Minimalist Homeschool

Climbing rose

Minimalism has kind of become trendy over the last couple of years... it doesn't take long to find a host of YouTube videos and blogs on any number of topics on people attempting to simplify their lives--minimalist wardrobe, minimalist kitchen, minimalist toys...

Jasmine blossoms I picked from our yard to dry for tea

Well this trend has even crossed over into the homeschool world a bit. It's certainly not mainstream jargon yet... but I wouldn't be surprised if more moms jumped on this idea. Moms who are tired of bursting calendars, no free time, and all the pressure to try and fit it all in. Let's be real here. We can't fit it all in. What is "it all," anyways? 

Living in Madagascar, we have kind of been forced into a "minimalist" approach in our homeschool, only because opportunities for extra-curricular activities are fairly limited. Neither are there book stores or teacher-supply stores that would have me bringing more and more things into my house and feeling like I need to fill that gap somehow. 

So what is this Minimalist Homeschool for us?

It means not making a big project out of every single subject or topic we decide to cover.

It kind of goes back to a Charlotte Mason approach where we lay out a feast and let the kids gravitate towards their favorites, while still challenging them with things they wouldn't automatically choose themselves.

For us it also means combining subjects. For example, if one of my kids can make a project on a science topic of interest, we can cover language arts concepts, penmanship, arts and crafts, and organizational skills all at the same time.

Layering Watercolors

Baby Nightjar that we saw under the litchi tree in our front yard

Flower dissection 

This isn't really a new concept amongst homeschoolers. It just has a new name, I suppose.

When I was homeschooled, I seem to remember my mom combining Science or Social Studies topics with English projects as well.

So where did we lose our way and come to believe that every subject has to be covered and documented extensively? Thus creating this heavy schedule and a bunch of pressure.

I was also reminded this week on a recent Read Aloud Revival episode that letting our children observe something in nature, quietly, and slowly, is something we can easily rob them of if all we're focused on is documenting their learning.

We can't show "observation" and "processing" on the page all that well.

I wouldn't expect a preschooler to write a report on how the play-doh felt and behaved as she manipulated it with different objects for 30 minutes. She is simply exploring and processing mediums and learning with her senses.

Minimalist Homeschooling for us this year means that I'm at peace with learning alongside my kids and not having a report to show the work every single time.

Getting Math Done

Historically, this has been a huge struggle for me. For many years, I've felt like if I don't have the kids write about it, draw about it, or do a worksheet on the subject, they haven't truly learned anything, and then what will we submit in our portfolios?!

Minimalism also means that we aren't doing everything... every... single... day. Handwriting, typing, science, history, poetry, art, baking..... nope, we're not doing them everyday. Now, I never tried to do poetry, art, and baking everyday before, but we definitely went through years where I really believed and felt that we must incorporate official science and history studies everyday. Making this a once a week thing in our house has lifted a huge burden off my shoulders!

Now that we are getting into Week 5, I feel a certain school rhythm happening in our house. Somehow the pressure to fit it all in has been lessened, and we're enjoying the flow of our days.