With so many choices of curriculum coupled with learning styles and teaching styles, it can be hard to figure out which way is the best way to homeschool. It’s bad enough that we are bombarded with self-doubt about our decision to teach at home, but the pressure of completing the curriculum so your child can score well on a test can put you and your child over the top with anxiety. 

It’s hard to not give in and put pressure on the child to process information in ways he is not equipped to do. Yet. You may know, deep down, that something is not right for your child. But. Test scores. And you want your child to do well in life, so test scores are important, right? 

To homeschool or not? 

If you are exploring the idea of homeschool, here is an article that tells what 20 post-grad kids and moms had to say about their experiences with homeschool. The article is a result of candid interviews of real homeschoolers: How Do I Know If Homeschooling Is Right For Our Family 

Signs that your child may be struggling with traditional school. 

If you teach at home or want to make “school” exciting, the method that allows learning by discovery is the best way to teach. Your child will engage in the lessons when they look forward to empowerment to explore with curiosity. 

Let your child learn by wonder, discovery, and observation first. The rest will come.

I can’t promise every day will be rosy, but I can promise you that, one day, you will know what I know…. 

The problem could be too much time with textbooks 

Do you or your child feel tied to a demanding curriculum? 

Instead, consider this: we were made to wonder, to explore, discover, and then use that knowledge to make conclusions. It’s not to be all “rote memory” and parroting back given facts. 

“Children learn best by the discovery method-by doing, experimenting, observing, and imitating-not once over lightly, but repeatedly.” Home Grown Kids, pg. 199, Raymond and Dorothy Moore 

Lessons Done For You 

Let me help you get started with the method that allows curiosity and exploration with some FREE lessons and a different perspective that will bring a desire to learn by discovery. With 23 years of teaching at home, I can say with confidence that the first few years of a child’s education using a unit study method is the best way to homeschool. 

Here at Seasons of Devotion, I create studies for you so you will find some relief from the stress you may be feeling. They may give you ideas about how to create your own. Use these lessons and you will be assured that your kids will have room to wonder and to learn by discovery. 

I offer the lessons on the website for free and to make the accompanying workbook chapters free to print as well. As a single income family for many years, I understand how homeschooling can be hard on the family finances. I also try to choose supplies that are very budget-friendly.

Here’s the order in which the best way to homeschool works: 

• Give ample opportunity to explore 
• Encourage wonder 
• Allow expression 
• Talk with them 
• Encourage expression with art first 
• Convert what they learned into vocabulary 
• Use vocabulary to express the same thing in written assignments
• Allow for more wonder…..allow time to explore more 

Why does that work? 

Think of it this way: You are giving them a peg to hang the textbook learning on. What they learn later in a book will make sense because they have already processed a lot of information through touch, sight, and hearing. Also, the deep sense of wonder will be satisfied. 

The Secret Inside: the first series is available now! 

The first series is based on a delightful book that is now out of print: “Grocery Store Botany” by Joan Elma Rahn. My botany series: “The Secret Inside” represents her book well. I created the lessons so that your child will have plenty of room to discover the secrets. That way, when you have to add textbooks (if you must), they will have the “pegs” in place. 

The lessons are on this blog, under the heading, “Botany for Kids”. The Printable workbook chapters are available to subscribers for FREE.

Once you go through a series or two, you will see the difference it makes in your child and you will be able to teach the same method. Your own creativity will expand. I hope you will be brave enough to continue going forward with confidence. 

Teach with the Discovery Method 

Start with this page which lists the lessons: Garden Integrated Studies. You can download the free printable workbook chapters when you subscribe HERE. 

What are the supplies I need for Garden Integrated Studies? 

The supplies you will need are most likely already in your kitchen. You can find most of the items you will need in the produce section of the grocery store. Economical and easily found! 

When you subscribe to Seasons of Devotion, you will gain access to the library that has all the free printables for these lessons along with helpful worksheets for gardeners. There’s journal and schedule worksheets that will make you amazingly organized too! CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE! 

Supplement the Series with Ease 

Seasons of Devotion’s studies can be a companion for textbooks if you like. (Although much of what they will need to know will be covered in the unit study.) The activities will give them a strong foundation or “pegs” to hold the more “formal” learning on. I often used textbooks as a reference until 6th or 7th grade before turning the child completely over to textbooks.

Encourage your older child to begin subjects with exploration. It will give that part of their personhood to mature and creativity will develop. It’s fairly easy to add the textbook afterward or alongside Seasons of Devotion studies. 

Create your own unit studies 

Would you like to learn how to create your own unit studies? This tutorial teaches you how to check what your school district covers so you can plan your study accordingly. It walks you through the whole process, step-by-step. Create a Unit Study: A Complete Tutorial 

Give your child the freedom to explore and discover. It’s the best way to homeschool. 

Guest post authored by Debbie Schreffler 

Veteran Homeschooler, avid gardener, and proud grandma. 

I believe that you can design a peaceful lifestyle while you homeschool, complete with a garden if you want, and meals that will make the best memories you ever could imagine! 

I homeschooled seven kids through high school, starting them all with a lot of planned, hands-on activities. Then, I centered subjects around the activities. That gave them lots of room for their natural curiosity to be satisfied as they learned about God’s world. 

Let me help you teach kids, grow food, and stay calm!  Find me at Seasons of Devotion.