Learning Side By Side

Have you ever experienced a moment in homeschooling where the learning felt just as much yours as your child's ? That magical feeling of discovery and connection that reminds us of why we chose this homeschooling path in the first place ?

In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast , we're diving into three inspiring stories of moms who found that spark while teaching topics that not only captivated their children but also deeply resonated with them .

You'll meet a history enthusiast who discovered new meaning in the stories of the Great Depression , a nature-loving mom who finds herself immersed in the world of birds . And a curious seeker who uncovers treasures studying ancient India . As we share these journeys , you'll see how homeschooling can be a shared adventure full of connection and inspiration .

Full of connection and inspiration . Sometimes the most profound discoveries come when we wander off the beaten path right , whether it's during a nature walk or in our approach to teaching . As Tolkien said so beautifully , not all those who wander are lost .

One of the most common misconceptions about homeschooling that I hear often is that we are solely responsible for imparting all the knowledge our children need about the world . That's a paralyzing thought , isn't it ? But the truth is , our primary role is to instill curiosity and a love of learning .

You don't have to be an expert in every subject in order to teach it effectively . Rudolf Steiner , the founder of Waldorf Education , outlined a course of study that aligns with a child's development and unfolding consciousness . It's actually a very bare-bones list and this approach ?

It offers a rich , inspiring framework that allows you to learn alongside your child by really choosing what you learn about . The mistake I see so many homeschooling parents make is feeling like they need to cover every single detail

of these suggested topics every Norse myth , every Greek battle , every explorer of the Western hemisphere . But here's the thing you don't . Letting go of this pressure can really actually transform your teaching . Here's the key Choose topics , or even topics within topics , that ignite curiosity for you and resonate with both you and your child .

These shared interests become the foundation for meaningful learning experiences . Meaningful learning experiences . So remember we're nurturing the capacity to learn , not creating walking encyclopedias of facts . That's the whole reason most of us chose to homeschool in the first place . Take history , for example .

My content manager , sarah , has a passion for teaching history through literature . For her , it's about imparting a feeling for a time period , rather than memorizing a summary of facts and events . She brings history to life by choosing stories that spark meaningful conversations and creative exploration .

When teaching middle school business math , sarah introduced the Great Depression using the books A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck and Roll of Thunder , hear my Cry by Mildred Taylor .

These moving stories weave together themes of bartering , trade , banking and frugality , offering opportunities for hands-on activities like cooking Depression-era recipes or creating art projects inspired by the stories . Even more profound were the life lessons her children gained . Gratitude , resilience and family history came alive through these narratives . Sarah's grandparents were

young people during the depression , and so her father grew up knowing how to make do and how to appreciate the small things in life , and wearing shoes that are two sizes too big so that you don't grow out of them too fast , for example . These are such valuable lessons for our kiddos stories that we can pass on from our own family members .

These are the lessons that go far beyond dates and facts . They touch the heart and create lasting memories . So , as we're exploring these three examples from homeschooling moms here on this episode , think about how you can weave your own interests into your homeschooling or even spark a new interest of your own . Teaching doesn't have to feel overwhelming or rigid .

When you approach it as an opportunity to learn and grow alongside your child , it becomes a shared adventure full of discovery and joy . For my family , one of the most memorable blocks was one I created from scratch , all about birds and bird watching .

It was our last block of the year for my two grade school kiddos who were I think they were around 9 and 11 at the time , and we had a toddler in the mix as well . That spring I was feeling particularly burned out . I wanted to plan a block for the month of May that got us outdoors as much as possible .

My motivation was particularly selfish , really , because I wanted to spend more time outside . We'd already done the farming and gardening blocks and even a botany block , so I decided to focus more on zoology and animals .

That's how I began to narrow down my ideas , and one unseasonably sunny day in April it was really warm and I was sitting outside with my morning cup of tea watching the birds . And that's when it hit me I want to learn more about birds . So why not create a block around this topic ? I started by brainstorming

some ideas . Where could we go bird watching ? Where could we take field trips ? And I discovered that our local nature center had volunteers who were bird banding a few days a week .

I even discovered that we have a 10-day festival in the month of May called the Biggest Week in American Birding , right here in Northern Ohio , so we made a plan to go to that . We learned so many things as a family that spring . We learned how to identify birds by ear , listening to bird calls . We saw warblers for the first time .

We learned about how we can help the birds throughout the year by planting certain things in our yard . We loved learning about bird migration and especially that we live in a very important part of the world for the eastern migration of so many species , right near the shores of Lake Erie .

We also learned that it's really hard to go bird watching with a toddler Make note of that . So we had to make some adjustments there . But honestly , so many seeds were planted during that birding block .

One of my kiddos went on to volunteer at a raptor rescue center as a teenager , and we all cultivated the skill of stopping on hikes in the woods when we hear bird calls and being able to identify them much of the time , and I'm now a bird lover for life .

Just a few days ago , my copy of Amy Tan's 2024 book the Backyard Bird Chronicles arrived on my doorstep . Tan wrote this book at a time when she had become overwhelmed with the state of the world , so she immersed herself in nature and began sketching birds . I am just so excited to read this book .

Okay , my last example here is about my dear friend , allison , homeschooling mom of three , who was so inspired by the ancient India block she did with her boys that she now directs an organization supporting teachers and students in rural India .

In fact , she's in India this month as I'm recording this episode , where she's gathering with students , teachers and their families to listen to their stories , witness their progress and learn more about the challenges they face on their educational journeys .

Allison loved reading stories during her history blocks and one of her favorites about India is In the Heart of the Village , the World of the Indian Banyan Tree by Barbara Bash . Wonderful stories of life in India like this one propelled Allison to devote her energy , now that her children are all grown , to the non-profit Hearts for Teachers .

And it all started with a main lesson block on ancient India . This is how

learning side by side with our children can inspire us to learn and grow as well . I've given you three examples here today , but there are an infinite number of possibilities .

I often say to the parents inside my Inspired at Home membership that you can create a main lesson block around any topic you want to , as long as you keep the lessons developmentally appropriate for your children . We even have an entire masterclass inside the community called Build your Own Blocks , the block topics you choose .

They can be something you're curious about too . In fact , the more the topic sparks curiosity in you , the better the learning experience will be for your children . So is there a main lesson topic that you've taught to your kiddos that influenced you deeply as a person ? If so , I'd love to hear about it .

You could come comment over on Instagram when I post about this episode , number 213 , learning side by side .

And if you've not had that experience yet , I encourage you to think about what this might look like at your house . If you're craving more connection and inspiration in your homeschool days . Keep listening here to the Art of Homeschooling podcast .

Together , we'll discover how to embrace curiosity , how to wander off the beaten path , find those magical moments of learning that can stay with us forever . New episodes come out every Monday . Thanks so much for tuning in today . You can find the show notes for this episode with links to the resources I've mentioned here today over at artofhomeschoolingcom dot com .

Slash episode 213 . And here's to sparking more joy in learning , for both you and your children . That's all for today , my friend , but here's what I want you to remember Rather than perfection , let's focus on connection . Thanks so much for listening and I'll see you on the next episode of the Art of homeschooling podcast .