Historic Oakland Cemetery - Sights, Symbols & Stories

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As strange as it may sound we love exploring cemeteries. Our favorite is Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. We visit this historic garden cemetery several times a year to learn about nature, history, geology and more. Audrey Bierhans said, “Cemeteries should be more than places where stones lie on the ground. Cemeteries hold the stories of the people who have lived in the past ... people who have shaped our past," and I couldn't agree more. 

Oakland Cemetery is a hidden treasure located less than 1 mile from the hustling and bustling city of Atlanta. It is the 3rd largest green space in Atlanta. This sanctuary was founded in 1850 and is the final resting place of many of Atlanta's settlers, builders, and most noted citizens like Bonny Jones, Margaret Mitchell  and Maynard Jackson. And it is also a showplace for some spectacular sculpture and architecture and a luscious garden with ancient oaks and magnolias.

When you walk down the paths of this outdoor museum you are transported through time, and if you listen closely you will hear stories of victories, love and tragedies. Sometimes the epitaphs, grave markers and even the graves location help tell a story, but if you are looking for more details be sure to stop by the gift shop to pick up free guides or to purchase some amazing books on Oaklands resident's.

If stories don't interest you then you can marvel at the sights and symbols that you will come across. The impressive art and architecture can be seen in many styles: Victorian, Greek Revival, Gothic, Neo-classical, Egyptian and Exotic Revival. Several mausoleums feature stained glass windows from Tiffany Studios. Bronze urns over six feet high were cast at Gorham Manufacturing Company in New York, the first art foundry in America.

Oakland also offer many fabulous events and recently started offering homeschool days and educational fieldtrip opportunities. But that's not all, they also have educational resources for parents and teachers.

Also be sure to check out my blog on Clue Town booklets there is one for Oakland.

And my Lessons From The Grave blog post which lists ways you can use cemeteries as an educational opportunity and also lists more amazing cemeteries for GA.

Also check out:

Thaleia from Something 2 Offer with her Jackson Cemetery, Piqua, Ohio post.

Leigh from Campfires & Concierges with her Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery post.

Spark Curiosity With Guinness World Records 2017: Block Busters

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Hey homeschool moms, do you  have a child that sometimes says they are not interested in anything?  Well when we first began our unschooling journey my children sometimes would say those dreaded words and wouldn't have the slightest idea about what they wanted to learn about. But then we discovered Guinness World Records and Ripley's Believe It Or Not books. After a few minutes of paging through these books my children were full of questions and ideas about things they wanted to delve deeper into learning about. Both of these book series helped make our homeschool a little more interesting and exciting. So if you have a child that says "I am not interested in anything," hand them one of these books and watch their curiosity be sparked.

We recently received Guinness World Records 2017: Blockbusters the newest book in the Guinness World Record portfolio and have been having a blast learning the record-breaking low-down on the top trends and personalities in pop culture. But that is not all that this new book provides. It also adds an educational and entertaining twist by providing information about the real-life records behind  favorite fictional stories. For example you can find facts about the world's largest ocean creatures which served as inspiration for the characters in the 2016 hit movie, Finding  Dory.

Last month we went on a fieldtrip to see the last show for the Greatest Show on Earth. I immediately grabbed our Guinness World Records 2017: Blockbusters book, to see if Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus was highlighted in the book.....and of course they were. They are the longest running circus in the World...147 years this year.

Thank you @RinglingBros @infiniteenergycenter for the great #family memories. #sehsfun #homeschool #unschool #history #circus #fieldtrip #familyfun

A post shared by Kathy Ulrich Balman (@kbalman) on Mar 12, 2017 at 10:05am PDT

Over the last few months we have used our Guinness World Records book to compliment various fieldtrips, to spark interest and to settle debates. This is definitely one book the entire family will enjoy!

Throughout this book children will discover:

6 chapters featuring kid-focused activities, with captivating features, spreads quizzes and stats:

1. Watch: learn about box office blockbusters such as X-Men, Disney, Star Trek, Finding Dory and more.
2. Browse: explore record-breaking vloggers, memes, and impressive social media feats from the digital world.
3. Read: dive into records from fan-favorites including Dr. Seuss, the Divergent series, Harry Potter and comic books.
4. Play: examine amazing records relating to popular toys, from Lego and Knex to robots and drones.
5. Go: check out jaw-dropping roller coasters, impressive circus performances, and attendance feats at sporting events in this section full of records involving outdoor activities and attractions.
6. Consume: drool over records featuring delicious food, drinks and sweets.

Record breaking activities:   

Throughout the book young readers are encouraged to become the record breaker in the house, and potentially the world by attempting the record-breaking  challenges exclusively featured in the pages of this book. How many underwear can you put on in one minute?

Jaw dropping photographs:

Not only is this book filled with amazing records but it also is filled with fantastic full color photos.

To add to the fun Guinness World Records also has additional exclusive content including interviews with record holders, interesting photos, fun games, quizzes and tutorials on the record-challenges to try at home on their website.

There is also a fantastic Place Value Math Activity download available to compliment the book.

Now available for only $14.99 (currently it's on sale on Amazon), its colorful and kid-friendly pages are filled with fun, educational, and exclusive records of interest to ages 6-12 and will make for the perfect addition to any library. It also strongly emphasizes reading and activities (which could relate to social & cognitive development, & academic skills) and ultimately be of interest to educators.

What's Cooking? Combining History and Cooking

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We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2014. This month's theme was, "To The Kitchen" Keep reading to learn more about the book we read and recipe we made. There is also a giveaway is at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.

Books:
This month we utilized one of our favorite cookbooks called Cooking Up American History by Sunflower Education. This book is absolutely amazing. It combines cooking, history, math and more. Each of the recipes contained in the book is historically accurate and brings history to life for children. There is a mix of snack foods, entrees, and even historically accurate desserts. Have you ever wanted to know what George Washington’s favorite breakfast was? Or what wealthy Spanish colonists ate for a treat? The answers and actual recipes are in this book. The book is great for children in PreK-6th grade and contains 50 recipes. Even kitchen safety is covered in the book.

Cooking Up Some American History includes a rich assortment of recipes in the following categories:

• Native American Foods
• Spanish Colonial Fare
• English Colonial Dishes
• Foods of the Revolutionary War
• Dining in Young America
• Staying Fed on the Frontier
• Foods Out of Africa
• Soldiers’ Mess: The Civil War and Reconstruction
• Foods of the Gilded Age and the Industrial Revolution
• Dishes of World War I
• Surviving the Great Depression
• Foods of World War II 
• American Fare: the 1950s
• The 1960s
• The 1970s
• Modern Meals

Recipe: 

Since we have been learning a lot about WWI and WWII we decided to make Soldier's Soup or Cabbage Soup. Did you know that Cabbage Soup was eaten by soldiers and civilians when they needed to ration their supplies? This recipe is from the cookbook but we made some adjustments.

Ingredients:
-1 small head cabbage, chopped
-1 can of diced tomatoes
-1 onion, chopped
-2 cups of chicken stock
-1 cup of almond milk
-Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1) Place the chopped cabbage and onion into a pot and cover with water.
2) Bring the cabbage and onion to a boil, then lower the heat, and simmer until tender.
3) Drain the water from the pot, reserving 1 cup of the liquid.
4) Combine the drained cabbage and onion, reserved liquid, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, almond milk and salt and pepper to taste into the pot and heat thoroughly (do not boil) for about 20 to 25 minutes.
5) If you wish add additional spices. I also added a little bit of onion and garlic powder.

The great thing about this soup is that it can be served hot or cold which is probably why it worked so great for the soldiers during WWI.

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom ~ 3 Dinosaurs ~ To the Moon and Back ~ Planet Smarty Pants ~ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Growing in Gods Grace ~ Chestnut Grove Academy ~ Learning and Growing the Piwi Way ~ The Usual Mayhem~ Preschool Powol Packets ~ Monsters Ed Homeschool Academy ~ Adventures in Mommydom ~Teach Beside Me ~ Life with Moore Babies ~ Kathy's Cluttered Mind ~ Are We There Yet? ~ Our Crafts N Things ~Hopkins Homeschool ~ ABC Creative Learning ~ Joy Focused Learning ~ P is for Preschooler ~ My Bright Firefly ~A Mommy's Adventures ~ Inspiring 2 New Hampshire Children ~ World for Learning ~ Ever After in the Woods ~Golden Grasses ~ A glimpse of our life ~ Journey to Excellence ~ Happy Little Homemaker ~ Little Homeschool Blessings ~ Raventhreads ~ Tots and Me ~ As We Walk Along The Road ~ Stir the Wonder ~ For This Season ~Where Imagination Grows ~ The Canadian Homeschooler ~ School Time Snippets ~ Peakle Pie ~ A Moment in our World ~ Every Bed of Roses ~ Finchnwren ~ At Home Where Life Happens ~ The Library Adventure ~ Embracing Destiny ~ Day by Day in our World ~ Our Homeschool Studio ~ A  Peace  of Mind ~ Thou Shall Not Whine ~ SAHM I am  ~ Simple Living Mama

Feed Our Small World:A Cookbook for Kids Giveaway! 
Every month the Poppins Book Nook group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win a copy of the book Feed Our Small World: A Cookbook for Kids for the theme of To The Kitchen!

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the Rafflecopter terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here.  Just enter the Rafflecopter below to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let Your Children Express Themselves - Red Mohawks And All

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Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today I am sharing something I feel very passionate about and that is letting children express themselves. This post is dedicated to all those who question why we unschool and why my 7 year old son has a mohawk and pierced ears!

There are many forms of self-expression and self-expression is pivotal to a child's development. Yet many public institutions and parents do not allow children to express themselves freely. We all have a need to express our thoughts, feelings and ideas. One way I do that is through blogging. As adults we get angry when people try to force their ideals, beliefs and associations on us. However when it comes to children we find it necessary to interfere with their self-expression. We push children into the activities, hobbies, sports, etc that we think they will enjoy or that we want them to excel at. We assert our beliefs, thoughts, ideals and associations onto them and teach them that they need to conform to society. And we teach children that they should deny who and what they want to become because of what others may think.

By not letting a child express themselves freely we are denying them of important skills they need to become successful, free thinking adults. We are hindering their self-confidence, problem solving skills, work ethic, creativity and over all development.

And this is one of the many reasons we chose to unschool. Everyday we encourage our children to express who they are and encourage them to follow their dreams. Our children are confident (most of the time) and both have big dreams and goals in life. They explore their passions and interests and devote much of their time to learning about what they love. They have their own sense of style and are confident in who they are. They know their likes, dislikes and the activities that they excel at. They don't care what others think about them and they don't care about the differences they see in others. They are well-rounded individuals and we could not be more proud of them.

My story:
As a child I was allowed to express myself to a certain degree. My parents let me dress how I wanted which included tie skirts, afghan jackets and decorated blazers. I got picked on a lot in school but I never cared about what others thought because I was being myself and not conforming to the latest trend or style. I listened to music I liked, even though it was not popular. And I enjoyed expressing who I was through art, writing, and volunteering. But my parents didn't fully support my interests and would often compare me to my much older sister and push me into sports and activities they wanted me to excel at. And my personal passions and interests were not nurtured as much as they could have been. This lack of self-expression resulted in low self confidence which I still suffer from today. They were by no means bad parents they just didn't fully let me express who I was and what I wanted to become.

Fast forward: 
When I met my husband we both agreed that we would let our children express themselves and support them in their interests, passions and dreams. We knew we wanted to homeschool, but realized that there was a possibility we would need to send our children to public school. And if the latter would have been the case we still would have fought for our children's right to self-expression.

Gwyn:
My 8 year old daughter is a tom boy and proud of it. She likes her hair long and uncombed, likes wearing bold colors and doesn't care if her clothes are covered in dirt. She is compassionate, creative, adventurous and loves learning! Some of her favorite hobbies are art, hiking, reading, skateboarding and horseback riding. She wants to own a horse and animal rescue and create masterpieces of art. Her two favorite things to learn about are horses, art and Native Americans.

Check out Gwyn's blog - Adventures Of A Homeschool Cowgirl

Rowyn:
My 7 year old son is a very energetic, rough, tough boy. He definitely has no issue expressing who he is. He asked for his ears to be pierced when he was 3 and well the mohawk has always been his hairstyle of choice since he was a toddler. The colored mohawk is new for him. First it was blue, then red and he now wants to do it red, white and blue. He is also compassionate, creative and adventurous. Some of his favorite hobbies are hiking, getting messy, building with LEGO bricks, playing with his Star Wars toys, dressing up as a superhero or ninja and playing with his cars. He definitely tries my patience everyday, but he also makes me laugh everyday too. He spends the majority of his days building LEGO creations. He loves learning about how things work but he also really enjoys learning about the wars throughout history. His dream when he grows up is to work at a LEGO store or be a superhero!

Check out Rowyn's blog - Minifig Homeschool Adventures

The express yourself song by Charles Wrigth pretty much sums it up.



We all need and desire to express ourselves. How do you express yourself or how do you let your children express themselves?

Don't forget to enter the MEGA homeschool curriculum and cash giveaway here.

Also be sure to head over to Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog to see what my fellow crew members are blogging about this week for their 5 day blog hop!



Here are a few quick links to some of my bloggy friends:

Amy @ Counting Change... Again 
Shawna @ Tenacity Divine
Adena @ AdenaF 
Jenn @ Simblissity Cottage
Emilee @ Pea of Sweetness
Kathy @ Kathys Cluttered Mind
Sara @ Embracing Destiny
Annette @ A Net in Time Homeschooling

Classroom in the Caribbean — Using Holidays to Teach

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Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You've probably thought of buying books for the kids, and all manner of educational games, to help them to learn. One thing that might not have occurred to you is how educational a holiday is. Holidays to the Caribbean are particularly incredible and a fun-filled learning experience! Geography, geology, ecology and biology are everywhere for your children to see, hear and sometimes even touch. Here are some ideas:

Caribbean Geology and Geography (Fascinating!)

There are countless islands with many different shapes, sizes and characteristics. There are the relatively flat islands like Barbados, Anguilla and Anegada (a British Virgin Island) which were gradually formed over many generations mainly from coral reefs. These islands have amazing white sand beaches and light blue water. In contrast, other islands like Dominica and St. Vincent were formed primarily from volcanic activity. These island gems are mountainous, with lush forests and gushing rivers.

Ecology and Biology in Action

The Caribbean has beautiful, colorful plants and animals. Some live only in a particular island, like the St. Lucian parrot. You might be fortunate enough to get a chance to swim with the sea turtles. These graceful and gentle creatures are indeed a joy. Seeing baby turtles actually hatching and bravely marching down to the ocean is a real thrill. Sadly, because of the threats facing young turtles from predators, pollution, and difficulties finding food, only a few actually survive to adulthood.

A walk in a tropical forest can have many valuable lessons. Tropical forests ecosystems are home to an incredible range of flora and fauna, making them an irreplaceable source of food, medicines and materials used in housing and jeweler making. Snorkeling over a healthy coral reef is a special treat. Healthy coral reef ecosystems are teeming with many different kinds of soft and hard corals, fish, shellfish, and much more. Each living creature has its own special role to play in the ecosystem. Coral reefs support fishing industries, generate revenue through tourism and protect fragile coastlines.

Both tropical forest and coral reef ecosystems are extremely valuable to society. They’re rich and vibrant when they’re healthy. However, they’re extremely fragile, so threats such as over-harvesting and pollution can quickly destroy them. Once degraded, it’s very difficult for them to recover and become established again. It’s vital that conservation activities are maintained to protect and manage them.

Clearly, there’s more to the Caribbean than just pirates. Taking your kids to the Caribbean can definitely give your children the chance of a lifetime to learn lessons that they’ll never forget. No doubt, they’d rather learn under the sun than in a classroom!

Special thanks to Charlotte Evans for writing this fabulous guest post.

Top 10 Netflix Documentaries For Children

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Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My children love documentaries and watch at least 2 a day on Netflix. And you know what I don't mind, because you can learn a lot from documentaries and travel to far away destinations. These documentaries cover history, geography, science and more.

Here are some of their favorites on Netflix:

1) Mystery Files - these are short 23 minutes biography type files about famous people like Hitler, Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln and more.
2) National Geographic Documentaries - There are several great documentaries which are about 1 hour long. Some of my children's favorites are Amazing Planet, The Human Body, Secret Yellowstone, Extreme Alaska Denali National Park,
3) Beyond Survival with Les Stroud - Learn about the indigenous tribes around the globe and experience their culture, techniques and secrets. Episodes are about 45 minutes long.
4) Disney Nature - Currently Wings of Life and Crimson Wing are on Netflix, hopefully the rest will be added soon. These documentaries are a little over 1 hour long.
5) Micro Cosmos - This is a 75 minute documentary that takes a fascinating look at the world of insects and other tiny creatures through powerful microscopic cameras and special microphones.
6) The Life Of Birds - Learn about over 300 species of birds in this documentary series. Episodes are about 50 minutes long.
7) Inside - These are really short documentaries and only about 20 minutes long. There are several including Pixar, McDonalds, DeBeers and more.
8) How Stuff Works - There are currently 2 seasons on Netflix and episodes are about 40-45 minutes long. These shows unravel the questions behind the food items we take for granted.
9) How Do They Do It - go behind the scenes to do things, and make the things that form our modern world. There is 1 season and episodes are about 20-25 minutes long.
10) Dear America - These shows are based on a book series and though they are not a true documentaries they are very informative and filled with great historical information.

*We may let our children watch things other parents may not approve of. So before you let your children watch any of these I encourage you to preview them first.

I will try to post a top 10 list of our favorite documentaries at least once a month!

Documentary printable:

This journal page is great for any documentary, get yours here for FREE or click the photo below.

What are some of your favorite documentaries?

Hands On Learning Through Fieldtripping Fun Plus 2 Giveaways

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Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Welcome to day 1 of my 4 day fieldtripping fun blog series. I hope you enjoy this blog hop series and find some helpful information along the way! Be sure to stop by everyday this week for more fieldtrip ideas and resources!

Here is what I have lined up for the remaining days (I will update these with direct links to the posts throughout the week):

• Tuesday - 10 Fabulous Fieldtrip Apps
• Wednesday - 200+ Free Things To See and Do In Georgia
• Thursday - Free Nationwide Family Fun Ideas

Truth be told we are only home about 3-4 days out of the week. The other half of the week we are out on adventures exploring our great state of Georgia! As soon as we get a second car we will start venturing out to the surrounding southeast states too.

I am a firm believer in hands on and experiential learning. Shortly after we began our homeschool journey I discovered that our children learned and retained more information when they were actually learning from experience. So we use EVERYTHING and ANYTHING as a learning experience and the children are encouraged to explore their interests and passions! Both children learn by utilizing all of their senses and each of the learning modalities, not just one or two. We are not bound to one particular curriculum or textbook. And we don't follow standard or common core guidelines.

“The world has so much to teach us if we’re brave enough to explore the unknown and leap into it with open arms.” ~ Satori

For our family fieldtrips are great for experiential learning. Examining artwork from the Louvre up close, walking the same path that Civil War soldiers did and watching a spider spin it's web between two tree branches is exciting, educational and memorable!!! Through our fieldtrip adventures the children have developed strong critical thinking skills and have a greater appreciation for art, history, science and more! We have even been known to take more than 1 fieldtrip in a day (our current record is 3 in one day).

“This world is your best teacher. There is a lesson in everything. There is a lesson in each experience. Learn it and become wise. Every failure is a stepping stone to success. Every difficulty or disappointment is a trial of your faith. Every unpleasant incident or temptation is a test of your inner strength. Therefore nil desperandum. March forward hero!” ~ Swami Sivananda

I hope that this weeks blog series provides you with the encouragement you need to go on an adventure! Break the schedule and don't worry about your curriculum lesson (I promise it will be there waiting for you when you return). The joy of homeschooling is the flexibility. As homeschoolers we can provide our children with hands on, enriching, real world lessons that they won't get in a book, at home or sitting in a classroom.

Here are a few other posts I wrote about fieldtrips that you should check out: 10 Places To Take Nature Walks In GA, Exploring Nature, 10 Frugal Fieldtrips, FREE And Low cost Fieldtrip Ideas (Nationwide), 10 FREE Fieldtrips In GA, Fabulous Fun Filled Fieldtrips, Go Gecocahing - A Fun, Educational, Family Activity, The Wide, Wide World and GA Unit Study.

Free Fieldtrip Journal Pages:
I am in the process of creating various fieldtrip journal pages for my children. I find that journal pages help enhance our fieldtrips and make them more memorable too.

My newest one is a generic museum fieldtrip journal page. This journal page can be used at a variety of museums including history, art and science. More will be added soon and all of my freebies are added to this page to make them easier to find -> FREE notebooking/journal pages.

Be sure to also check out this art museum journal page. We use this when we visit the art museums. There are several fun activities including a scavenger hunt, signature copywork, art examination and more. I also have created this artist biography journal page. I made this one to help the children keep track of facts on each artist we are learning about. This is great to use while at the museum or at home.

Fieldtrip Giveaways:
Two great companies have offered to provide giveaways during my fieldtrip blog series.

Giveaway #1 - Giveaway has ended
The first giveaway is for a signed copy of Family on the Loose.

Pack your bags, hop a plane, and take a trip! Family travel is a great way to expand your cultural horizons and help cultivate our next generation of global citizens. Wondering how to turn a journey with your kids into an enriching and rewarding adventure?  This book offers hundreds of easy-to-use ideas for:

• Drumming up excitement for the journey ahead
• Teaching your kids to pack themselves
• Having fun at the airport and on the plane
• Easing jetlag and schedule changes
•  Involving everyone in setting itineraries and expectations
• Making museums and tourist stops engaging for everyone
• Enriching your travel experience through journaling
• Keeping the joy of the journey alive long after your return
• Discovering cultural education in your own back yard

This book is intended for well-seasoned travelers and newbies alike who enjoy being with their children, want to enrich their education, and are excited to discover, as a family, the vast and unique experiences this world has to offer.

Giveaway #2 - Giveaway has ended
The second giveaway is for a copy of the Yellow Stone and Grand Canyon guide books from Master Books. 

This guide book uniquely celebrates the biblical history revealed within the landscapes of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.  Hundreds of full color photos fill the 188 pages, where you will discover travel tips, maps, details on the vast forests, grasslands, geysers, trails, flowers, hiking trails, wildlife and more. Whether you are planning a visit to the parks or wanting to study the majesty of God’s amazing creation, this book will give you an incredible perspective.

Exploring the Grand Canyon is a one-of-a-kind adventure. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the most amazing features on the face of the planet. The size and majesty of the Canyon is overwhelming, regardless of how many times you have viewed it, how many trails you have hiked, or how many river miles you have traveled. It is also a mystery!

 

Check Out My Developing A Love For Learning Article In The Homeschool.com Magazine

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Have you read the Homeschool.com FREE magazine yet? If not you must check it out. They just published their 3rd edition and I have an article in the magazine about Developing A Love For Learning. My article starts on page 12 and it is all about our delight-directed, unschooling homeschool style!

And on page 48 you can find some photos of our Dr. Seuss themed school room (left page).

Also be sure to like Homeschool.com on Facebook!

Toss The Labels

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Okay so I don't generally write things like this and it may sound like a rambling rant and some may not agree with it, but I have had these thoughts in my head giggling around for some time and I need to release them. Maybe I will sleep a little better after I do.

As you know we homeschool, well I hope you do this is a homeschool blog after all. When we first began (3 years ago) I thought I HAD to put a label on our homeschool method/style. I drove myself crazy for a year trying to find where we fit in. Were we Charlotte Mason? Perhaps Montessori? What about Classical? Well I discovered we couldn't fit in just one so we became eclectic homeschoolers.

However, I then heard about unschooling. I liked what I heard and it seemed to fit our family perfectly. So I joined unschooling groups (at various places online) wanting to learn more. So year two of homeschooling I started saying we were eclectic, unschoolers, when asked about our method/style. But sadly after joining a Facebook unschooling group and communicating with other unschoolers, I was told I wasn't unschooler enough and was pushed away.

So back to square one. I was becoming frustrated trying to find where we fit in. Then I learned about a new method/style called delight-directed which is basically unschooling just not "radical"  unschooling. Yes apparently there is an unschooling sliding scale.

And then it hit me. Why on earth do I NEED to have a homeschool method/style? Why when some asks me what method/style we use, do I have to say anything other than we homeschool and my kids love learning? We are already considered weird because we homeschool. Many of us homeschool to get away from silly labels. So why do we as homeschoolers place labels ourselves?

So why this rant? Well I fear that many new homeschoolers probably struggle with the same issue I had. They may question over and over again their method/style, curriculum, etc and drive themselves crazy.  And if they are pushed out of groups (whether it be Facebook, local, etc) simply because of the method/style or curriculum choice, they may become discouraged and give up. I know I was very frustrated and sad I was pushed out of a group for not being "enough". 

So my call to action is this. We are all in this homeschooling journey together. No method/style, curriculum is right or wrong.

Home Educating for many of us is about:

• Doing what is right for your family and being part of your child's education.
• Providing our children with a better education than the one they would receive in traditional school.
• Helping our children follow their passions and develop a love for learning.
• Letting our children express and learn more about their religious beliefs freely. 
• Keeping our children safe.
• Preparing our children to enter the world as self sufficient, intelligent, moral adults.

All homeschoolers need to ban together. Our homeschooling rights may be at stake eventually and all homeschoolers regardless of method/style, religion and curriculum choices need to support one another. No more pushing fellow homeschoolers away!

We are now starting our third year and when asked our method/style I now reply we homeschool and love learning and exploring everyday! Lets toss the homeschool labels! I know we don't belong in one category and why should we?

After all saying we are eclectic, delight-directed, unschoolers, who do some Montessori, love unit studies, spend lots of time outdoors, embrace Charlotte Mason and Classical learning and take lots of fieldtrips is quite a mouth full to say!

I would also like to share this awesome video that my husband and I recently watched (there is some swearing in it). Jerry Michalski talks about our education system, homeschooling and unshcooling and how TRUST can change not only the education system, but everything in our world including government, finance, food and agriculture, healthcare, etc!