The Right Environment
The perfect environment might include a library stacked with neatly packed floor-to-ceiling book shelves. It might have a twenty-acre backyard full of garden paths, farm animals and stocked ponds. There might be a light-filled room where the serious studies could take place at comfortable workstations equipped with shelves and storage space for supplies. There might be an activity room for Legos, Tinkertoys, train tracks, solar system mobiles, art supplies and science experiments. Perhaps it would even include a small multi-media room for videos, computers, audio tapes and satellite learning. Don't have a place quite like this? With a bit of imagination, your home can be transformed into a wonderful learning environment. Most importantly, it can be a place where children are free to experiment, discover and learn in a nurturing atmosphere.
Atmosphere. One of the most important ways we can enrich our homeschool environment is by cultivating a loving, warm and encouraging atmosphere. Each child is uniquely gifted. His favored area may NOT be math! This is where the encouragement comes in. Parents are a child's best cheerleader. We can listen with rapt attention, empathize with their frustrations, and share their joy! Homeschooling provides an opportunity to set our children's giftings free, slow down and overcome weaknesses, encourage creativity, work on good habits, and to teach them what it means to live for Christ.
- The Atmosphere of Home
"It is the life-supporting atmosphere of home working in a child's life that is so important in his education." Article by Karen Andreola.
Create inspiring learning centers. You will find many wonderful sources on the topic of creating inspiring learning centers. The idea is to group interesting things together in an accessible area where your child will want to spend time. You might start with a small bookshelf stocked with level-appropriate readers; or a corner for science kits and projects. Other ideas might include areas for art supplies, paper, scissors and the like. A unit study can be supplemented with a wall for historical reference books, historical fiction, biographies, paper doll cut-outs, timelines and time-period related kits appropriate to the topics you are studying. Be sure to include a space for reference materials. Also, try rearranging on occasion. If your children develop a sudden fascination with dinosaurs, make and decorate a special space for them with books, reference materials, coloring or sticker books, photos from a related field trip, models and art material. You'll be amazed at how much time they spend there - learning on their own!
Always ready to read. Whether snuggled up on the couch or sitting under the shade tree in summer, providing time and space to read instills in our children not only a love of reading, but also the notion that reading isn't something we do solely in a "school" setting. Provide your family with an environment rich in reading opportunities. Certainly, each child can have his own time and space for silent reading. But reading aloud is something the entire family can enjoy at any time or place during the day. Try reading in different locations in and around your home throughout the day, letting each child pick a spot - you'll soon discover the family favorite!
The world of backyard nature. Take lots of nature walks, plant gardens or if you live in an apartment, pot windowsill plants. Inexpensive field guides are available for all types of investigation including birds, trees, insects, and wildflowers. Provide sketchbooks, color pencils. There are also kits available for catching butterflies or insects, rock collecting and gardening. Nature is a perfect learning environment!
- In an English Garden
Think nature study isn't for you? See if these ideas from Catherine Levison don't get you motivated! - Start a Nature Notebook
"If we give our children regular opportunities to get in touch with God's creation, a habit is formed which will be a source of delight throughout their lives." Article by Karen Andreola.
Value play time. Children need plenty of time and space for play. It is during their playtime that we find what interests them - what they delight in. Provide your children with areas to dump out the blocks and build; or table space to work on that puzzle Aunt Gertrude sent at Christmas. Help them find space and household materials for pretend-play: puppet theater, grocery store or veterinary. Or engage them in board or card games. Don't forget outdoor favorites: sidewalk chalk, bubbles, kites, ball games. With a bit of attention and organization you will find playtime to be one of your children's most enjoyable learning times!
Back to basics. There will probably be one space where you will hit the books. Encourage consistent discipline by providing one spot where a child is accustomed to sitting, writing and completing "lessons." Some families take this a step farther and have desks installed, while others will simply use the kitchen table. Just make sure there is ample room to spread out.
Further Reading
- Growing as Parents: Our Influence and Attitude
"It's easy to get caught up in homeschooling and focus on the children's academic performance--inadvertently giving them the impression that performing well equals acceptance, but experiencing difficulties equals disapproval or even rejection. Our attitude has such an effect upon them! Our children need to feel secure in our unconditional love. In a very real sense, the security they feel in our love and care can influence how secure they feel in their Heavenly Father's love and care--which truly is unconditional." Tamara Eaton from CHFWeb shows us ways we can demonstrate our love to our children daily. - How and Where to Teach
"Our teaching should be full of life and force, full-bodied and savory enough to whet our children's appetites for God. God can help us do this as we try to impart truth to our children." Article by Kathy Ridpath. - How to Create a Dynamic Learning Environment in Your Home
"The primary objective in creating this dynamic home learning environment is to make learning fun, natural, and to foster a healthy curiosity that should result in an independent learner." Creative tips from Susan Franklin. - Ideas for Practical Real-Life Home Schooling
Joan LaCelle offers many great ideas for encouraging a creative, nurturing and fun learning environment. - Putting Home in Home Schooling
Where do you start in creating the ideal homeschool environment? By putting the "home" in homeschool. "Your home can and should be a warm, vibrant place where your children love to learn as freely and as naturally as they love to play. In fact, education is the natural outgrowth of the discipleship relationship between parents and children, so it should be the natural activity of every Christian home." Article by Clay Clarkson.