When I was on the brink of turning thirteen I'm pretty sure I only knew that "forge" was a verb that had something to do with your parent's signature, and "quench" was how you satisfied your thirst after a long bike ride.
And a blacksmith? That was someone you saw at Old World Wisconsin on the fourth grade field trip. Not a real person in the real world. And certainly not me.
But around here, life (and learning) is a little different than it was when I was a kid. And I mean "different" in a really wonderful way.
Because as positive as my public school experience was growing up in the '70's and '80's, for us this is school: my kid with a red hot piece of iron and a hammer on a June afternoon.
Our homeschooling mission is to dig in and do whatever we're imagining.
Even if on the surface it doesn't seem "academic".
Or "practical". Or "realistic". Or even possible sometimes.
That thing you've been dreaming of? Whatever it may be? Yeah. That. Let's get to work on it. Today.
Make a plan and make it happen. That our homeschooling path.
A model train layout based on the history and geography of the Driftless region, a small wooden car that runs on a lawnmower engine, lots of from-scratch candy making, fresh baked bread, a peroxide-powered rocket, a battle bot, a tree house, and a blacksmithed sword are all on Sage's current project list.
Will he finish them all? Probably not. But will he learn a great deal along the way? Absolutely.
So yes, he could spend his time sitting at a desk memorizing facts and taking tests. I'm certain there are things he'd know more about if he did. But are they the things that he is driven to learn about? Are they the things that would feed his insatiable hunger for knowledge?
I am certain they are not.
Instead, his time is spent literally fanning the fires in his blacksmithing forge as he figuratively fans the fires of his passion for knowledge.
The forge may not look academic, but it is feeding his love of learning each and every day.
And instead of constantly seeing how he compares to his classmates in any given subject, he sees his own dreams taking shape by the power of his young hands.
We learn by imagining, planning, and doing without limits.
We learn through our passions and interests; through trying, failing, and trying again.
Sure, we sit down and crank out some spelling words or practice our cursive now and then, but that is the exception, not the rule. Instead we learn – not by constantly looking at where we fall short – but instead by believing in ourselves and knowing we can do whatever we put our minds to.
It's learning with not only our heads, but also our hearts and our hands.
And for us that's learning of the best possible sort.
love this, rachel. my father-in-law was a professional blacksmith so my ears always perk up when someone else talks about it. love seeing sage explore this!
after home grown was released, and the media frenzy followed, one of the questions ben hewitt was asked repeatedly is, “won’t your kids miss out on certain things by not attending school?” his response? “of course they will! just as kids who attend school will miss out on certain things, too.” it’s just the way it is! none of us can do everything, and so we choose a path that is filled mostly with the things we want to do, in a way that we want to live.
i’m so excited for you as you enter these teenage homeschooling years. it’s really where you see it all come together. but hang on, mama… you have to keep up! oh my gosh these teens have big ideas and with the freedom of homeschooling, family culture becomes all about helping them explore the world and find their independence. and i don’t mean in a “field trip” explore the world kind of way. i’m talking about big, time committed, personal development, kid-to-adulthood types of endeavors. it’s an amazing chapter.
As I’ve watched the pieces of Emily’s homeschooling journey that you have shared unfold I’ve thought much about this. They sky is indeed the limit. Thanks for prepping me for the next chapter.
As I read this my homeschooled child is sitting at the table taking her first ever standardized test. We dont have to do it and I may give up half way but I realized that it is I who am seeking this confirmation on how she is doing. It seems really odd to me that I am actually having her participate in this as I am against standardized testing in general. Perhaps it is because this year has been quite hectic with getting this farm up and running that I want to make sure I am not neglecting her education. I wonder how you go about getting around the school board requirements with schooling such as you do. I would love to do more of that but like Emily, Athena likes certain subjects and likes order and predictablility. Her favorites are Shakespeare and Latin, both of which are not on the radar for our school requirements. There is a lot to ponder this summer as I prepare for next year, that is for sure.
As I’ve said so many times before we (adults and kids alike) are such a varied lot. If a test on occasion boosts your confidence that you and Athena are doing okay, they perhaps that’s your ideal path. Because worry can undermine us. But I think even more than a test you know in your gut when you watch her engage in something that fuels her passion. As for requirements, every state in the US is different. Wisconsin homeschoolers enjoy a great deal of freedom to choose what is best for their children.
Superbly said! And my favorite part is that all the projects may not be finished but they’re learning along the way!
Rachel, I cannot tell you how each and every one of your posts is so inspiring! I hadn’t really considered homescholing, though I have for long thought current formal education needs revisiting. Here in Spain it is sadly all about huge classrooms of 30-40 kids and no insterest or concern in their individual interest, motivations or how they are doing and more about memorising facts for exams (and quickly forgetting them, I’m afraid) than truly learning anything and feeling inspired to unfold and develop your true potential.
I have a baby boy who just turned 9 who is with me at home (already a fact many friends seem to frown at) but definatelly will start considering his school education and your post is definately food for thought..like so many other changes we have been making in our everyday lives for the better! Thank you!!!
Hi Rachel,
I am delighted to have just found your blog… so inspiring and affirming. I homeschool in rural England. As I am reading this post my yougest son (11) is painting the rudder for our delapidated little boat in the workshop, my 7 year old daughter is spring cleaning her playhouse because good weather has finally arrived in England today!!, my 14 year old son is farming with his 2 sheepdogs at a friend’s farm and my eldest son(17)has just finished some exams and has taken the train up to the Cairngorms in Scotland to do some walking and wild camping for 4 days… I think that children who are allowed the kind of freedom to learn like yours truly know what their path is. They become passionate and knoweledgable experts in what they love, which I believe is what the world needs. Thanks for all the inspiration and recipes etc…
Yes, yes, yes! We are just finishing up our 4th year of homeschooling. Ours is eclectic and usually finds its way to unschooling. Loved this post. Blessings to you and your family.
Perfect! Our schools look very similar! This year my oldest built a go cart out of scrap wood, worked with a few blacksmiths (We are trying to figure out how to let him have his own shop because he feels this is his passion), built a boat house with my dad and on and on. We do sit down and do work each week but it is minimal.
One reader asked about testing. We are required to test each year and so far we are always above, on or slightly below grade level (no surprises.. the child who gets math, scores high in math…the child who reads a lot, scores higher in reading). I was worried about this for a while-mainly due to outside pressure from friends and family. I now have found that my kids know how to learn and that they are learning-daily, without workbooks!
Now if I can learn to live with the messes that come with all of these projects, I will be a completely relaxed mama!
Oh the wonder out there! There certainly isn’t anything more wonderful than seeing a child with passion. My oldest has tried forging at a local historical farm and loved it. He is into carving now as well as is his younger brother. The freedom to find their passions is what life is about. Yes, we too, do some math and grammar but they learn so much from living. 🙂
Hi Rachel,
I was just reading back articles on MrMoneyMustache.com and came across this one on blacksmithing/welding…so if Sage is still into the craft, he could have a pretty great future career choice on his hands 🙂
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/04/16/unlock-your-inner-mr-t-by-mastering-metal/
Enjoy!