My Head Is Going to Explode

So I’m in the middle of writing all these reviews—actually, reflections is a much better word—about Donna Simmons’s audio downloads, plus I’ve got other posts in my head springing from points addressed in earlier posts and comments this week, and each paragraph wants to blossom out into its own entire post, because there is So Much to Talk About. I realized I’ve had a lot of this discussion on a simmer for the past six months or more, but what with the move and all, I haven’t had time to dive into it.

Time, time, time, it always comes down to that.

Anyway, while I’m working on my reflections and whatnot (see, I don’t even have time to find sensible words), I thought I’d throw out a question for discussion. What’s your preference (or your children’s preference, and the answer may differ by child):

• total-immersion learning, where you dive deep into one subject and sort of live and breathe it through different media & activities for a good long chunk of time (methods like Waldorf, unit studies, rabbit trailing come to mind, as well as the natural tendencies of life in many unschooling households)

• slow-and-steady progression through particular books, in several subjects simultaneously (a la Charlotte Mason, classical ed, most school programs, etc)

or (as we do here)

• a combination of the two, shifting methods over time according to seasons, life changes, or kids’ needs?

Tawk amongst yaselves.

10 thoughts on “My Head Is Going to Explode”

  1. We definitely use a combination of methods. We like to immerse ourselves in a topic for a good while, diving totally into the latest obsession.But that can be exhausting after awhile, so in between we will chug along CM style intil the inspiration hits for another immersion and we dive back in!

  2. Yet ANOTHER timely topic!
    I have one son who has been diagnosed PDD-NOS (like Asperger’s). One of the diagnostic criteria for spectrum disorders is perseverative interests. Deep dives. And I am completely comfortable with that type of learning.
    However, the second-born requires a very different learning environment. He craves structure and “the slow and steady progression” you describe a la CM.
    For us, I’m guessing a combination method will be the way we go (we’ve only just begun homeschooling) because that way both children’s needs will be accommodated but both children will also be required to “stretch” their comfort zones, too.

  3. I kind of combine the two. Not because I am brilliant and plan it out that way for the school year, but because this seems to just happen naturally. Usually a short and steady CM subject or book will inspire a deeper furthers look at a subject..and then that subject will consume us for a month.
    good thoughts, you have me really thinking here…

  4. We really seem to float between the two here as well. I have some different ages to consider for what to cover and when so it seems the combo pack works well when there’s littles in tow with the bigger kids! Love your rambles! Are you thinking about the Toddler Carnival??

  5. We tend to float between the two, but we are ALWAYS immersed in Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, and more dinosaurs! Oh yeah, we are also immersed in lizards and snakes and big carnivores (& did I mention dinosaurs!)That’s why I call myself “mommy of boyz”!

  6. My daughter learns huge amounts by diving deep into her current obsessions. Usually I try to organize schoolwork around these particular subjects, but when they go on and on it gets harder! That is when I find myself trying to fill in lesson times with the slow-and-steady approach.
    Unfortunately, because her interest levels and consequent learning don’t match what she’ll learn the other way, it all seems flat and purposeless. I find myself asking “what’s the point?” an awful lot.
    Another problem is that her obsessions don’t come neatly one after the other. It the down-times when she has no particular interest it can be hard to inspire ourselves in school at all and we both become a little glum about it.
    I should add that I would LIKE to have a slow-and-steady approach, but have to follow my child’s needs. Great topic, as always!

  7. While my son does very well with an almost entirely HEO CM/classical combo, my daughter thrives with total immersion unit studies through out her year. I think it is knowing each of their personalities and interests that make it work. THe key is keeping myself in tune with them, their learning styles and interests. There aren’t exactly down times, for CM keeps us steady with a diet of quality reading.

  8. While my son does very well with an almost entirely HEO CM/classical combo, my daughter thrives with total immersion unit studies through out her year. I think it is knowing each of their personalities and interests that make it work. THe key is keeping myself in tune with them, their learning styles and interests. There aren’t exactly down times, for CM keeps us steady with a diet of quality reading.

  9. Yes, we do that. “That”, of course, is careening from one style to the other. I’d say we move gracefully and with due consideration from one style to the other, but that would be lying.
    For instance, I had every intention of doing a good ol’ Waldorf-style immersion into a 4th grade Man and Animal block (in spite of the fact that my kids aren’t the correct age). Didn’t happen. They also wanted to concurrently be doing a block on Egypt. And Greece. And could we please start that old McCall Speller we found in Grandpa’s basement? And so on and so forth.

  10. We do more of a fast-and-breathless progress through various separate studies, pausing now and then when something seems really tough. We don’t do a wide variety of subjects in a formal way, for better or worse, so we do get a good amount of coverage on whatever we’re doing. I kind of leave it to my daughter to dive deep, mainly by leaving around a lot of books on subjects I think she’s interested in. She’s also crazy for writing, playing piano, and drawing, so she uses up lots of her “self-directed” time on that.
    I wish we could do a more Unit Study approach, but things just seem to move too fast right now.

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