"Relaxed-eclectic"

[Sally]

I think we might 'fit' in this category. We seem to careen from one subject to another with not much coherence (much to the concern of other 'loved ones'). But the children are learning. I'm able to interest them in 'integrated' units/workbooks of study, etc. Plus we have the luxury of extending or curtailing a subject according to the childrens interest levels.

This assists with spelling, maths, science, story invention and art to a level I wouldn't have thought possible (my children being first put into the public schooling system).

It is so rewarding to see my children make a 'break through' of their own accord when following a subject of interest.

Just wanted to put my 2-cents worth in and say that we find that an eclectic curriculum works very well for us.

[sarahfonto]

The reason I used quotes is because I haven't heard any official term to that effect.

Well you cheered me up, I am swiping "principled eclecticism" from my own field so I am defining myself in unofficial terms too.

Well heck the unschoolers get adjectives to describe the spectrum so why can't we too.

[crstarlette]

For those with older children and/or homeschooled alumni, is it a matter of eventual maturity, or have the public schools planted a very deep seed in his mind already?

I have neither older children, nor homeschooled alumni. What I do have is three boys ages 4, 6, and almost 8 who have never seen a public school, and so the term "deschool" should not have to apply. None-the-less, I believe if I let them choose what to do they would choose computer games or running around outside 95% of the time. Do they need deschooled from having been required to learn to read and write and do basic math? Maybe, or maybe they would never, or not for many years, choose structured learning over playing. I'm sure they would still learn some things in an unstructured way, but according to my standards, which are not inflated in anyway, not enough. If I had unschooled my children from the beginning, none of my children would have the fairly normal reading, writing, and math skills they have today. So even though I admire those who unschool successfully, I think it is just not for everyone. Some people will let their children wait until they are 12 to learn to read because that's when they finally want to (one of the authors in Home Education Magazine, I believe), and if that works for them, fine. Some people's children will just pick up on reading somehow, or will want to learn, and not mind the work (often times my kids want to learn things until they find out it requires work or practice), and even choose it over computer/video games or playing outside, at the early age at which we tend to expect kids to be reading.

I'd also like to point out that my oldest did not like the reading and writing he was required to do, so even if he somehow picked up on reading, he wouldn't be at the same level he is at. ALSO, and most importantly, even though he didn't particularly enjoy learning to read and write, now that he is a fluent reader he LOVES reading and writing and doesn't have to be asked to do it, which is really the point, right?

[Cathy]

what curriculum did you use for math and science? I really, really want my son to be interested in that. And I want to be sure to provide him opportunities in that area.

I know I am late to this thread, but I just had a sudden revelation...I, like the parents quoted above, wanted my kids to be interested in science. But (I thought) it just didn't work out that way...

I am mom of three "homeschool alumni," all daughters. Although I am a writer and art teacher, I really like science and sort of hoped to raise children who like/love/maybe even live science, too. I came to be interested in science late in my school career--I thought I hated science and math and avoided both up until college! Now, looking back, I think that most kids (me included) were taught early that math and science were both hard and boring...sort of a societal message reinforced for many by elementary school teachers who don't particularly like the subjects. I am not trying to lay blame, but the thought also occurred to me that I might have been subtly steered away from science because I am female. But in college I had a great science teacher, and I ended up majoring in science! As an adult, I always read science and science fiction "for fun."

I was determined that my kids wouldn't be shunted away from science or be bored stiff by science. Especially if they were girls.

Then I had kids, three girls, and as I homeschooled them, I exposed them to a lot of science. I taught a year-long course to my kids and other homeschoolers in oceanography, eagerly signed up for a long-term astronomy project called Mars City Alpha, joined and even taught at a community center called the Youth Science Center, and read a lot of books on lots of different science topics (plus tons of science fiction) to and with my kids. We did a lot of science field trips and checked out science museums near and far. We were out of doors, in nature, a lot. We became members at the zoo....And so on.

At times, the kids really got into this or that science topic. I had a 13 year old who wanted to work with dolphins, I had a 10 year old who raised money to help wild gorillas, and I had an 8 year old who was crazy about rocks and had a great collection, studied from flash cards, and made shy acquaintanceship with a local rock hound. (Each of those a different daughter.) But when the girls were older teens and leaving homeschooling behind for college, they all three firmly steered toward the arts. They rarely or never (depending on the daughter) took science courses in college, and science seemed to be something left behind, along with braces and homeschooling itself.

Now that they are adults, they are an art historian, a fine artist, and a dancer. But I came to a sudden realization last week: the oldest two really are pretty darned interested in science! (Not the youngest. Not yet. But now I have some hope.)

I suddenly realized that they are rare among their friends in that they read about, listen to, watch and discuss with me many different science topics. One daughter is always calling me up to tell me about a wonderful episode of Radio Lab, or about something she read on the Internet--and it isn't celebrity gossip or fashion trends--it's psychology, neurology, physics, cosmology. Another daughter often spots interesting science stuff on biology or astronomy blogs she follows, and while she embroiders reproductions of biologist Ernst Haeckel's drawings, she watches shows on physics and astronomy and biology. One daughter spent a month on an organic farm to learn more about agriculture, and another daughter reads science fiction and frequents the local observatory.

So, yes, I raised artists rather than scientists, but at least they are artists who value and enjoy and know quite a bit about science!
-- Cathy (http://every-day-is-special.blogspot.com)