Develop Your Approach

Delight-directed learning takes advantage of the natural motivation in our children toward a passionate interest. Under parental supervision, support and guidance, the child is given the time and space to investigate and explore his interests. By providing the materials and applying the educational tools of learning (reading, writing, arithmetic, reason) to the subject matter, the parent can encourage the child to acquire knowledge for himself. In delight-directed learning, there is no scope and sequence in which to learn "the facts." Rather, the facts are acquired as a subject is developed from our child's interests. There are many ways to incorporate this method in our homes - some formal (starting a unit study) and some very informal (providing reference books, field trips, notebooks, paper and supplies). Whatever your approach, you'll want to consider these gems from the delight-directed perspective:

Life purpose. If the ultimate goal of our homeschool is to prepare our children for their future, then the top objective on that list should be to help our children find their life purpose. They have been wonderfully created with a desire toward the purpose for which the Creator will use them. We can take advantage of the benefits of educating at home by allowing them time to explore their interests, to encourage their unique strengths, guide them in developing these strengths and tutor them in applying these strengths as their interests develop.

Developing creativity. Delight-directed studies can't help but to foster creativity. Creativity is an outgrowth of providing our children the time they need to explore and express their interests.

Motivation. One sign that our educational efforts are succeeding will be when our children are able to acquire knowledge and learn on their own; when we find it difficult to keep them supplied with rich material as their level of interest peaks. There is no better motivation for learning than the one that comes from within. Make use of your child's interests to foster learning.

Exploration. Never underestimate the value of providing your children with time to explore. Through their free time, we have an opportunity to see our children's natural bents and interests. Through "play" our children have an opportunity to explore and develop their interests and talents.

Further Reading

• ARCHERS-HS
  E-mail list for those following a "relaxed homeschooling method" described by Mary Hood. ARCHERS stands for The Association of Relaxed Christian Home Educators.
• Basic Intro to Delight-Directed Learning
  "First, just to clear up the usual mis-impression, 'delight-directed' does not mean "flesh-directed." It simply means that as much of the child's education as possible is built on his/her interests and delights rather than on generic text/workbooks and/or a curriculum company’s scope and sequence." Barb Shelton's explanation of what delight-directed learning is and what it is not.
• Delight-Directed Learning
  "The child’s personal interests in life should not be looked upon as having mere fringe educational benefits, but should be recognized as central to his development." Delight-directed learning as explained by Marilyn Howshall.
• Delight-Directed Study
  "Delight-directed learning places students in charge of their own learning, helping them find something they want to accomplish. The delight-directed method uses natural curiosity to motivate the student. The student acquires basic concepts of learning (reading, reasoning, writing, researching, etc.) during the process of examining the topic of interest. Less control can lead to more learning." Article from Heart of Wisdom.
• Delight-Directed Study
  "In a delight-directed study, a child’s interests are fanned to flame and supported in ways that increase his interest in his studies. The child’s delight is the spark that ignites everything. Once established, like a fire, it is self-sustaining. The student begins to study for his own personal satisfaction, and the fruits of his study begin to flow outward to others." Article by Gregg Harris, author of The Christian Home School.
• The Fire Method
  " We have chosen the term 'Fire' because it so fully incorporates all that we are trying to do with our children. It conveys a sense of excitement in learning, and it invokes the image of a burning passion for understanding." Terri Camp's site, Ignite the Fire.
• Interests of Our Children
  "This 'gift' of time to slow down and check out things that held their interest gave a tremendous boost to their creativity, inventiveness, and their own understanding of themselves. They were not conformists -- they were given the freedom to find out what made them 'special' -- what God had given them from their conception -- their gifts and talents. Article by Amanda Bennett.
• What is Delight-Directed Learning
  One homeschool mom explains what it is and how it looks in her home as she homeschools through high school. Home-Made Living site.