We're also fans of the child-led learning approach. Until last year, it looked almost like radical unschooling. I say "almost" because I am not the sort of parent who will allow anything. Our family is biased against most TV and video games...yes, we're one of those families. So he would spend his time reading, writing stories and plays, playing with Lego and Playmobil, playing with friends, dressing up and play-acting, cooking, riding bikes, going on hikes, etc.
My role as a homeschooling mom is to provide an environment rich in learning opportunities, and then watch closely to see what strikes his fancy. Then, I feed that bliss with moremoremore.
About 9 months ago, he asked for more schooly-type work. He specifically asked for formal lessons in grammar, word roots, math and history. I suggested adding in some science and spanish. So that's where we are now. On a typical day, he does 3-4 hours of formal lessons. It's working fine now, but I'm open to changing things up if necessary. I know that soon, he will have passed my comfort level in math. I am not a math whiz --in fact I have forgotten a lot of my own math education-- and he's starting algebra now, so I will need to seek out some help in that area very soon.
I have cobbled together some curriculum from different sources. I'm happy with some, not so much with others. Curriculum is such a mixed bag!
E
