As a new homeschooler, I wrestled with that question. I felt I had to do school at home or some sort of rigorous academic program. It wasn’t long before I realized that approach was killing the joy of learning. I wanted to encourage my daughter’s natural curiosity and creativity, not stifle it.

Delight-Directed Homeschooling

Enter delight-directed learning. What is that exactly? Part of it is borrowed from Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of using living books rather than rote textbooks. I also adopted my own homeschooling theory in combination with what I considered to be essential in parenting well — developing character and connection within the family. These principles came together to create a purposeful approach to learning that has served us well for the past 12 years.

This is the full definition of delight-directed learning that I use to explain our homeschooling method:

Delight-directed homeschooling is allowing a child’s natural bent to inform your educational decisions. It means following, in a purposeful way, the gifts and interests that God has placed in your children. It is homeschooling by individual design. It is a lifestyle of learning that encourages exploration, creativity, and a love for gaining wisdom and knowledge as gifts from God.

Our days have a lot of variety, but we follow a basic rhythm of daily reading and creative activities to encourage a love of learning and pursuit of purposeful living.

Rather than have a set curriculum or detailed lesson plans to follow, we focus on reading living books. We have discussions around those books, which generally lead to deeper research into topics of interest. We’re able to cover the subjects required by the state in this way, even though it’s not a conventional textbook approach.

Another benefit is increasing critical thinking skills. My daughters (now 9, 11, and 17) have learned to ask questions, dig deeper, and thoroughly explore topics. They’re able to focus for longer periods of time and they actually look forward to our hands-on projects because they have a voice in what we do.

I feel that I’m not just an instructor, but a guide. We talk about their individual interests and gifts so that I’ve really gotten to know my daughters well as people. That’s so important to me as a mom!

The Benefits of Delight-Directed Homeschooling

• Children recognize that God has a purpose and a plan for their lives, including their education.
• They love to learn because it’s a delightful experience rather than a chore.
• They learn through quality, living books so they develop an appreciation for great literature.
• Homeschooling becomes a natural extension of parenting, rather than an “extra” added into your life.
• You can experience the freedom of learning year-round rather than being bound to the typical school schedule.
• Delight-directed learning prepares children for their unique future, whether they choose college, career, or wherever God may lead them.

We believe that delight-directed learning is a lifestyle, not just an educational approach. It is a wholehearted way to live and learn together as a family.

I have written a free quick start guide, Spark Joy and Inspire Imagination with Delight-Directed Learning, that you can download and read if you would like to learn more about this homeschooling style.

Sara is a homeschooling mom of three girls. She writes at Heart and Soul Homeschooling, sharing ideas for learning that encourage creativity, curiosity, character, and connection. She is an author, speaker, and homeschool consultant. You can find her on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and her Amazon author page.

For more info on Different Homeschool Styles, check this out! 

The post What is Delight-Directed Homeschooling? first appeared on True Aim.

Or, perhaps we envision a successful teen entrepreneur running an online business. Naturally, the word unschooling may excite us or make us uncomfortable.

Maybe the idea of self-directed, passion-driven learning inspires you, but you think, I couldn’t do that. I like structure too much. Or, maybe you’re the opposite and your stomach churns at the mention of unschooling because you’ve been around folks unschooling poorly. Read this post, A Complete Guide to Christian Unschooling, to find out how to unschool well.

A lot of homeschoolers, however, embrace some level of unschooling without even knowing it.

5 Signs You Might Be an Unschooler

Delayed academics

Do your preschool and early elementary-aged children spend most of the day playing? Does your early academic program consist of crafts, read-alouds, and outdoor adventures? When your child suddenly becomes obsessed with snakes, do you indulge him? You might just be an unschooler! Developmentally, you follow what your preschooler or young child needs.

Interest-Based Unit Studies

Unschooling doesn’t necessarily mean unstructured or unglued. It simply means the freedom to pursue one’s interests or passions at one’s own pace and in one’s own preferred way. Some children thrive with some level of structure and get more out of their own pursuits if they’re organized. If you’re incorporating some interest-based unit studies into your homeschool, you might just be an unschooler!

Field Trips and Community Learning

Unschoolers often incorporate a lot of real-life experiences into their learning. Do you take your children on a lot of field trips, especially impromptu ones? Are you involved in your community, taking advantage of community classes, volunteer opportunities, and events? Whether these are enrichment activities or the focus of your studies, your intentional attempts to “make it real” are similar to what unschoolers regularly do.

Unhurried Days

Some have very full days, but many unschooling families tend to take a more relaxed approach to scheduling and routine. Maybe you have no problem spending several hours on a robotics project instead of moving through every subject area in the same amount of time. Perhaps you’re the mom curled up in bed reading picture books with her kids for half the day. Don’t feel guilty that you didn’t do academics. You may be an unschooler at heart.

Character & Critical Thinking Over Classes

Initiative. Creativity. Problem-solving. Independence. Do you try to foster these traits? These cannot be taught through a textbook. Do you encourage your children to start businesses? Embark on independent projects? Develop novel solutions to household challenges? You may just be an unschooler! Unschoolers value character and critical thinking over academics. Academics can be learned at any age, while these important traits must be fostered in childhood.

What do you think? Do you think you could be an unschooler?

If you embrace any or all of these signs, why not go all in? Check out the Complete Guide to Christian Unschooling mentioned at the beginning. It might be just the right fit for this school year.

Julie is a veteran homeschool mom of 4 all of whom have special needs and has a degree from the School of Natural Healing! She also teaches middle school science workshops for a homeschool co-op. Her faith in Jesus leads everything she does including worship for the Women’s ministry at her church! You can read more about her in her new book called God Schooling or her blog, julienaturally.com!

Check out more about Homeschool Styles Here!

The post 5 Signs You Might be an Unschooler! first appeared on True Aim.

I was a product of the public-school system and when I started homeschooling, I didn’t know any homeschool families other that my parents who homeschooled my siblings, 12 and 14 years younger than me. By the time they were school age, I was in college. So, I started homeschooling the way I remember being taught in public school. (By the way, I don’t’ recommend teaching that way now)

Looking back, I don’t know why I was so relaxed about preschool. I am a very organized, “give me a plan and I’ll follow or if I know what I am doing, I will make the plan and you follow” type of person. But I decided that preschool would be fun. A little bit of learning and a lot of play. She learned letters, numbers, shapes, colors, etc. and it worked. By the time the year was done she was more than ready for kindergarten.

Elcectic Homeschooling

The following year, when “real school”, kindergarten, came around, I knew I had to get serious. I used “curriculum in a box” for kindergarten and first grade. I purchased everything the company suggested for that grade. It all came in one box with student books, teacher’s guides, and lessons plans. Kindergarten year curriculum box had thirteen subjects it expected me to teach my child!

We were blessed with a first child who was quick to learn and enjoyed school. But I soon realized that curriculum in a box was not for us. I found myself altering the schedule, leaving out subjects and adding other things that I thought fit her learning style better.

You know your child better than the writers of the curriculum and the schedule. Trust your instincts. Linger on the subjects that take more time for your child to learn and ones that spark her interest. You have that freedom to slow down and you can move quickly through the subjects or sections that she learns fast.

Two years into homeschooling my son joined our homeschooling routine. Four years after that our third and six years after that our fourth. By the time our oldest was 12, I was officially homeschooling all four and my homeschool style had changed drastically.

Remember This Homeschool Mama

During those first eight years, I learned that one company with books made for one specific grade with teacher’s guides and lesson plans for five days a week, 36 weeks of the year did not fit our family. Every one of my children, like yours, are uniquely created with the strengths and weaknesses to best glorify God.

If there is one thing a new homeschool mom needs to remember it’s this,

Your family is unique.There is not a family on this earth that is just like yours. Your children are unique, and their learning styles and challenges are all different. Find what works for each child and your family. It may work one year and not the next. That is okay.

By our ninth year of homeschooling I was using Easy Grammar, Sonlight, Apologia, Math U See and bits and pieces of other things that I would come across that worked for that year. I learned how to adjust and alter these curriculum choices to fit each child and I loved that Sonlight was one that we could all learn together as a family. If you are teaching several grades, I encourage you to find curriculum that you can all learn together.

Find a homeschool support group.

I have told people many times that the homeschool group is more for the mom than the kids. We homeschool moms need the support and encouragement from other moms. Most of the curriculum I found that worked for us was suggested to me by another homeschool mom.

Homeschool mom, you are the expert when it comes to your child. You spend all day with your child and that is a good thing! You know their strengths and their weaknesses. You know what subjects make them cry and what subjects energize them. You know when they need a break from the subject that is just making them, and you frustrated. Homeschool allows you to take those breaks!

Don’t be afraid to alter curriculum or try something new to fit your child’s learning needs. You are the expert when it comes to your child. If astronomy is what interested him, then stay up late to see that meteor shower and sleep in the next morning. You can do that. That’s the beauty of homeschooling. I can’t say it enough; you are the expert when it comes to what they need, and you love them more than anyone.

We want what is best for our children. This is the reason most of us homeschool. Eclectic homeschooling gives you the freedom to pick and choose the style, the curriculum, and the time schedule. Enjoy this freedom!

One of these reasons I started Yellow House Book Rental was to give you a way to try new curriculum and change your curriculum choices without all the cost. Rent curriculum at a fraction of the retail cost. When you try before you buy you can rent curriculum and if you like it you can buy it, if not return it after the rental period. These are just two options that homeschool families now have at Yellow House Book Rental.

How do you chose homeschool curriculum for each of your children? I’d love to hear from you.

Enjoying the journey,

~Michelle~

Check out more Homeschool Styles Here!

Hi! I’m Michelle, the owner and founder of Yellow House Book Rental, specializing in providing homeschool curriculum for rent or purchase, as well as counseling and guidance for homeschool families. I’m a wife of 29 years, a 22-year homeschool veteran, and mom of four amazing children ranging from 18-26. We are just about to empty the nest. Oh, how time flew! My husband and I are excited to see how the Lord will use us in this new phase of life. I’d love to be friends! Send me an email, or connect with me on social media and tell me about yourself.

The post Homeschool Styles 101: Eclectic Homeschooling first appeared on True Aim.

Little did I know that there we lots of people who had organized their style into guides and handbooks so others could build on their ideas! So when thinking about adhering to a certain mantra, or system, keep these insights in mind when it comes to homeschool styles.

Homeschool Styles 101

If you are new to homeschooling, you might like to read the top 3 Things to Know About Homeschoolers first!

Then pop over and read about how Eclectic Homeschooling works!

Maybe Unschooling would be a good fit for you? Check out Julie’s post on relaxed, Christian unschooling!

What does Delight-directed learning look like? Find out all about that homeschool style here.

Maybe Unit studies will be your jam!

The Charlotte Mason method is a very popular homeschool style.

Child-Led Homeschooling is another fun one to look into!

How about the 3 Great Pursuits of Education? 

Don’t forget to consider homeschooling marketable skills!

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The post (giveaway) Homeschool Styles 101 – How to Homeschool first appeared on True Aim.