Remember spring fever? I recall sitting in a desk looking longingly out the window, waiting for the bell to ring so I could answer the sun’s call.

We sense it in our homeschools as well, the shift in weather drawing us outdoors–away from worksheets and responsibilities.

What if it’s meant to be this way–this inner impulse and desire for nature this time of year? Maybe it doesn’t mean that we’re lazy or undisciplined after all.

One message most of us received from the traditional education we grew up with is that school days should follow the same pattern, no matter what is happening outdoors. It tells us to bring uniform productivity to our days–with math always followed by English followed by science followed by recess, and so on.

But I’d like to make a case for seasonal education–the idea that different lessons are best taught at certain times of year, and that we aid our efforts as homeschooling parents when we work with the seasons instead of against them.

Here is a list of the seasons and a few of the lessons they teach. (Apologies to those in the Southern Hemisphere–adjust these as needed to suit your situation!)
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The following is a guest post by Kara S. Anderson.

We were at a follow-up check for my daughter, who had surprised our ancient cat–and paid for it.

Her hand had become infected from a deep scratch, and for some reason, I was convinced this was a sign of terrible parenting. And so, I was already on edge when the doctor asked my 5-year-old how she liked school.

“Ummm, I homeschool,” she said looking to me for reassurance.

She is still not accustomed to people asking this. But I have an older son, and so I am used to it. I also know the inevitable follow-up.

“Do you have a group?” the doctor said turning to me.

“We do!” I answered brightly.

“Good. I just need to be sure they are being socialized.”

Being socialized? You need to be sure?

I felt my fists forming into little bony balls of rage.
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Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool, also blogs about motherhood at Steady Mom

At the start of the new year many of you completed a survey for those of us who blog under the Simple Living Media umbrella. I admit to being rather surprised when I found out that a significant percentage of those who read this blog regularly are not actually homeschoolers.

Let me say it once and for all: Homeschooling or not, you are welcome here!

At its core, homeschooling is a lifestyle of intentionality when it comes to our kids’ educations. Being intentional doesn’t mean sending our kids to the school around the corner just because it’s around the corner. Being intentional also doesn’t mean homeschooling just because all your friends homeschool.

Intentionality means taking the time and effort necessary to give thought to what is best–for your children, yourself, and your family.

Maybe you went through that intentional process. Maybe the concept of homeschooling even intrigued you, but you ultimately decided it isn’t for your family at the present moment. Yet you’re always looking for ways to cultivate an atmosphere and a love of learning at home.

Did you know a new word has been invented to describe what you’re doing?

It’s called afterschooling. Here’s how to do it well.
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Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool, also blogs about motherhood at Steady Mom

Love.

Inevitably it’s what leads us to this crazy homeschooling lifestyle. Without love, we wouldn’t care to take on this enormous responsibility–we’d make our lives as easy as possible. Without love, we wouldn’t stand much chance of persevering through the challenges that arise either.

I’ve always found comfort in the words of John Holt, homeschooling pioneer and bestselling author. When asked what parents need to homeschool well, here was his response:

“We can sum up very quickly what people need to teach their own children. First of all, they have to like them, enjoy their company, their physical presence, their energy, foolishness and passion.

They have to enjoy all their talk and questions and enjoy equally trying to answer those questions. They have to think of their children as friends, indeed very close friends, have to feel happier when they are near and miss them when they are away.

They have to trust them as people, respect their fragile dignity, treat them with courtesy, take them seriously. They have to feel in their own hearts some of their children’s wonder, curiosity and excitement about the world.

And they have to have enough confidence in themselves, skepticism about experts, and willingness to be different from most people, to take on themselves the responsibility for their children’s learning.

But that is about all the parents need.”
John Holt, Teach Your Own

By these standards most of us look pretty well-qualified to homeschool. (Note for any frazzled parents reading this today: You don’t have to like your children all. the. time. to homeschool! Remember John Holt was not a father. )

And yet what our hearts lead us into, our minds soon take over.

We analyze, stress, worry, fret. We make plenty of plans, and fail at many plans. Sometimes we cry. Sometimes we make our children cry.

Here’s what I believe it takes to homeschool with heart–for the long haul:
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From my post today on Steady Mom:

Mamas in the Western world always seem to be on the hunt for extra time. We have jobs to perform, meals to make, kids to play with, homes to clean, meetings to attend, and much more.

Inevitably the hours in the day do not equal the items on the to-do list. Is it any wonder that we’re overwhelmed and undernourished? That our souls ache with the busy-ness of it all? That motherhood is less joyful and more burdensome with each passing day?

But there is a time management tip that will help if we can just accept it:

Click here to read the rest.