Project-based homeschooling is about mentoring my child so that he will eventually direct his own life-long learning. It’s not “arts and crafts,” and it’s not about letting him have his own way, willy-nilly. It’s about supporting his interests and desires and mentoring him so that he’ll dig deep into those interests and truly learn.
From my post, What is Project-based Homeschooling:
This process is about learning how to step back and see the value in letting your children take the lead. It’s also about learning how to “step in” to support their interests by helping them learn how to find answers to their questions, solve their own problems, achieve their own goals, and watch them become deeply engrossed in their work.
Children don’t get personal mentors in traditional school, but every child – homeschooled or not – has the opportunity to be mentored by a conscientious parent who knows him/her best, who is with him/her through it all, and who can guide him/her to the resources he/she needs to become more than passive learners.
My mentor in this process is Lori Pickert. Her website is wonderful, and if you’re interested in this method of homeschooling, I suggest you read it and her book.
Now that my eldest son is six, we’re embarking on project-based homeschooling in a more serious manner. Some of the kindergarten projects you see listed below were projects I initiated in order to “silently feed the interests” of my young children. But in later projects, such as the Celery-Lettuce Cake and Building the Titanic, my son initiated and controlled every point of the project. As he gets older, I’m more able to talk to him about his projects and where he wants to take them.
I hope you’ll follow along with us on this journey! Thank you!
PROJECT-BASED HOMESCHOOLING
Introduction:
What is Project-based Homeschooling? - A good place to start.
Book Review: Project-based Homeschooling: Mentoring Self-Directed Learners
Interview with Lori Pickert: Getting Started with Project-based homeschooling for Younger Children, Part 3 - This post has a Question and Answer with Lori Pickert in the comments area for YOUR questions. Check out the good questions that have already been asked.
Embracing the Chaos, Part 2: Creating a Welcoming Environment for Homeschooling
Experimenting with Project-based Homeschooling, Part 1 ~ My very first glimpse at PBH. For more in depth, see other posts.
Kindergarten Projects:
How to Build a Wildlife Habitat in Your Yard
Music Appreciation with Beethoven
A Kindergarten Child-Led Project: Seeds, Plants, Gardening
The Eastern King Snake & Our Snake Project
Using Storytelling and Puppet Shows in Homeschool
A Child-Led Project: The Celery Lettuce Cake
Kindergarten / First Grade Projects:
Building the Titanic: Project-based Homeschooling - an example of PBH in real life.
Rockets and the Benefits of Failure: Project-based Homeschooling
The Little Projects: Project-based Homeschooling – What my son spends most of his time doing. The “in between” projects & experimentation with different mediums.
