Eclectic homeschooling involves meshing different educational philosophies and methods into something that works for your family. As a result this will look different from family to family. We are featuring a series of interviews with eclectic homeschoolers to show how varied eclectic homeschooling can be.
Meet Jocelyn from the Unlabeled Mama Blog.
Why did you decide to homeschool?
Well, my husband and I are both homeschool graduates (after experiencing public and private as well through the years) and I always knew I wanted to homeschool any children I might have. When we were dating I told my now husband and he said that he would love any of his future children to be homeschooled. When our oldest daughter was one I quit my full time job to stay home with her and begin our learning lifestyle.
How long have you been homeschooling?
My oldest is 9 years old.
What ages/grades are you homeschooling?
I have a 9 yo girl finishing 3rd grade, a boy turning 7 in 1st and a 3 year old girl and an 18 month old boy to entertain in between.
What were your results on the What Kind of Homeschooler Are You Quiz?
Score for Waldorf Education: 4
Score for Traditional Education: -17
Score for Unit Studies Education: 15
Score for Montessori Education: 21
Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 10
Score for Unschooling: 21
Score for Classical Education: 9
Score for Charlotte Mason Education: 15
Use 3 words to describe your homeschool:
chaotic, organic, fulfilling
What makes your homeschool eclectic?
While I really like the thought of Charlotte Mason, Classical, and Unit Studies that is just not me. Or at least not at this point of my life. I just am not able to plan very far head. Even when I sit and spend the time to make glorious plans they flop in a week. Flying by the seat of our pants works much better for us with many days of “life school” thrown.
Have you always been an eclectic homeschooler?
Yes. Even when I was trying not to be.
What do you think makes your homeschool unique?
Aren’t all homeschools unique? lol.
What does a typical day or week look like in your homeschool?
Typically we do sit down work about 3-4 days a week. This is usually only about an hour and includes journaling, English, Math and sometimes spelling. We do a once a week co-op of history, science and sign language with about 20+ other families. We also have voice lessons for my oldest daughter and gymnastics for my oldest son weekly. And for the next few weeks – kid’s yoga. My kids also have a list of chores that they complete each day including straightening the house, dishes, folding laundry, carrying wood for the wood stove and collecting eggs from our chickens.
What curriculum has worked in your homeschool?
Horizons Math has worked great for us. Incremental spiral and neither of my kids complain. I also really like Queen’s Homeschooling’s Language Lessons (beginning with Language Lessons for Little Ones). It is short, rich lessons with poetry and art woven in.
Do you have any favorite homeschooling books?
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell, The Charlotte Mason Companion, Better Late then Early by The Moores, several of John Holt’s books
Do you tweak curriculum to work for you? Describe how you do that.
Yes! For instance even in Horizons Math I usually mark out some of the problems if they are doing well. My rule is if they get the four that I marked correct they can move on.
Anything else you would like to share:
I find that so much of what I remember of my childhood homeschool experience was not the textbooks, but the catching frogs in the pond or hiking in the woods or meeting up with our local homeschool group for a writing club. When I was a teenager I would do my schoolwork after everyone in the house went to bed and would then sleep in late. I got all the sleep I needed as a teenager and then hung out with friends after they finished school. I was fully capable of running a household by the time I was 16 and still was “hip” to pop culture. Homeschooling can be the best of all worlds!
