Rethinking Homeschooling: It’s About the Child, Not the Method

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In my latest podcast interview with Angela Sizer, we discussed ideas that challenge the typical home education narrative. We didn’t just talk about how to educate children, we flipped the script on what it means to truly educate at home.

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“A lot of the work in homeschooling is working on ourselves as parents. ”

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Rethinking homeschooling: it’s about the child, not the method…

It’s Not About the Method—It’s About Your Child

Angela and I both agree that we need to spend our time rethinking homeschooling. Homeschooling isn’t about following a strict curriculum or adhering to a method.

It’s about focusing on the unique needs of your child.

Too often, we might get caught up in wondering, “Am I doing this right?” But the truth is, it’s less about doing homeschooling “right” and more about creating an environment where your child feels supported and able to grow into who they are meant to be.

Individuation & the Adolescent Age of Exploration

As children reach the age of individuation—where they start carving out their own identities—it’s necessary for us as parents to honour their need for independence.

Homeschooling offers a beautiful opportunity to nurture this without stifling their curiosity. In our chat, Angela and I shared how we both strive to help our kids grow into thoughtful, independent thinkers who don’t follow us—or anyone else—blindly. (And I also acknowledge that I have found this challenging!)

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Rethinking Homeschooling: Defining Success Beyond Homeschool Kiddo Compliance

Here’s something that might make you pause: Have you ever considered how much we value compliance in our homeschooling?

We might even point to our most compliant child as the “success” story. But is that really success? Shouldn’t success mean raising kids who are confident enough to take risks, even when it means not doing what’s expected? Our conversation touched on creating a home where it’s okay to question, to think differently, and to take paths that might look unconventional.

Trust Your Gut: You Can Do This, Homeschool Mama!

If you’re a new homeschooler, feeling the weight of imposter syndrome—welcome to the club! We’ve all been there. But here’s the reality: You know your child better than anyone. Angela and I encourage all new homeschool families to trust themselves, reach out for support when needed, and avoid the comparison trap.

Homeschooling asks us to be comfortable with doing things outside the norm. It’s not easy at first, but once you lean into it, you’ll find the freedom to shape your homeschool around your family’s values and rhythms.

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Angela’s Homeschool Journey & Identity Shift

Writing her book gave Angela the opportunity to solidify her ideas, which felt like a huge accomplishment. She also spoke about her shift in identity—from being a teacher to a homeschooler, and now navigating life as her kids are growing and becoming more independent.

Final Thought…

In this interview, I also shared how I’ve grown to stop defending my choice to homeschool. I’ve realized that homeschooling isn’t a badge to wear or something to defend—if you want to homeschool, I’m here to support you. If not, that’s okay too.

Ultimately, Angela and I hope to encourage other homeschool families to rethink what success looks like, trust themselves, and confidently move toward the unconventional path they’ve chosen.

“However you educate your children, this book will help you find balance and connection within your family. Alongside, practical advice on learning differences, mental health, technology, socialization, Think Differently About Learning encourages the celebration of differences, curiosity, and measuring success in terms of joy, interest, and critical thinking. It is a blueprint for a fulfilling life beyond traditional measures of success.”

What We Discussed Rethinking Homeschooling in the Homeschool Mama Book Club

In the Homeschool Mama Book Club, we delved into Thinking Differently About Learning by Angela and Maren. The book sparked valuable conversations, particularly relevant to both new and experienced homeschool moms.

Key discussions included:

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Homeschooling: We explored how this framework can be applied to support the emotional and educational needs of the homeschool family.

Deepak Chopra’s Approach to Learning: We reflected on his perspective of prioritizing children’s passions, like tennis, over traditional academic struggles, such as math. This sparked a rich conversation on fostering children’s interests rather than forcing specific academic goals.

Responding vs. Reacting: We discussed how building self-awareness helps moms respond thoughtfully, especially in emotionally charged homeschool moments. This tied into conversations around emotional dysregulation and supporting both mom and children’s emotional needs.

Recognizing Children as Individuals: We emphasized the importance of viewing children as unique individuals with their own experiences and developmental paths.

“Vibe Check” Concept: Angela and Maren’s idea of regularly assessing the emotional atmosphere in the homeschool—checking if the environment is joyful or tense—resonated deeply. This intentional reflection helps maintain a positive learning space for both moms and kids.

Mental Health and Neurodiversity: We touched on the importance of self-care, mental health, and accommodating neurodiversity in homeschooling, as well as the challenges of transitioning into school or homeschool high school.

Failure and Success in Homeschooling: A powerful takeaway was that we can’t fail our children as long as we’re committed to learning about them, ourselves, and emotional regulation. By setting clear relational boundaries, we ensure success in our homeschooling journey.

This book is a must-read for anyone looking to shift their mindset and approach to homeschooling!

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In conclusion, you can find Angela & Maren’s book, Think Differently About Learning: A Homeschool where Children and Parents Thrive, and their resources at:

• Learn more about Angela & Maren here.
• Angela & Maren’s book, Think Differently About Learning: A Homeschool where Children and Parents Thrive.
• Find Angela & Maren on Instagram.
• Listen to our last episode discussing How to Survive the Pandemic when you Homeschool.

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Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/