turned down the Academies and went to a State tech school where I had every scholarship I could want... basically forever, if I kept my grades up. Despite being a small, unheard-of state school, the teachers were great and I really enjoyed the course-work, but I was totally disillusioned with education and the direction I had received so far in life. I paid no attention to studies, had poor grades, my scholarships went on probation and I just quit.

To try to get my head straight, I went to work for a friend in Albuquerqe for $5.75 an hour as a clerk. Lived in a Christian-frat-house (hahah, what a hilarious thing that was) on the local College campus (I think it was $125 a month or something) and just tried to figure out what life really was...

I mention this part of "my story" to explain that I failed. Totally failed. Laughably failed. No, I wasn't a crackhead or a drunk. I didn't get into a terrible marriage, or commit any crimes... but as far as the world was concerned I was a class-A loser. I had the world by the tail... and just let go.

Neither my education nor my IQ nor the opportunity that reasonably well-to-do parents offered helped at all. To grok Anton Ego in Ratatouille, "I was fresh out of perspective."

It took me ten years to figure out which end was up, and even then, my grasp was tenuous (some will argue that it still is... I'll leave them aside for the sake of argument). What was the first thing I did? I bought a small bookstore with the help of my Grandfather. It was the Titanic and the Hindenburg all rolled into one, except there was nothing fantastic about the demise to anyone but me.

That, my friends, that was my education. I learned more from that failure than I had ever learned anywhere else. In high school when I was supposed to be listening to some bought and paid for educational type drone on about history-as-is-safe-for-the-masses, or carefully-pruned-science-for-the-controllably-incrementing engineer, I was reading every avant-garde Management and Business theory book I could get my hands on. I knew it, I thought I understood it... I had just never applied it. High school and college crashed and burned. I was an American Dream drop out and a Most Likely to Succeed refugee. But once I ran and bankrupted that first little business I learned all of what I should have learned somewhere between the age of five and fifteen.

I learned that reality is not made up of certificates and permits, balances and deficits, politics and religion, economics and power... its made of people. People living in nature. People that have a few needs and typically a lot of appetite predicated on no need at all. People that can and will do bad things or, on occasion, good things. People that are willing to see reality, and mostly people who are not. People that are made for an amazing, evidently eternal purpose... and rarely discover the fact that they have any purpose at all.

That was it. That was what I needed to know. It was what I needed to know in order to start a fantastically successful third business (the second was during the first, a better idea than the first, and killed by the first ). Interestingly it was also what I needed to know in order to begin to see what people really need... and to walk away from that success to what seems by contrast total failure. As I see it, what I have now is even greater success, but that is not the point I guess.

The point I mean to make is that education is not a set of spoon fed tru-isms that someone thinks you need to know or to believe in order to be a "good person," or to fill your required high school credits, etc. Education is, etymologically, "nourishment" or "care in direction" which facilitates an individual with the ability to know, to understand, and to grow in both respects. Education is not the ability to fill out a resume or a welfare application. To quote that great philosopher Quigon Jinn, "The ability to speak does not make you intelligent. Now, get out of here." heh... OK.

So... anyway. In my life, experience (and success in that experience... in my opinion) has led me to believe that the single most important part of education is the ability to observe.* To observe what a person wants and what they actually need. Why they need what they need and why then don't  or do have it. To observe how energy flows in nature and how to harness it. To observe how creatures or people work together or don't and why. If one can simply master these things (mastery requires direction, practice, experience and opportunity as I see it), my opinion is that they will be successful.

It may or may not not look like success to onlookers who do not have these abilities... but, again, I do not think that is the point. There is a famous quote in the Bible directed at a wealthy group of people who distinctly lack the ability to observe... it goes like this:

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Reminds me of Democrats that thought Obama was / is not a sell-out or Republicans that think that a second mid-term revolution will "save us." Poor blind naked people. Learn how to observe.

Although what I have presented is largely secular, I would also say that the text of the Bible gives further insight. The ability to observe keenly is also (I believe) easily taught by the time a child is about eight... though it must be a lifelong exercise. There is great advantage then in demonstrating what things most carefully to observe... thus Proverbs 4. This chapter can seem very ethereal and difficult to put into a curriculum or a standard form. All I have to say is that now we are back to observing... allowing the practice and exercise of keen observation to be a tool of choice.

-----------------------------------

In my original post I mentioned doing a study or a project on the Manorial system. I recommend this for a number of reasons.

First, it is universally discredited, dismissed and despised by the modern system... primarily, I believe, because it allowed to much power to be concentrated in to many hands. Effective Manorialism would never allow federal control... and especially a one world governance.

Second, it is so fundamentally different from what we experience now that it forces one to think in fundamentally different channels. Many unquestioned modern presuppositions about right and wrong might be brought to light by trying to figure out what parts of particular manorial structures were right and what parts were (morally) wrong and why.

Third, I believe that if the study / project is completed and well accomplished it will allow a much broader sense of perspective on issues of politics, economics, human interaction, religion, etc. This in turn will (I hope) begin to erode the assumptions that the spoon-feeders have shoveled down our throats and help us (our children) to understand the process and practice of observation.

--gabe

* Being able to observe is (as I see it) facilitated by basic things like the ability to read, write and otherwise communicate. Anyone but public school kids should generally be able to accomplish these things in a rudimentary way by the age of 8. As concerns public school kids, evidently only just over 70% of them achieve this at any age. O_o

[Gabriel Anast]

I guess this thread is not meant to be a Question/Answer... what I would like is to hear other's experiences or comments on "what is education." I'll answer questions too, though...

--gabe

[MomOf8]

Teach our dc to observe and then communicate what they observe?  This would be mainly through life experiences?  Sorry, I guess I have to absorb this slowly

[Gabriel Anast]

As far as techniques for teaching "observation" we could talk about things as simple as the game "concentration" or "people questions" (sitting in a public place and observing people... comparing, contrasting, etc). Drawing in a sketch pad or collecting things... rocks, leaves, bugs, shells, coins, stamps. On the other end of the spectrum (for older kids and adults) we could consider meditation or endurance exercises (where one does a task to the point of exhaustion or physical failure).

Proper oration (read or memorized) of a text written by another person forces the student to observe the intent of the author. With cleverness a good observer can insert irony with slight, but evident  mis-interpretation of the author.

Field trips everywhere... to factories, to different churches or various religious observations of all kinds, to different places and (if possible) varied economic statuses. No need to observe evil... but when it presents itself, don't shy away from discussing it.

In my opinion, just living in a rural environment increases the potential for rich-observation-opportunities (unless one just sits in-side pouting for one's loss of the excitement of the city).

I brought up the Manorial system project because its easy for all ages can get involved, its fun (knights, princesses, all that stuff...) and it covers almost all areas of life in a significantly foreign presentation. Plus, you could just do all your research, projects, etc from things you find on the web.

--gabe

[Mrs. B]

Dude, you just totally rock!
I'm not quite sure if I am in any way, shape or form qualified to add anything to what you said, but you basically put our goal into words.
The point that stood out to me was:

So... anyway. In my life, experience (and success in that experience... in my opinion) has led me to believe that the single most important part of education is the ability to observe.* To observe what a person wants and what they actually need. Why they need what they need and why then don't  or do have it. To observe how energy flows in nature and how to harness it. To observe how creatures or people work together or don't and why. If one can simply master these things (mastery requires direction, practice, experience and opportunity as I see it), my opinion is that they will be successful.

I think that most kids seem to have a natural instinct for observation, and so often we try to discourage this under the guise of manners or as daydreaming (which also, isn't a bad thing).  Our kids learn to talk, and walk, and function in life by watching. 
I think that is part of our reason for homeschooling.  Kids almost learn too much by observation.  They learn to imitate our worst faults and those things in us that we might not want to see face to face. 
Training observation is for us giving time to be still, turning off the tv (if you have one), getting away from the computer, and allowing your kids to see what all the world can be.
For us this includes not only nature and outdoors, but real-life situations.
Kids are natural mimics, and I think it is good for them to see you as parents in tough, real situations.  I want them to see that things aren't going to always be nice and easy, but that we can control our responses and our reactions.

I've been thinking on this subject all weekend, and what made me laugh the most was that back in school it was usually the 'smart kids' who wanted their grades.  And I'm thinking that Gabe is a pretty smart dude so this is so in contrast to how the world works, and it's hard to shift paradigms, even if it is God's way of thinking that we're trying to find.

[TenThousandYears]

I just love what Gabe has said here about an education!  It really resonates with what we have tried to do in our family!     It is similar to what Gabe said with observing, only our word has been to 'think'.  We wanted the kids to be able to think, no matter what level of 'education' they received.

When we first started homeschooling we saw a quote which I memorized and have never forgotten.  It became one of the bedrocks for the kids' "education". 

It went like this:  "The foundation of deception is the inability to think or reason and thereby be deceived."

So, in addition to being able to think, we focused on the basics - reading, writing, and arithmetic.  This, and a love for learning, would carry them through anything! 

Posted below is another helpful handout we received once at a homeschool convention workshop.  I hope it helps you as much as it did us.   


To Be Educated

If I learn my ABC’s, can read 600 words per minute, and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all language,

I have not been educated

If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic, but have not been instructed in God’s wisdom,

I have not been educated

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables, and chemical formulas, but have never been disciplined to hide God’s Word in my heart,

I have not been educated

If I can explain the law of gravity and Einstein’s theory of relativity, but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One Who orders our universe,

I have not been educated

If I can classify animals by their family, genus, and species, and write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award, but have not been introduced to the Maker’s purpose for all creation,

I have not been educated

If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution, but have not been informed of the hand of God in the history of our country,

I have not been educated

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments, and can write music that moves men to tears, but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him,

I have not been educated

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball, and do 100 push-ups with out stopping, but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to God’s will,

I have not been educated

If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of a da Vinci, and even paint a portrait that earns an A+, but have not learned that all harmony and beauty comes from a relationship with God,

I have not been educated

If I graduate with a perfect 4.0 and am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship, but have not been guided into a career of God’s choosing for me,

I have not been educated

If I become a good citizen, voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right, but have not been told of the sinfulness of man and his hopelessness without Christ,

I have not been educated

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me,

then, I have been educated!

[sohnnenstrahl]

An example of observation in education, observation as education in our family:

We have a piano. Sometimes someone will ask us what music curriculum we use. If the question was inspired from hearing our piano music, I usually say, "We have a piano." After the person tries to clarify the question, I say, "We have a piano. The piano is the curriculum. The freedom to use it is the curriculum. Our feedback and our answering questions is the curriculum. Their efforts are the curriculum."

Each of our kids has a different style. They all are developing musical skills in different styles that they have acquired as they have played different notes and observed the sounds. The intervals. The melodic lines possible. The rhythms. The harmonies. The dissonance. The swelling. The subsiding. They are building memorization skills by trying over and over to reproduce a melody they heard and liked. They are learning to sight read by looking at the notes of a song they want to be able to play, and comparing them to a chart next to the score. We call it our note dictionary. They all make a lot of original music that sounds good! They all LOVE music. Sometimes I sit down at the piano and call out, "Oh, hey, come over here and look at this! When I space out three notes in these exact spacings, or intervals, it's a major chord! Here, who wants to try?" Nothing more than that, unless they ask. Sort of like a jump start if nobody's been playing the piano for a few days. Just a snippet of knowledge to whet someone's interest. Just a little observation.

[horsemama]

Great post, Gabe !  Life is a great teacher. And life-with-kids is an even better teacher!   

Not to disagree with you in any way, but I am concerned with views I have seen posted on other (conservative fundamentalist) forums, where parents are totally against formal tertiary education, especially for girls.  My (and my husband’s) opinion is that we need to find out what is best for each individual child, and help them develop their potential, and facilitate their “launch” into the Lord’s chosen path  for them.   If my son, on the original thread, had wanted to study at university, we would have tried to make that possible for him. As it turns out, he does not want to, at this point at least.

Interesting, our second child, Jess (16) has never been an “academic” – she didn’t read til she was 10 (not for lack of trying) and has struggled with math all along. Suddenly around 2 yrs ago she discovered subjects like Health & Home Ec and has decided she wants to be a dietician. Hmmmmm... I did some research and found out that she would need a university degree... a hectically academic Bsc with Math, biology, chemistry......    She is not daunted.  She is devouring the textbooks, attacking the math with renewed vision, ploughing through the Biology.....  who woulda thunk it???  All she needed was some VISION.

The next one down, Meg (13) is an arty dreamer/loner. She fluctuates between wanting to be a hairdresser , a horse whisperer and a professional show jumper! Maybe both! She’ll need to be able to pay for those horses somehow!!!

From my own observation, the greatest thing missing in kids’ upbringing today, is character. Which is difficult to teach in formal school, and not really their job either. It’s the parents’ job.  Also... the “school of hard knocks” is not automatically a teacher of character.  If it were, then every child raised on the streets by their down and out parents would be a model of great character.
I really don’t understand it all... I am just observing what I see,  trying to put the pieces together, and praying a lot for wisdom!!  It seems that some kids DO thrive in an academic setting, probably most do not. Some will make the best of it as a means to an end. But a good academic education alone is never going to be enough  to make a success out of life.

[cjanderin]

What is "Education"? 

Learning.  Having a PASSION for learning.  And then putting that learning into practice. 


Haven't really got any more to add - I tried but you pretty much said it already, Gabe!

 

[MomOf8]

How can I decide if a dc should be pushed or encouraged vs. giving him or her more time (especially if they are over 8)I am talking about the basics--mainly writing (not really penmanship)?

[smfmommy]

I don't think what you had to say was over the top in any way - just difficult to embrace after 16 years of public education.  It can be hard to let go of the definition of education society has come to accept.

I think the number one thing that has helped my husband in life has been his ability to work with people.  A skill he learned from observing his father interact with people and certainly not in school.

LOTS of food for thought and prayer!

 

[TenThousandYears]

I was so tired last night the quote wrong.  Here it is again:

"The foundation of deception is the inability to think or reason and therefore unable to make wise decisions."

But Gabe said it all best anyway.   

[Gabriel Anast]

Not to disagree with you in any way, but I am concerned with views I have seen posted on other (conservative fundamentalist) forums, where parents are totally against formal tertiary education, especially for girls.  My (and my husband’s) opinion is that we need to find out what is best for each individual child, and help them develop their potential, and facilitate their “launch” into the Lord’s chosen path  for them.   If my son, on the original thread, had wanted to study at university, we would have tried to make that possible for him. As it turns out, he does not want to, at this point at least.

I totally agree. I was / am (obviously) an academic, and loved / needed that type of education. Almost everyone does (there are legitimate exceptions where the IQ is low for developmental reasons, etc).

My point was not to discount education / pedagogy in general, but rather to assert that almost all modern "education" is something more like indoctrination or plain dis-information.

By all means possible teach the child to observe and to be able to know the good from the bad in order that when encountering typical education system schlock, they will be able to avoid it.

--gabe

[rainygladness]

Great thread!   Gabe, thank you for your thoughts on education through observation. It inspired me to do a fascinating study on the word "learn" this morning.  7xs is always pointing me toward God and His Word!    

As I was thinking about education, I thought of the book of Ecclesiastes is filled with Solomon’s observations and his final conclusion sums up our definition for education:  "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man." Eccl 12:13   

We've come a long way in our family and now our home school is easy and fun.  We spend a small amount of time on the three R’s and everything else is learned as we live, observe, read, discover, discuss and study all that we can while seeking to know God’s thoughts on each matter.  That and helping our kids develop their talents and ultimately use them for God is our goal. 

[GarlicMomma]

Our family follows basically a traditional way of school for their home education.  While we go about this, we try to instill real life examples and even question some of the motives and obvious mistakes in the resources we use.  We realize not one source of educational material other than the Bible will be 100% correct all the time. We don't pick apart the curriculum and become fault finding, we just make observations at different times.

One good example is we have used Mennonite material for assisting in Bible study. We are not Mennonites in any form or fashion. We do believe that the older grades (only have used the older grades) show some interesting historical material.  We do not believe in all of their interpretation of Scripture.

Our children do the material, but understand the short-comings. This has opened up an avenue of discussion about what ourselves and our children believe and the Scripture to back it up.

Our family holds to this type of school work because we feel that it is the best way for their preparation. We know that their is failings within "our system" - for a lack of a better word, but with our family it is the best right now.

So I say that to say, it is okay to have a traditional method of schooling at home. Just remember that the children need to be taught how to think and question things. This is for their own benefit as well as us as their parents.

I don't think there is any one correct way to develop an education. I think it differs from family to family, goal to goal, child to child, and culture to culture.

[Gabriel Anast]

From my own observation, the greatest thing missing in kids’ upbringing today, is character. Which is difficult to teach in formal school, and not really their job either. It’s the parents’ job.  Also... the “school of hard knocks” is not automatically a teacher of character.  If it were, then every child raised on the streets by their down and out parents would be a model of great character.

I really don’t understand it all... I am just observing what I see,  trying to put the pieces together, and praying a lot for wisdom!!  It seems that some kids DO thrive in an academic setting, probably most do not. Some will make the best of it as a means to an end. But a good academic education alone is never going to be enough  to make a success out of life.

Yep...

As I was thinking about education, I thought of the book of Ecclesiastes is filled with Solomon’s observations and his final conclusion sums up our definition for education:  "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man." Eccl 12:13  

We've come a long way in our family and now our home school is easy and fun.  We spend a small amount of time on the three R’s and everything else is learned as we live, observe, read, discover, discuss and study all that we can while seeking to know God’s thoughts on each matter.  That and helping our kids develop their talents and ultimately use them for God is our goal. 

Yes...

So I say that to say, it is okay to have a traditional method of schooling at home. Just remember that the children need to be taught how to think and question things. This is for their own benefit as well as us as their parents.

I don't think there is any one correct way to develop an education. I think it differs from family to family, goal to goal, child to child, and culture to culture.

[Emphasis added]... i could not agree more.

This thread is awesome. Thanks to all...

--gabe

[Gabriel Anast]

How can I decide if a dc should be pushed or encouraged vs. giving him or her more time (especially if they are over 8)I am talking about the basics--mainly writing (not really penmanship)?

Well... I'd say that if a regular kid is older and still not getting it... its an issue of "pulling the string instead of pushing it." In other words they have no motivation. No reason to learn to read or write or... whatever. In some cases its not lack of motivation so much as more motivation to do other things. In third world countries there is a lot of lack of education simply because "staying alive" is more motivating. But, in your case, it is most likely simple lack of motivation.

So, figure it out. First kill the TV, the xbox / wii / whatever, and buy a knife or a saw and some wood... or... who knows something that is sort of dangerous. "Sort of" means not a chainsaw or an oxy-acetylene welder... but those can come later. Have them widdle a stick, or carve soap, or start a fire in the back yard or... saw some wood to make something. At first it will be ridiculous, humorously useless stuff. They will cut themselves accidentally and realize that there are some things that are dangerous enough to avoid and other things that are dangerous but valuable... and should be done with care, and other things that are not particularly dangerous at all, etc

What have you got? The beginnings of observation.

Once you are moving them on this path, they will by nature need to learn to read and write and communicate. They will want it and demand it of you, not the other way around. Now you are "pulling the string."

--gabe

PS: have you looked at this guy's stuff: John Taylor Gatto? Here are some interviews too: Schooling is not Education, part 1, part 2 (not that I would recommend all the practical steps he has suggested... but in general, he has a huge amount to offer)

Not sure that what he has to say will be directly helpful, but it is one person's studied view of the common system. My "observation is the basis of education" is intended to give a different fundamental approach to education. If you can't figure out how to make it work, try something weird. One more time... how about a study on the Manorial system? Start with learning how to grind wheat from seed with a metate and make bread. This does not seem to have anything to do with reading... but will expose this distinct lack to your child. Then... your child (in 9 of 10 cases) will learn to read overnight once the need is identified.

[CKSMOM]

I really appreciate this thread and have off and on throughout our homeschooling felt this -not sure what to call it - lack of joy, pressure.  Always trying to make sure we are "meeting the requirements" so to speak.  I still struggle with this mentality. I guess it's because I have to give an account of myself at the end of the year to an "assessor". When my kids were little we really enjoyed school.  Did some great stuff, projects etc.  But, when they got to the high school years, I started to worry that maybe I wasn't preparing them enough, that they wouldn't have what they needed etc.  I don't know how to come out of that.  Do you have any suggestions, especially now that some of my kids are older, on how to relax and not feel so pressured?  I feel like I am just rambling here, but any thoughts are appreciated....thanks.

Also, again, now that they are older how would you start with something like this "Charlotte Mason method"?  How would you begin to implement that?

[MomOf8]

Thank you, I get it   

As far as kill the tv, video games, etc., you mean just during times dh isn't home?-he does enjoy that on his days off. 

[ForeverGirl]

I thought I might just record some of the practical application we have used for this concept we call our "Odyssey in Observation."

Reading & Writing:
I don't separate these two because I believe that the point of reading is to be able to hear and understand communication directed at you and the point of writing is to communicate in return. It's a two-way street. Again, writing is not about making perfect symbols on a page - it's about communication. Our children learn to begin communicating very young. By the time they are actually able to write, they are full of a desire to communicate in yet another way... full of understanding what writing is for. The same for reading...

Babies

Today my 19 month old was babbling about her "bootie" which is actually her "belly" and I had all the other kids pull up their shirts and point to their bellies and say "Belly!" Then I said it in her ear, "b-b-b belly". Then I said it against her belly (which made her laugh). Then I said it against her cheek.  Then I said it with my mouth level with her eyes, emphasizing each movement of my lips and tongue.  This is a common practice in the house, and she knew what we were doing and was completely focused. She kept attempting to say the word and ended up with something like "Beyee."

Then I put it in context. "My belly! Joe's belly! Fat belly! Tickle belly!" The one she liked best was "Tickle belly!" And the lesson ended with her running around saying something vaguely like "tickle belly" while tickling her own belly.

2 - 5 years
By the time a child is two years old, they regularly receive a new 1$ notebook and pencils from Daddy as "payment for being a good worker" around the house. They all line up on the couch drawing and writing for hours on end. They first learn to communicate by drawing pictures of what they think and see. Often, a child will be trying to tell us something and we'll say "draw it." So they run for their notebook and draw it. To begin with it is unrecognizable, but with practice they have all become better at illustrating their thoughts and experiences. The children are learning to observe their world and their own thoughts and feelings with greater perception so that they might be able to communicate it to each other and to us.

5 - 7 years
The next step in this is to give them each a journal/diary. By now they are used to recording the things they think and see with pictures. In the meantime we have given them a tool that they are very eager to receive simply because they desire greater ability to give and receive communication: reading and writing.

I use the "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" book for this. They start when they are around 5 years old... give or take a year depending on the child. They finish by the time they are 6 or 7, and this brings them through 2nd grade level (if that matters). This is my only "curriculum" for reading other than lots and lots of other fun books.

We do a couple lessons a day (but not every day), skipping over most of the exercises and just doing the actual reading of sounds and stories. They fly through it. At the end of the book we have a graduation ceremony in which they have a dinner of their choice, a desert, and they read the last story aloud to all the guests (family and friends.) They receive a certificate of achievement and some cash (pass the offering plate around to your guests... .) 

The kids really like this book because there is an end in sight for them. They know that when they finish that one book then they are readers. It's a doable task in which they can see their own progress. The keep close track of which lesson they are on and even learned the simple fractions within 100: "I'm half way through on lesson 50.... I'm 3/4 the way through on lesson 75..." 

Meanwhile they do some writing each day... usually of their own volition. Their current notebook begins to be taken up with words they read that day and simple phrases. Some children will need a little more encouragement in writing the letters... how to write them... how to do a neat job of it... but none of them have ever complained. They have learned to love the ability to communicate, and they see this task of learning to write as a gift that I'm giving them. They are so eager for it!

6 and up
Once they begin to write a little, the two things we do for practice is keeping journals and writing letters. Both are rewarding. My son also likes to "write books" which are illustrated and carefully colored as well. He has a "Sheriff Joe" series. LOL.  My daughter likes to work on her own "recipe book." I try to teach her how to cook something simple and new every week or so... like tortillas. She records the recipe and then makes it on her own the following week. 

These were both writing projects they started on their own. I correct the spelling, and teach a little about whatever issue comes up, like punctuation, grammar, etc... and it's usually in the context of "people will understand what you mean better if you write it this way..." Why? Because communication is the point. The rules are not.

I hate rules.  I love to communicate.

Of course, the kids go on to read whatever they are interested in. My son likes Encyclopedia Brown books. My daughter likes a very wide variety of things, including Amelia Bedelia, but she seems to be leaning toward how-to books.

We read a lot together as well. We like books that are based on observation like Diary of an Early American Boy, and Little House on the Prairie.

Charlotte Mason's philosophy was very full of the idea of observation and communication. I don't follow her "rules" either... but the general ideas that she wrote about I really like.

 Some people ask us how many hours each day we "do school." I never know how to answer that question. Why would you ever stop learning? Isn't that like asking someone "how many hours each day are you mentally capable?"

Now, you might ask ME that question... but not my kids.


Rebekah

 

[Deb]

This thread is so awesome! Great new ideas.
Our homeschool song-------we don't need no education
                                                         we don't need no thought control
                                                          no dark sarcasm in the classroom
                                                          hey teachers,leave them kids alone
                                                          befor you know they're just another brick in the wall
Yeh, I know -PINK FLOYD- LOL . We don't listen to them, they were from hubby's day and he thinks the words fit our thinking!
Our homeschool motto--------- "Don't just answer the questions, question the answers."    In other words search for and until you have the truth, in line with God's word which IS truth. Don't just take anyones word on something. (observe)
Spelling-----we start out with boggle jr. and just play. They don't even know they are learning to spell, just having fun while they spell. Then there are 2 games SPELLING BEE1 and 2 . Again we have fun and they are great spellers. (observe how the letters and sounds go together)
Reading---once you know the sounds, you put them together and say them fast andonce reading, just do it! read everything! The more you read, the better you read and comprehend and the more you understand all other subjects.
Language----I love LANGUAGE LESSONS from www.queen homeschool.com because you just copy a sentence exactly down to every t crossed and if you miss a mark, you have to write  it over. Only a sentence or so a day! But believe me they really OBSERVE what they are copying and learn how a correct sentence looks with correct grammer. A lot of days there will be a picture study of a famous painting etc. with questions to answer orally.(observe) Or famous poems to read and think what it means.This is a Charlotte Mason idea, though we don't use her rules either.She really seemed to understand "education".

Art---draw what you SEE (observe)  See how these lines follow these lines? Where does the shadow fall?
Science---Walk in the woods,feel the different tree trunks, see the different shapes of the leaves.(observe) Plant a garden to see seeds grow, OBSERVE the changes of the seasons.My favorite science class ever was when we had this huge spider web on the back door window and the outside porch light was on and our kids watched little bugs get caught and the spider would come down and bite them and then wrap them, some bugs were too big for the net and could break free.They loved it!!!(observe) They watched some ants kill and drag an black widow down their anthill in the garden.
We do love the MOODY  Science videos.
Math----cuisenaire rods let little ones see that 10 small cubes equals 1 long one.(observe) PRE-MATH ITuses dominoes to show 2 and three is 5 and mine love using m&ms and jelly beans to see howmany and if you take it away , plus they get to eat them afterwards! (observe)Then MATH-IT has mathgames that teach times tables overnight! Measure for a cake in the kitchen, or measure with a tape measure with daddy outside. How tall is our door? How wide is the living room, mine love to go around measuring everything! (observe)
Social studies and history----- Take a map with you when you take a trip and have them use a highlighter to mark the route as you go. Look the road sign says Mayberry, can you find it on your map? How many more miles do you think we have till we get to  Billings. Use the key. (observe) Use a globe to see where Ghana is when you read about the missionaries there.
   We love making a timeline so they can see where this or that time period was. We like "living" books , stories like you were there to bring history alive. We use the old board game Carmen Sandiego to learn where the states are. Fun. Then when we know all them and their location perfectly we make up the US jello mold and cut the states apart and eat them for a treat!! For older highschool age we do a geneology  project to see where WE fit into history. Eat period and other cultures foods, try to make and wear a sari(girls). It IS NOT easy!!! Find out why they build their houses like that. (observe)
This the kind of education that lives and doesn't stop at grade 12. It is a love for learning that lasts a lifetime! I love TENTHOUSANDYEARS post! Without learning about God and what He created and about HISstory and the saving blood of Christ ,they have not learned anything that will be of everlasting worth or value.
So------textbook-KJV holy Bible
Curriculum----reading, writing, arithmetic(the basics)  Everything else---go out and live life.(observe)   Have fun, get an education!
Oh, one more thing --- listen to MY BEST HOMESCHOOLING IDEAS by Debbie Pearl. One SMART lady!

[amy3js]

Our homeschool song-------we don't need no education
                                                         we don't need no thought control
                                                          no dark sarcasm in the classroom
                                                          hey teachers,leave them kids alone
                                                          befor you know they're just another brick in the wall

Hahahaha!! I thought I was the only one!  I've been known to belt that out when we pass a school bus or school whatever. I know, the song is a bit dark, I just like this verse/idea! 

listen to MY BEST HOMESCHOOLING IDEAS by Debbie Pearl

I have this and love to listen to it too when I need some new ideas. It gets my creative juices working.

I'm lovin this thread and all the great new ideas people are offering up. 

[boysmama]

Some people ask us how many hours each day we "do school." I never know how to answer that question. Why would you ever stop learning? Isn't that like asking someone "how many hours each day are you mentally capable?"

Now, you might ask ME that question... but not my kids.

  *laughing* 

When I want to give a light answer to a curious onlooker  I say, " Fifteen hours a day minus nap times for the little ones."  I loved the lady in the grocery store who looked blank for a moment until I said, "it's sun up to sun down learning since they  live with the teacher in the best equipped classroom in the world." Her face brightened and she replied, "So THAT is why homeschool(ed)  kids are so smart."
Of course this thread answers why that perspective is not the complete answer. 

[MrsHope]

This is a great thread.

I have been researching methods of homeschooling for four years now, ever since my oldest was a newborn. For the longest time, I thought for sure we would use the Classical method, but for the last several months I have finally decided on Charlotte Mason method. I am excited to "get started", but really we have been "doing school" since dd#1 was a baby.

Some things I do with the girls (I am going to have to quit using that term soon, as our baby#4 arriving soon is a boy!):

When very young (say 6 months, or from the time they can sit), I group together toys in piles by color and we do this several times a day. They think it's fun and they have all learned their colors very early.

We use  activities from "Slow and Steady, Get me Ready". They have a new activity each week from birth to age 5.

We do letter flashcards. I know.....a lot of people don't like flashcards, but the kids think it is fun, and they know their alphabet by 18 months, so it works for us. We also do this for some basic words.

We read, read, read. I read throughout the day to the girls and we go to the library once a week and get as many books as I can carry to last us through to the next week. Whenever my children ask me to read a book, I make it a point to stop what I am doing and read to them, (unless there are things burning on the stove, of course). We read before naps and before bed as well for about 45 each time.
They love books and my 4yo is on the verge of reading right now. She spells words and finds them on the page when I read them. I love for them to love books, as it makes it fun and not a chore. I also love to read myself, so they see that as well.

We have a Melissa & Doug toy that has been very successful....a little box of wood pieces with words on them that you can fit little wood letters into to spell out the words. We do this for "one-on-one" time with Mommy and they think it's a treat.

When the kids are playing in the toy room, I put on The Little House books on CD. We are on the second one now (LH on the Prairie). My oldest always asked to listen to the first one over and over. She had favorite chapters she would listen to again and again while she played quietly.

Probably the most beneficial thing we do though is just talk. They ask lots of questions and I try to give the best answers I can. Sometimes we end up researching things together to find answers. Two days ago, we had a long discussion about glass eyes and why someone might have a glass eye ( ), which led to a discussion about what is behind your eyeball and how it works. Yesterday we had a shipment of 26 new baby chickens and the girls have been learning all sorts of things about taking care of living things and being responsible. And unfortunately this morning, we had a chick die and they learned all sorts of things about breathing, being sick, dying, and why we bury dead animals. It is amazing to me how much children can absorb and how quickly.

Anyway, I love this thread. There are a lot of great ideas here, keep them coming!

[TenThousandYears]

Beka wrote:  "Some people ask us how many hours each day we "do school." I never know how to answer that question. Why would you ever stop learning? Isn't that like asking someone "how many hours each day are you mentally capable?"

Now, you might ask ME that question... but not my kids."




Isn't that true!  Which leads to the question of who is teaching who?  LOL  Does it ever feel like you are learning more from the kids than they are learning from you?    

[rainygladness]

Beka said: Some people ask us how many hours each day we "do school." I never know how to answer that question. Why would you ever stop learning? Isn't that like asking someone "how many hours each day are you mentally capable?"

Now, you might ask ME that question... but not my kids.

Same here!  When people ask our kids why they're not in school, our kids say "we're in school right now!" lol

 Does it ever feel like you are learning more from the kids than they are learning from you?    

Um, only everyday! 

[Leat]

LOVE this thread!

When we first started homeschooling I had to have a set program. I was so scared to branch out and choose things on my own. What if I left out some major thing?  Now we (DH and I) enjoy the freedom to choose what is best for each boy. We do still do some book work, but I am more relaxed and they are learning more than ever before. 

Most people would freak if they saw the older three's knife collections! But DH trains them well in proper handling, safety, etc.  Their favorite activity is to sit in the lean-to carving and chopping away with their knives, hand saws and hatchets.  Very handy for kindling in the fire pit!   

Leat

[horsemama]

Gabe mentioned John Taylor Gatto.... I found this today, and thought I'd post it here 


The 20 Qualities of an Educated Person

John Taylor Gatto, former New York City and New York State Teacher of the
Year has compiled the following list that he calls "The 20 Qualities of an
Educated Person." In compiling this list, Gatto reviewed the answers to
questionnaires given to a number of Corporate Personnel Managers and College
Admission Officers. According to these two groups, an educated person will
demonstrate:

1.      A broadly knowledgeable mind

2.      Self confidence

3.      A life purpose

4.      A touch of class

5.      Good leadership skills

6.      The ability to work with a team

7.      Patience

8.      Good public speaking skills

9.      Good writing skills

10.  Resourcefulness

11.  A desire for responsibility

12.  Honesty

13.  A public spirit

14.  The ability to work well alone

15.  An eye for details

16.  The ability to focus at will

17.  Perseverance

18.  The ability to handle pressure

19.  Curiosity

20.  An attractive personal style

[Gabriel Anast]

Just came across this guy, Sepp Holzer, while doing some other research. His videos are not specifically about education or observation... but watching his videos will give one a good idea of the results one might expect from a life of education by observation.

http://www.richsoil.com/sepp-holzer/sepp-holzer-permaculture.jsp

--gabe

[MomOf8]

I just wanted to share what my dd (18) decided to do some research since the passing of the health care bill.  I "tagged along".  I made a list of things she was researching, here are some--

Powers specified to government
the commerce clause
Sixteenth amendment
Social Security
Fourteenth amendment
looked up one of our state representatives, and learned how many we have
Tenth amendment
"separation of church and state"-is this fact or fiction
Thomas Jefferson and his worldview

She also decided to look up voting records of the president, as well as some other well known politicians.  It really struck me that since it is relevant to us, there is more interest.  I was encouraged! 

Gabe, in looking back over these education posts, I am understanding more about using observation, etc. In your opinion one does not need a set plan whether it be using textbooks, living books, etc. For example--"we need to study World War 1 this year" or  "we need to study ancient China," content should not be the guide/focus even though there will more than likely  be "gaps" in their education?  Thank you for reading.

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