Member-only story
What the Homeschool Home Looks Like
The purpose of the learning environment
There were over one hundred families in our homeschool community, and I have visited many of their homes.
In general, homeschooling families live on fairly tight budgets. They frequent thrift shops, cook at home, and make full use of local libraries. They are families who have more than one child, and share resources. Our community group shared a list-serv, and if you put out a call for a book or orange shades of yarn, you’d have a quick response. Someone might even drop it in your mailbox on their way to pick-up hockey. Homeschooling families tend to be busy. Many are involved with churches or community caring and building, scouting, etc. Many are artists, both adults and children. There may be musical instruments in every room. Bathrooms become mini-galleries, and craft projects are on every surface. Family clocks, teapot trivets, spice racks, are hand-made. Maps hang on the walls, bookshelves are double-layered with bulging sides. Yards have vegetable gardens or decks have planters with parsley next to pansies, and hand-made outdoor furniture or a kid-constructed tree house. Craft materials and science experiments, books, and videos, snow camping gear, and carpentry tools — real ones, not toys — is typical.