I realize not everyone who peruses this blog comes here via the
homeschool path. Some of you are interested in Ms. D and what she's
doing, others stop by and hope to catch some of the wise, witty and
wonderful things that I may chance to utter. It happens.
Those of you in the later two categories may be wondering about the title of the blog. The whole eclectic she-bang.
There
are various homeschool methodologies and eclectic homeschooling is one
of them. After starting my homeschooling as strictly a boxed curriculum
kinda gal, we've morphed into what is generally termed as eclectic
schooling. I found a perfect and concise description of eclectic
homsechooling by Beverly S. Krueger of Eclectic Homeschool Online and thought I would quote her here:
Eclectic homeschoolers might say they unschool most things, but use curriculum for math. You will also find eclectic homeschoolers that use a variety of different curriculums that they adjust to fit the needs of their families. Most eclectic homeschoolers can't take a product and just use it. Just as a mechanic likes to tweak the engine in his car to get just a bit better performance, so eclectic homeschoolers tweak the curriculum they use. Then you find the eclectic homeschoolers that use no curriculum at all relying on good books and hands on resources to help their children learn.
Eclectic homeschoolers use what "seems" best at the time. The choices eclectic homeschoolers make are not erratic. The methods and resources they select to use are chosen to further the educational goals they have for their children. Their children's temperaments, gifts, and learning styles are all taken into account in determining how they will homeschool and what they will use.
To avoid making mistakes most eclectic homeschoolers are resource scavengers. They want to know what you are using and why. If you stopped using something they are considering buying, they want to know why you stopped. If someone says they have a list of resources for a study on the middle ages, they want a copy. If you are looking for a particular item, they'll know right where to find it in one of the catalogs they have stacked in a pile. When someone begins a discussion on a particular way of homeschooling, they are all ears listening for new ideas or a different angle on an old idea.
I
thought the part about being a resource scavenger was particularly
true. I spend a lot of time finding resources, gathering and buying.
I'm always thinking ahead and trying to figure what is working, what
isn't, what will work later, and what won't. As Ms. D changes so do her
needs for learning. Not to mention I am, at heart, an autodidact. I
love books and resources and discovering new ones is always a kick. So,
"hence the name" Eclectically Yours. I figured since it was a
homeschool blog the name made sense. It has nothing whatsoever to do
with the fact that my inner glamour girl and inner granola chick are at
odds. It has nothing to do
with the fact that Vogue sits and one corner of my nightstand and
Einsteins biography on the other. Nothing at all to do with the fact
that I don't really have a nightstand, just a plastic tub, yet I yearn
for a Stickley nightstand.
Here's to dual personalities.
Love your blog & its name...from a fellow "eclectic" homeschooler.
~Tammy
Posted by: Tammy | February 29, 2008 at 07:45 PM