3 Things Homeschooling Has Taught Me About Learning

The following is a post by contributing writer Becky of This Reading Mama.

Before my life as homeschooling mom, I was a classroom teacher for 6 years. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching and knew that it was something I always wanted to do. I learned so much about the learning process as a classroom teacher and really didn’t have a clue as to how much more I would learn as a homeschooling mom.

I speak only from my experience, but I didn’t realize then the magnitude of the limitations on teaching I faced in the classroom because of mandates or red tape. I can see them now only because I haven’t had them for the last four years. Being free to explore teaching and learning with my four little ones has been rewarding and oh, so draining many days (and nights). There are several things homeschooling has taught (and is still teaching me) about how kids learn. I’d love to share just three of them with you today.

1. Learning Doesn’t Have to Happen at a Desk

Can learning happen at a desk? Absolutely! Does it always have to happen there? No way!

Now, my homeschool room does have desks for each of my children. I do like the fact that they have their own spaces. But I’ve let go of the need to keep them there. Learning happens in the bathtub, at the grocery store, in our playroom, or while making a batch of cookies. Sometimes, learning works better when you’re not at a desk. What better way to learn about milking a cow than to milk one yourself!

2. Learning Doesn’t Have to Look One Way

This lesson goes hand-in-hand with number one, but was brought to light in a recent conversation I had with my mother about my second grade son. She made mention that many times, he has the understanding of a concept, but just comes at it a different way than I do. And this is one lesson I’m learning to embrace about homeschooling. Classroom learning has to be “canned” in a way to keep chaos from breaking out.  Homeschool learning can be more flexible, which can be a scary thing for me at times.

Just recently, we were studying standard measurement. I assigned him (what I thought was) a fun and hands-on activity: a scavenger hunt around the house. He was to find and bring examples of standard measurement for volume, weight/mass, temperature, etc., sorting those examples under the word cards on the schoolroom floor.

After giving explicit directions and checking his understanding of my assignment, I turned to help another child. When I turned back around, the cards were gone from the floor. I called him back in, “What are you doing with the cards in your hands? You’re supposed to…” He told me to just trust him on this one. I was about to fuss because, after all, I had given specific directions.

After a few minutes, he called my name. He had hidden each card around the house in a spot that demonstrated that typed of standard measurement and asked me to find them. Was he learning? Absolutely! Did it look like I had planned? No. But that day, homeschooling my son reminded me once again that learning doesn’t have to look one way.

3. Learning Needs to be Meaningful

After homeschooling for a couple of years, I began really thinking about how learning happens in the first place. I mean, how did my second son learn his ABC’s by age two? I never once sat down with him and asked him to fill out a worksheet. My conclusion became multiple and meaningful exposure.

If exposed to a concept multiple times in meaningful ways (specific for the child), kids begin to build an understanding of the concept, even struggling learners. But just what is meaningful? Well, that’s where it gets a bit tricky because it means different things to different children. In the classroom setting, “meaningful” may not be so meaningful for about 30%-40% of the kids (and that might be a generous estimation). Meaningful learning at home is much more flexible.

For example, my second grader still loves to play with toys. He’s my builder. Is he learning while building with his Lego bricks or blocks? Absolutely. He knows more car part names and can give me a structure analysis of his towers with language WAY over my head.

I am sure this homeschooling journey has MUCH more to teach me. I look forward to what God has in store. How about you? What has homeschooling taught you about how kids learn that you’d be willing to share?

Becky Spence is a homeschooling mama to four little blessings who keep her on her feet {and knees}. She is passionate about teaching, specifically literacy. She is the author of This Reading Mama, where she shares reading and writing activities as well as free literacy curricula and printables. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.