What About Curriculum?

Just recently, another homelearning mom emailed me asking about what do we do about curriculum? Thus, in thinking about it, I thought it would be a good idea to place a page up here about a question that this mom and so many other homelearning parents that have asked me this same question. Below here is my response to her and a bit more of an expanded version to what I wrote to her initially. I wish to thank this mom as it is from her bringing forth this question to the forefront again that was the inspiration for me creating this webpage. It is through her question and the subsequent answer I write here within this page, that will bring learning to all whom read this page. So Thank you to you dear friend. And as I wrote her that this page being brought forth through her question in learning so that others can learn, this right here is proof of learning free from curriculum:)

As far as curriculum goes, our curriculum is life. Right now, Matthew our 9 year old is looking into learning Visual Basic Computer Programming and C++ Computer Programming, as well as learning website design. Our youngest Anthony who is 8 is learning website design as well. Our oldest Chris who will be 15 in a month and a half is helping to instruct them, but also we buy, rent, or borrow the software and books needed relative to this learning. So curriculum per se is free from being a set of structured ideas to follow based upon someone else's idea of what our kids should learn but rather it is books, resources, software, internet, library, hands on learning materials (such as the planting seeds we just purchased at Walmart this week to learn of what we could plant for food crops now and what we would need to wait to plant, and then planting them) or people we can talk to an learn from (such as just today Matthew learned how to be in a hitting stance for baseball from another friend who is on a baseball team) and so many other possibilities, that is geared to their interest and within those resources the other learning of what we call subjects such as math, reading, science and such are learned through these resources.

In utilizing life as our curriculum, or boys are then able to choose what it is from a plethora of learning options as to what it is they wish to learn about in life. Then we as a family brainstorm, explore, gather, and utilize all possibilities that are available to us. This form of learning is free from the age restrictions and scope of possibilities that are currently available within the compulsory educational environment. Anything and everything that our children wish to lean is then at our fingertips, rather than a certain set box of particular learning materials. We then choose our learning materials based upon what it is our children are interested in or passionate about, rather than by some grade, age, or material standards. We choose the material related to the passion and interest rather than letting the material dictate to our children their passion and interest.

I know this may be free from the answer that one is looking for when searching for a set thing called curriculum. However, if we choose to view it from this other perspective, then we are providing learning for our children that is unlimited possibilities rather than a set of boxed curriculum that instructs from someone else's idea of what they should learn. It places the learning then within what they are passionate in learning about and opens the door to the infinite possibilities of learning within what they are passionate about and what they want to learn. And it gives us an opportunity to explore infinite possibilities in learning together with our children and of stepping outside of the curriculum box to learn. Life once we are outside of the compulsory educational influence, whether it be through homelearning, or for those of us whom did go all the way through twelve plus years of school and are now adults, learning is free from being in a set box of certain parameters. As adults, we know that we learn free from any curriculum other than the one we choose relative to our interests and passions And children should be given this same freedom. Learning is available to us through life in its many infinite forms, all we are being requested to do is check them out, and learn from them:)

Another bonus to using the world and life as our curriculum is the money that you save. We have saved quite a bit of money since our children are free from being in the schooling environment. When our boys were in school, it was much more costly to be in school or in buying curriculum and doing the whole school at home thing, relative to the amount of money (or GEE as I call it in the Life Long Learning Book) we spend now. I remember when our children went to school and before the first day even started we had to spend $70 per child (and we have three boys) just on school supplies! In addition to that school clothes which even at thrift store prices is a lot for three growing boys and other things such as like field trips, gas to and from school, fund raisers, and other related events etc. Now with this money free, we are able to purchase resources, borrow, or rent resources relative to their passions and interests free from having to spend as much money. Something worth thinking about!:)

P.S. If you are ever in doubt about whether to use curriculum, and whether your children are progressing take a look at this ~

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Infinite Love and Light,

Dr. Patti "Diamondlady" Diamond, DD

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