Home Education Magazine

July-August 1999 - Articles

"Do you follow a curriculum?" Besides the "socialization" question, this is the most common question posed to me, especially from new homeschoolers. We don't follow a curriculum. But that isn't a satisfactory answer to those who ask because what they really want to know is where they should start in their homeschooling. What kind of plan can they follow? Where can they find the materials and resources to homeschool? I feel reluctant to respond to these queries because I don't know what their educational philosophy is or what kind of resources they are seeking. If they are seeking a more conventional, school-at-home approach, then rattling on about unschooling, interest-led learning may not be appropriate. If they count themselves among the unschooling movement, then listing the many published curricula available would also be inappropriate.
But I have discovered a very simple and successful resource for homeschooling my kids. It's a list of famous people. This list was the start of an ever-evolving "curriculum" for us. Our list consists of illustrious men and women from our religious tradition, Unitarian-Universalism. Learning about heroes and heroines, their lives and ideals, their struggles and triumphs, leads us into history, science, art, architecture, music, literature, civics and many other traditional school subjects. But it also reaches beyond academic learning. The most important learning that occurs is the character development that is inherent in studying the lives of great individuals. By looking into the lives of great people, we hope to give our children models for their own lives - models who have shown compassion for their fellow human beings, models who have stood up for what they believe in, often against great opposition. This is what we want our kids to take with them.
After using this list awhile, I got to thinking what a wonderful resource a list of famous people might be for all homeschoolers. For those who do "school-at-home", the list can interweave with academic areas. For new homeschoolers, a list of famous people can be a starting point. As interests get piqued, natural learning will follow. Such a list may be very helpful to homeschoolers who have to submit a study plan to the state. They can submit their list and the related areas they plan to study.
A list is simple and it's unique to each family, just as the practice of homeschooling is unique to each family. Each family can find or make their own list. The list could be people that share the family's religious, cultural or ancestral heritage such as renowned African-Americans, famous Jews, Baptists, or Muslims, saints, well-known Swedes, Japanese, etc. Great individuals come from all races, religions and regions of the world.
Resources for finding lists of famous individuals include the Internet, your own church or temple, and your local library. You could generate your own list by having all of the members of your family write down the names of their heroes and heroines. Think about people who are heroes to you and find out more about them. They can be famous people or they can be those quiet heroes and heroines in your own family or community, people who demonstrate kindness and compassion, perseverance, or quiet strength.
Or your family can come up with categories - scientists, artists, musicians, mathematicians, Mexican-Americans, women, community heroes, family heroes, etc., and either fill in the names of people you admire, or explore someone who draws your interest but whom you know very little about. Librarians can help guide you in filling in the blanks. Homeschoolers who follow a more conventional approach could categorize by academic area.
Once you've got your list, it can be approached in a number of ways. We usually read a biography or two. There are biographies written for even very young kids such as David A. Adler's series: My First Picture Book or The Childhood of Famous Americans series. You can read biographies aloud or each member of the family can read a biography at his or her own level of understanding.
Usually a look into the life of someone on the list will lead us deeper into a related area. Reading about Clara Barton, for example, could lead you into learning more about nursing, the Civil War, the American Red Cross and/or about emergency first aid (as it did us).
Often a topic leads us to a famous person on our list. We read aloud Meet Addy, by Connie Porter, from the American Girl series. The book is about a girl and her mother who run away from slavery. This book spurred an interest in learning more about the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement. In addition to learning about Harriet Tubman, a look at our list revealed the names of Theodore Parker, Samuel May, William Ellery Channing and others who worked to abolish slavery.
Some experimenting with electricity led us not only to Thomas Edison but another pioneer in the field of electronics who was on our list, Lewis Latimer, an African-American scientist who worked with Edison. From there we pursued a study of the lives and work of other African-Americans on our list.
When we've exhausted our interest in one thing, we just look at our list and are off on another adventure. The list has not limited us to learning only about those whose names grace it. It is a jumping off point. It has taken us to the places, the times, and the lives of a variety of people. One time we read an article about a person on our list, American civil rights activist Whitney Young, and through a series of connections ended up studying about India and Hinduism.
It's an exciting way to learn! The arts, the sciences, and all those other academic and vocational areas always come into play using this approach. I recommend it for those who are just starting the homeschooling adventure and for those who want to add some spark to their home learning.
©1999, M Roth

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