Ahhhhh....so this is what we are.

I have been struggling with defining my homeschooling method lately. People ask us all the time "What are you doing for school?" and I have a hard time answering that question, because we really aren't doing anything set in stone. I only use curriculum for mathematics and language, and use an unschooling approach for all other subjects. You will notice that all our school posts are under a section labeled "homeschooling/unschooling" because we do both. 

I feel like knowing mathematics and language in depth is very important, and if a child knows those things everything else will be easier to absorb naturally, when they show interest in learning other subjects. I prefer a child led, interest based, unschooling approach to history, science, literature, language, art, geography, and other subjects. If a child never shows interest in , let's say science, then I don't feel the need to force them to learn in that area, knowledge cannot be forced. Knowledge must be willingly taken in. It should be food for the hungry mind. I do not see the point in feeding a child who is hungry for history, science. From where I stand that is nonsense.

What I found out today while surfing the net, is that there is name for what we do, and that is

"relaxed eclectic homeschooling."

We have cultivated a free learning environment, tailored to each of our children. We no longer are 3rd graders or kindergarteners (no labels), we are just "seekers of knowledge."

The following text comes from

http://www.homeschool-curriculum.org/eclectic-homeschooling.html#ixzz1gxhPh3dU

Eclectic Homeschooling

Why Eclectic Homeschooling?

There are many different approaches to homeschool education. Some parents choose to use a traditional textbook approach. Others prefer unit studies or online curriculum. Still others take a mixture of all of the homeschooling options and use what works best for them. This approach is referred to as the eclectic approach to homeschool education…and it is where many experienced home school families end up.

What is an Eclectic Homeschool?

Eclectic homeschool families do not use any one homeschool curriculum or idea to guide their education. They look at all of the options and pick and choose what seems to work best for them at that particular time. This approach may use concepts from many different ways of homeschooling, from workbook driven to classical education to unschooling…and use the ones that fit their particular learning style and interests. This is a great advantage for those who use the eclectic style of homeschooling.

Why Parents Like This Method

Parents choose this method because they can tailor their child's education to what fits the child best. Not every child learns the same way. That is why there are so many different curriculum choices out there. Sometimes, even the best curriculum will not address all of a child's learning needs. This is where eclectic homeschooling shines.

Parents who choose the eclectic approach can choose what works and discard the rest. This makes for a child focused, interesting education that many kids respond well to.

Why It Is Different than other Methods

It is very different than other approaches to homeschooling because it does not generally follow one or two methods. Instead, it takes what it wants from as many different sources as it can find.

Families who choose the eclectic approach to homeschool education are often curriculum scavengers. They pick an choose the parts of other homeschooling approaches that they like and use them. They are not afraid to abandon what doesn’t work for them.

This is the beauty of eclectic homeschool. You can try and use as many different approaches as you like!