Now Kids, Start Learning!

From the Frog and Toad Storybook Series

When I first felt the winds of change blowing through our home school, I realized we were drifting into the world of self-directed learning, under the umbrella of unschooling.

We began with Project-Based Learning. I was still holding on to the classical style of learning, so, being a lover of words, I created “Classical Mornings, Delight Driven Afternoons.” The children sat with me and listened as I taught them whatever I wanted to teach. They were obedient and compliant , yet restless. They looked at me, but glanced at the clock. Soon as they saw 12 noon, they hurried through lunch in order to rest in their delight of being the boss of their own learning. Soon, I noticed they were waking up early and beginning their DDL time. They were so engaged that I hesitated in pulling them away for my Classical Morning. I felt as if I were interrupting, intruding. Gradually, I began to let go, to trust that they would be curious, that they would learn. But I had my bad days.

I had plenty “parent-teacher conferences” in my head. Oh, the conversations were fierce!! Some days, the former professionally trained teacher would be quite irritated when she saw the children “not actively” learning!! She would glance at her boxed, package curriculum, look back at the children seemingly doing the supposed kryptonite of learning, “NOTHING”, and squirm in her seat!

“Look at them”, she would yell, they aren’t doing anything. They are just ___________ (fill in the blank with anything that doesn’t look like learning to a professional classroom teacher). Oh, she would march up the steps, presuming the parent wasn’t going to do anything about it, so she MUST take matters into her own hands and announce to the kids to meet her at the kitchen table in 15 minutes for math (it was always math or writing, isn’t it?). On her way back down the steps, the children’s wise and patient mother would block her way and remind her of an old children’s story that seemed to fit the situation.

Just like Toad, I created a perfect environment for my seedlings to grow. They had proper soil, water and sun, but I wanted results NOW! I wanted to be sure they were going to “do” something, not just sit in all this richness I provided. For the ones that loved art, I gave paper pads and colored pencils, online art tutorials. For the science seeds, I had experiments they could do, websites they could view. History books, current event discussions on hold for the kid that liked that. I was singing and dancing, shouting, trying to force feed all this stuff to my kids.

I. had. it. all.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

But like Toad, I lacked patience and trust and a real understanding that a true learning process takes time. I kept staring at them, looking for signs of growth, looking for them to be like all the wonderful unschooled, self-directed kids who are off creating awesome things in the world.

Then, like Frog, some wise master gardener of children ran up to me and asked what was all this noise, what is all this yelling? They advised me to“…leave them alone for a few days.

Let the sun shine on them, let the rain fall on them.

Soon, your seeds will start to grow.”

and just like that, they did.