Summary: Shannon Hood shares nine lessons from her nine years of homeschooling six children, emphasizing that every homeschool is unique and should reflect the family's strengths. She highlights the importance of simple supplies like good books and hands-on experiences, as well as involving other teachers and creating a supportive community. Finally, she encourages parents to model a love for learning and to enjoy the homeschooling journey without taking it too seriously.
I love seeing the unique choices each of my friends makes in how they choose to educate their children.
Some friends join co-ops and learn with a large group once (or more) each week. Others give their children piano and violin lessons, and attend concerts or the opera together. Some join sports teams or learn a skill like archery. Some teach their children to garden or to hunt or fish. (View Highlight)
Note: There are many ways to teach. My kids' education should involve my unique strengths and skills that I can give them.
There are so many ways to include other teachers for our children, even in a home-based setting. (View Highlight)
Note: Look for other people who have skills you lack who can help teach your kids. This can be family members, friends, online, etc.
Often we do not need more information, we simply need to act based on what we already know. (View Highlight)
We need to find—or, more accurately, create—communities wherever we are. This takes effort, but is very much worth it. (View Highlight)
Note: Create community. It won't manifest itself. Someone(s) is behind every community.
if I tell my children learning is important, but they never see me taking my own learning seriously, they will know that I don’t really mean it. (View Highlight)
Read where your children can see you, and they will know that you mean what you say when you tell them that time spent reading/thinking is important. (View Highlight)
Enjoy this time with your children. No, learning will not always be fun or even pleasant, but try to stay light-hearted and cheerful. (View Highlight)
We can’t force growth, but wecanplant a seed. (View Highlight)
