Homeschool on the Run!

One of the benefits of homeschooling is being able to choose not only the curriculum but the manner it is implemented.  I can choose a method that nurtures the mind, body and spirit.  I can also help them to resolve any negativity and habits that adversely impacts all of the above.

When organizing lessons and curriculum, these are a few things I keep in mind.

* Honing observation skills

• I like to show children the intricate details of things that they see in their environment, especially plants, animals and landforms but also building materials, bridges, houses and things they interact with on a day to day basis.  This allows them to get a feel for a quality of a thing and differentiates things. They pay more attention to details and create more detailed concepts, intuitively understanding the functions of the make up of their environment. They develop more meaningful relationships to things. “It’s all in the details”

* Practice body awareness and control of movement

• Children desire to master control of movement.  They need to coordinate the mind and body together.  There are myriads of everyday activities that require this, but also games, yoga, building, drawing, sculpting, tai chi, and music to name a few.

* Practice keeping the mind still

•  This year I am including some breath work and meditation in the curriculum.

* Organize experiences where children are in touch with nature

• I believe spending time in nature is extremely important to integrate and practice the above skills. I wish my children to find themselves feeling awe and wonder. I encourage the children to immerse themselves in the first snowfall, watch sun sets, look at the beautiful symmetry found in nature, photograph beautiful things, notice the magic of light, watch experts in their fields, be involved in peak experiences (mental/physical/spiritual), watch amazing accomplishments of human kind, birthing of new life…all things of this nature.
• Organizing activities that combine all of these practices such as silent nature walks or orienteering, photographing nature and playing in streams are wonderful activities to include in daily life.

My dream is to build a log path, part log stepping stones, fallen logs, narrow platforms and such irregular natural structures that form a path through the woods.  The child would have to negotiate each step, balancing and placing feet safely negotiating the path, continuously almost rhythmically.  As children would go single file, this way of traveling through nature would integrate the mind, body and spirit in a satisfying way.  I have been wanting to do this now for 6 years.

July 30th, 2009 | Category: Family | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL