One of the most beautiful aspects of homeschool parents (which includes the hybrid homeschooler!) is their willingness to learn alongside their children. Any type of schooling can be done poorly. When homeschooling is at its best, the whole family is engaged in pursuing the truth—like St. Albert the Great says, “in the company of friends.”
Stories of the saints, knights, talking beavers, pioneers, orphan girls, runaway slaves, monster slayers, toads that drive fast cars, all work together for the greater glory of God—chiefly by showing that the truth is more than what meets the eye.
High School students Sarah Lanicek and Tim Haunsperger wrote this reflection after meeting with Alan Graham, founder of Community First! Village and Mobile Loaves and Fishes. The interview was part of the Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience from The Catholic University of America, a program that helps students apply principled entrepreneurship to their callings in the Image of God.
You read our tips on starting an in-depth, Socratic-style discussion with your teens and decided to give it a whirl. Meanwhile, you’ve got a two year old in the bathroom diligently unwinding an entire roll of toilet paper. Today, we’re sharing the first in a series of tips called Engaging Your Littlest Learners—easy ways to keep little ones happy while the big ones do school work, using items you’ve probably already got on hand.
One of the great delights of being present with our children as they get older is to witness the deepening of their intellect. Almost overnight, they seem able to articulate thoughts more eloquently and make connections between ideas on their own. In the adolescent years, this maturing of the mind begins to shine.
Children awake before the alarm clock, get dressed, make the bed, eat breakfast, find socks, feed the dog, get backpack, pack water bottle, turn off lights, get in car, then get out of car to change baby’s diaper, and return to car. In all of the busyness of the morning, putting a spiritual practice in place takes… well, discipline.
We call learning at its best “organically-structured”. We understand that education is a dynamic process of growth, movement and life. For Father Kentenich, his hope was that each student (including the adults working with them) become lifelong learners, fostering independent initiative and creativity.
With the turning of the calendar to a new year, my thoughts always turn to how I am to better myself. The typical list of resolutions went through my head again this year – eat healthier, exercise more, budget better … work toward my own sainthood. That’s when I put on the brakes, trying to squeeze out the origin of that thought.
