Text Books

Why didn't anyone ever tell me about textbooks? Blimey, they are easy!

After almost 12 years of home-educating the hard way, we finally cottoned on to these. To be fair, they weren't around 12 years ago and also, to be honest, I don't like textbooks, so even if you had told me about them, I wouldn't have used them back then. But now? They are just the job.

Up to now, our home-education adventure consisted mainly (after a brief, disasterous foray into autonomous education for a year or so when nothing whatsoever got learned) of me designing my own, tailor-made, Charlotte Mason style approach or massively adapting Sonlight. Both of which involved a huge investment of time and energy on my part.

But we loved the way we did it, though. Lots of Living Literature, natural learning, plenty of educational trips out, hands-on workshops etc. I got seriously burned out once and had to take time off, got back on with it and then, like a marathon runner at about the 20 mile mark, I got serious about finishing this whole thing.

Realising that Jack needed to get in the groove for re-entry into mainstream education at some point in the next 3 years, I reluctantly started looking around for text books. Preferably British ones which would make it easier for him to take British exams. In the UK, the passport to Higher Education is the public exams which kids all take at age 16 and 18 years. It's sometimes possible for home-ed kids to avoid taking the 16+ exams, but much easier if they have a few under their belt before embarking on the 18+ exams. There is no acceptance into university here without them. (No transcript system, for eg.) I've known many who've tried and with the very rare exception, for really exceptional kids and courses, this is the WAY IT IS.

I ordered a few things from Galore Park (link above) and Jack set to on the science textbook his peer group would be following in some schools as of September. He's enjoying it. My involvement is minimal. The books are great. He's learning. He actually enjoys learning THIS way. Wow! Who knew?

However, I wouldn't go back and do it again differently. I'm pretty sure that the investment of time/energy/money/commitment in the way we did things over the last 12 years was really valuable in terms of their attitude to learning, their understanding of the world, their sense of empathy and compassion and so on. There have been all kinds of beneficial results.

Part of me is sad not to be so involved in what Jack will be learning from now on, nostalgic for the days we chatted endlessly about the things that interested us. My role of educator is changing. I'm not sure how I will be needed over the next few years. I'm sure I *will* be needed, just not sure what that role will be, yet.

In the meantime, even though Grace will be going to college one day a week to continue her education, I know that I'll continue to have more direct involvement in her education, which, due to her condition, I suspect will be a much slower, longer process.