In education there is often the tendency to overlay an "ideal" described by some "expert" on a situation where it does not fit. This is true whatever homeschool curriculum one chooses, be it an innovative program like Enki Education, a highly structured program like Oak Meadow, more flexible Waldorf Homeschooling programs such as Live Education or Christopherus, or any of the myriad of approaches on the market. In the homeschool, this often leads to trying to do too many things, or trying to recreate the standard classroom within the home. This serves no one.

From our perspective, the "ideal" is only approached when we take into account the specifics of a given situation, both personalities and realities, and use the homeschooling curriculum as a "blueprint" which we adapt to each situation. The ideal is only achieved as each parent works with the blueprint, modifying, enriching, and adapting it to the needs of her children and the practical, earthy realities of her situation. It is in this process, and not in the striving for some external perfection, that we join the vision and the practicalities, and find health and power: the ideal.

For the homeschool this means supporting a wholesome family life, with the normalcy and the relaxation that being at home allows, as we work to cover given material, offer particular experiences, and teach specific skills.

To do this it is important is to become clear on the deepest layers of the curriculum. We start by asking: what lies at the heart of each content area we choose to include in our work? Why do we have a circle? Why do we do crafts? Why do we study math? Why do we write? What lies at the heart of what we have chosen to include in our day? If we are going to bring something to the children, it must be worth doing AND it must support the overall health of the family.

If we take circle time as an example from the homeschool program, we start by asking: what lies at the heart of circle? What is essential to it? Where and how does it further connect us to ourselves and the world around us? How does it support the family?

The essential nature of circle is just that: a coming together as a whole. For some families a formal circle-time will serve just this purpose; for others it will have quite the opposite effect: a forced “should” that fractures all. Coming together as a family community can be, and usually is, accomplished quite naturally in the home, without ever forming a circle at all. There are other aspects of learning that are well suited to a circle, such as learning academics through movement and song, and neurological integration, but these can also be done at the playground or out on a morning walk, doing yard-work, or sitting together for family time at the end of the day. It is important that the form is not an end in itself, but that we take the heart and the goal of that curricular topic and use it to reach the ideal in our home – a happy, healthy family life.

Parent in Massachusetts:

Organic circle is falling into place here and I can see where it will always be an important part of our day. It has become easy to see that for us, at this stage, the circle goals are better met through forms other than Formal Circle. For us this means:

1. We are always a group, but gathering around the table, lighting a candle and singing a blessing song is what honors us as a family. We do this at any meal we have together at home, and that also ensures that Dad is included at least once a day.
2. Awakening and Energizing would be wonderful if we could always go for a walk, but with the baby coming in the late fall I know I would begin to let it slide very quickly. Instead we will do a short kid (and pregnant mama) friendly yoga stretch.
3. Neurological Development and Sensory integration: I can see, after getting really clear on what the issues are, and sitting down and listing our daily activities, so many of these goals are met through our everyday play. Things like providing large and heavy toys and giving the children useful jobs to do.

Becoming clear about our goals supports flexibility in both form and content. We take this same approach to each content area, and each aspect of the method. It is here that the nitty-gritty of the day comes together with the educational vision. This is discussed in depth in our Homeschool Teaching Guides; from there, our Homeschooling Resource Libraries and Instructional DVD's provide the actual materials – songs, stories, activities – which support the parent as she weaves an arts-integrated curriculum into her normal family life.

When we keep our focus on the core issues of what we want to bring the children, and on the health of the family, we find that the underpinnings of the Enki philosophy and methodology can be adapted to many learning environments, because in the end these are a description of how the child grows and an outlook on life. We encourage parents and teachers to look at the heart of the Homeschool Curriculum and adapt it accordingly.

NEXT -->