Making Our Homeschool Unique (and a Giveaway)

Welcome to week two of Home Educating Family's  Not-Back-to-School Blog Hop! Each Friday there will be a new topic, and a giveaway for you! 

This week's topic is what makes our homeschool unique. At first I struggled with this because to me, our life is just normal and boring. However, every family is unique even in the smallest ways and I decided to focus on the details.

One of the main reasons that I homeschool is because I don't like the model of the public school system. I don't think it's wise to have children sit at desks for the majority of a 7 or 8 hour day. I don't think they should be inundated with worksheets and busywork. Our own educational philosophy relies on "living books" and not "twaddle" as Charlotte Mason calls it. We try to avoid textbooks or workbooks if it's poisslbe and I look for colorful, engaging picture and chapter books to help us learn. I try to impart a love for good literature and learning in general, although admittedly, my children are not naturals at this. 

Our family also has a schedule that may be a little different than some. First, we are all night owls. The kids go to sleep around 10:30 or 11 pm (bedtime is 10 but they may read) and wake up around 8 or 8:30 am. My husband works a lot, both days and nights and he doesn't leave for his first job until around 11 am. Personally, I find homeschooling with him home difficult and awkward, so often times, the majority of our school day takes place in the afternoon. I'm also responsible for all the activities like dance, soccer, scouting and appointments so we have to try very hard to stay on task. 

Every family is different and has to do what works for them. I absolutely hate it when people think that homeschooling has to be like public school at home. This is not true! Find what fits your family's abilities and lifestyle and do it!  Don't be afraid to break out of the box. That's the beauty of homeschooling isn't it?

How is your homeschool unique? Feel free to share below in the comments!

Hop on over here to read more homeschooling stories from Home Educating Family's reviewers!

And, be sure to enter to win this week's prize: a Home Educating Family 2012-13 wall calendar. Just fill out the easy Rafflecopter link below and that's it! They're all optional so enter once or enter more--it's up to you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway