So, after all the reading and researching and thinking and observing I have done over the last couple months, here is what I have come up with regarding my philosophy of education:
Educational
Philosophy
§ Play is the work of the child
§ A child needs meaningful work to do
§ Learning is Life and occurs ALL the
time – not just in a classroom
§ Learning should be joyful and fun
§ Learning requires all 5 senses and
many different modalities
§ Child is not an empty vessel to be
filled, but one with interests, ideas, personality, etc – and I get a front row
seat!!!
§ Trust the child, yet guide when
necessary
§ Read real, living, classic books
o
Journal
or narrate experience back to me
§ Ungraded curriculum – learn for the
sake of knowledge, not for rewards or stickers
o
To
develop an internal locus of control and motivation
o
Great
work or redo
§ Focused attention and concentration
= learning
o
I
give her the tools for her to educate herself
§ Free time outside to be in nature
and PLAY
o
Foundation
of learning is play!
§ Starting with a flexible rhythm and
will adjust as necessary
o
Learning
and breathing room is necessary for ALL of us!
§ Starting with a boxed set which is
in sync with my ideals (based on MANY books read on MANY different
philosophies!)
o
Using
the best parts of each from all of my reading.
o
Learning
year for us – will go from there.
o
My
learning too! Especially over what
really delights and interests her. I am
excited to watch her grow and blossom!
§ My style? A faith-filled Catholic, hands-on,
interactive, FUN approach combination of Montessori, Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, and
Unschooling.
o
Also
looking into Classical, but so far am satisfied with my research. Time, and my child, will tell :)
The curriculum I have chosen for us next year is Moving Beyond the Page. We will use Right Start Math, Catholic Heritage Curriculum Little Stories for Little Folks Phonics (also maybe or instead Alpha-phonics), and the Faith and Life series for our Catholic education. I am still looking at Art, and really like Artistic Pursuits, but don't want to overwhelm myself, or her. We also got a Catholic Music Program, Making Music, Praying Twice, to use but will be very casual at first (just listening to the CDs and learning the songs probably!). We will see how it all works and what we like and want to change if we continue on after first grade. I unpacked it all and got it (mostly) organized on a specific homeschool unit in our dining room. While doing so, I felt really excited, totally overwhelmed, and scared out of my mind all at the same time!
Our summer work will include journaling and some reading everyday, and I got the New American Cursive curriculum to work on.
Maybe some phonics and math, but very very low key. Just enough to get our feet wet and keep those brain juices flowing. LOTS and LOTS of outside time and play, of course. After all the research, organizing, and thinking, I am ready to relax!
