As a student I found the most joy in rigor… in finding a new challenge and being able to say to myself…”Look what you achieved.” How can you not find joy in that as a young person? As a person at any age?
I don’t mean to sound dramatic but I cried when I read this. The scope and impact of your work, the marriage of mind and heart, is profoundly valuable, needed, and moving. My son is almost 3, and I’ve been preparing on some level for homeschooling him since before he was born. More of my friends are in the child-led/unschooling camp, which I adore aspects of, but it’s become clear that is not the singular path my family. Enter classical homeschoolers I find on the internet, and it’s so inspiring and divinely ordering, but often feels daunting, unattainable, or just missing aspects of the feral and free that are a part of who we are as a family too. You, Claire, more than any other voice I have come across give me so much hope that I can school my son with exactly the joy and rigor you are describing. I don’t imagine it’s going to be easy or without serious effort on my part but the task before me no longer seems impossible or even overwhelming when I read your work. There is a path, it makes sense, I am equipped. I’m so excited for this series of articles, and definitely going to take your course too. God bless you.
June, now you made me cry❤️ I’m so honored that you trust me to help you on this journey. You sound like such a thoughtful, incredible parent who is already doing a beautiful job carefully guiding your children. I hope you’ll find the series helpful along the way. Please reach out if I can help in any way — it’s my favorite part. Three is such a beautiful age, you have so much joy ahead for you❤️
I do actually. I’ll be reposting my preschool post to start this series the first week of June. For some reason, I can’t link to it on this note? It’ll show up in 2 weeks, but you can also find it linked in the above article. It’s this one. Falling in Love with Learning: A Joyful, Rigorous Guide to the Preschool Years
I enjoyed listening to this so much. I think this is what I’ve been struggling to grasp, how to make learning fun whilst still actually getting work done. I think my own upbringing in home education was an odd mix, in maths it was laid out rigorously and it’s true I didn’t always enjoy it and don’t particularly remember all of it/like to do it as an adult. But then in other topics I felt it was passed over if I wouldn’t have an interest, so in some ways perhaps it was rigorous only and then in other areas fun only. There’s a hard balance to get so I’m curious about your perspective coming up and how it works!
I hope it will be of value! It’s a tricky balance and I’ve certainly made mistakes — but sometimes we learn the most that way. You remind me that I should write an additional article on all the “extras” Those are sometimes where the most fun is held. Thank you for the suggestion — and the support. It means a lot to me.
Oh I’m excited to follow along! I’m sure I’ll learn a lot. When I read “joyful rigor” I immediately thought “Charlotte Mason!” So I was a little surprised to see you slot her into rigor alone. It’s definitely not unschooling adjacent, but I feel like her pedagogy adds in a lot of joy that the rote memorization based classical models lack.
I hope you’ll find it valuable. I agree for the record about Charlotte Mason (Maria too). I see myself very much as following in their tradition. Sorry if that was unclear.
I love this. My husband and I both thrived in rigorous academic environments – I was homeschooled, he was not — so between us we can’t really come up with any other way to “do”
Homeschool. At the same time, I see how painfully jaded some of the homeschool students I work with become when they are being pushed through a lackluster curriculum and I hope to tread carefully the line between maximizing opportunity (which I feel is part of my duty as a homeschooling parent) and killing the “spark” of love for learning (or making my kids think wow, mom is such a bore with all her nerdy interests!). I look forward to this series.
I love this. My son just completed a year at a Classical School and I am feeling what you articulate so well here - rigor, but dry, dull, joy-dampening, etc. I have found myself frustrated with Shurley English and IEW. The kids actually "mock" some of the exercises. He hates Latin. Oh, my! Although Classical schools are seeing a resurgence, it has left me wondering if this is really the best way.😔 You sound like you are forging the right path!
I feel this. I don’t love IEW for their writing. I far prefer the progym, but even that I modify to make more joyful and work until children have mastered and then let them explore it on their own. i hope you’ll find some of the things I’ve found helpful to bring more delight into your children’s education❤️
I would also like to say that IEW can destroy any desire to write if a teacher says, "Here are 12+ rules about what you can and cannot do." Then, when my 3rd grader, overwhelmed at this, comes home with a big D- on an IEW assignment, I am left trying to re-teach and convince him that he can learn to write. With so much curricula, it is how the teacher uses it.
Exactly! I took the IEW class on how they teach writing and then turned it into a fun game. They are getting the same structure, but in a fun way. I think more parents need to feel empowered to take charge and change the curriculum. I’m sorry you are having a bad experience❤️writing can be so delightful!
I have no doubt that you will be giving some great advice, but I'd Like to remind parents that one of the best things about homeschooling is being able to customize for each child. What works wonderfully for one may not work at all for another, so the goal is to optimize for each child. What fascinates one may bore another. Different children learn differently. Know your child.
As a student I found the most joy in rigor… in finding a new challenge and being able to say to myself…”Look what you achieved.” How can you not find joy in that as a young person? As a person at any age?
Looking forward to reading your thoughts!
I hope they are valuable to you❤️
I don’t mean to sound dramatic but I cried when I read this. The scope and impact of your work, the marriage of mind and heart, is profoundly valuable, needed, and moving. My son is almost 3, and I’ve been preparing on some level for homeschooling him since before he was born. More of my friends are in the child-led/unschooling camp, which I adore aspects of, but it’s become clear that is not the singular path my family. Enter classical homeschoolers I find on the internet, and it’s so inspiring and divinely ordering, but often feels daunting, unattainable, or just missing aspects of the feral and free that are a part of who we are as a family too. You, Claire, more than any other voice I have come across give me so much hope that I can school my son with exactly the joy and rigor you are describing. I don’t imagine it’s going to be easy or without serious effort on my part but the task before me no longer seems impossible or even overwhelming when I read your work. There is a path, it makes sense, I am equipped. I’m so excited for this series of articles, and definitely going to take your course too. God bless you.
June, now you made me cry❤️ I’m so honored that you trust me to help you on this journey. You sound like such a thoughtful, incredible parent who is already doing a beautiful job carefully guiding your children. I hope you’ll find the series helpful along the way. Please reach out if I can help in any way — it’s my favorite part. Three is such a beautiful age, you have so much joy ahead for you❤️
Do you have anything specifically for ages 3-5??
I do actually. I’ll be reposting my preschool post to start this series the first week of June. For some reason, I can’t link to it on this note? It’ll show up in 2 weeks, but you can also find it linked in the above article. It’s this one. Falling in Love with Learning: A Joyful, Rigorous Guide to the Preschool Years
I enjoyed listening to this so much. I think this is what I’ve been struggling to grasp, how to make learning fun whilst still actually getting work done. I think my own upbringing in home education was an odd mix, in maths it was laid out rigorously and it’s true I didn’t always enjoy it and don’t particularly remember all of it/like to do it as an adult. But then in other topics I felt it was passed over if I wouldn’t have an interest, so in some ways perhaps it was rigorous only and then in other areas fun only. There’s a hard balance to get so I’m curious about your perspective coming up and how it works!
I hope it will be of value! It’s a tricky balance and I’ve certainly made mistakes — but sometimes we learn the most that way. You remind me that I should write an additional article on all the “extras” Those are sometimes where the most fun is held. Thank you for the suggestion — and the support. It means a lot to me.
You’re most welcome, I appreciate your input in education a lot, with so much experience and kindness to offer with it too.
Yes, the extras are often where the magic seems to happen! I’ll look forward to a article on them too.
Oh I’m excited to follow along! I’m sure I’ll learn a lot. When I read “joyful rigor” I immediately thought “Charlotte Mason!” So I was a little surprised to see you slot her into rigor alone. It’s definitely not unschooling adjacent, but I feel like her pedagogy adds in a lot of joy that the rote memorization based classical models lack.
I hope you’ll find it valuable. I agree for the record about Charlotte Mason (Maria too). I see myself very much as following in their tradition. Sorry if that was unclear.
I love this. My husband and I both thrived in rigorous academic environments – I was homeschooled, he was not — so between us we can’t really come up with any other way to “do”
Homeschool. At the same time, I see how painfully jaded some of the homeschool students I work with become when they are being pushed through a lackluster curriculum and I hope to tread carefully the line between maximizing opportunity (which I feel is part of my duty as a homeschooling parent) and killing the “spark” of love for learning (or making my kids think wow, mom is such a bore with all her nerdy interests!). I look forward to this series.
I hope it will be of value. It’s an important balance to strike.
I love this. My son just completed a year at a Classical School and I am feeling what you articulate so well here - rigor, but dry, dull, joy-dampening, etc. I have found myself frustrated with Shurley English and IEW. The kids actually "mock" some of the exercises. He hates Latin. Oh, my! Although Classical schools are seeing a resurgence, it has left me wondering if this is really the best way.😔 You sound like you are forging the right path!
I feel this. I don’t love IEW for their writing. I far prefer the progym, but even that I modify to make more joyful and work until children have mastered and then let them explore it on their own. i hope you’ll find some of the things I’ve found helpful to bring more delight into your children’s education❤️
I would also like to say that IEW can destroy any desire to write if a teacher says, "Here are 12+ rules about what you can and cannot do." Then, when my 3rd grader, overwhelmed at this, comes home with a big D- on an IEW assignment, I am left trying to re-teach and convince him that he can learn to write. With so much curricula, it is how the teacher uses it.
Exactly! I took the IEW class on how they teach writing and then turned it into a fun game. They are getting the same structure, but in a fun way. I think more parents need to feel empowered to take charge and change the curriculum. I’m sorry you are having a bad experience❤️writing can be so delightful!
Yes! That is why I subscribe!😊
I love the intention of balancing the two. Can't wait to read your plans this summer!
I hope you’ll find them of value! I’m excited to finally have the time to put them together. Have wanted to for a very long time.
Looking forward to reading! I am done with homeschooling but I do have a grandson! My daughter follows you as well!
I have no doubt that you will be giving some great advice, but I'd Like to remind parents that one of the best things about homeschooling is being able to customize for each child. What works wonderfully for one may not work at all for another, so the goal is to optimize for each child. What fascinates one may bore another. Different children learn differently. Know your child.