When we first started homeschooling, I didn’t have a name for what I wanted our days to look like. We were a little bit Waldorf, a touch of Montessori, and a lot unschool.
At first, homeschooling can look and feel a little messy.
It was for us.
Uncertainty is why I bought curriculum, used worksheets, and painstakingly researched every option. I found a lot of information and spent a lot of money.
Finally I came back to what I found true as a teacher, my students’ and children’s interests were the MOST important and where we needed to focus.
What is Interest-Led Learning
(If you’re saying, I’m a teacher, not a homeschooler, and this doesn’t apply to me. I am both. It really does. Keep reading.)
Interest-Led Learning doesn’t have a formula, a textbook, a box of curriculum, or a list of skills to check off. In fact, Interest-Led Learning looks different for each family and for each child, because how we learn and what we’re interested in is different for each of us.
Interest-Led learning is the recognition that we learn best when we are interested. Student’s interests lead. This might look like a student picking the topic they want to study in science, the math unit they want learn first, and the books they want to read.
Every single child, no matter where they learn, has one thing in common; they have interests, and therefore interest-led learning can work for any child.
What Does Interest-Led Learning Look Like?
It depends on who is doing the learning. It looks different for everyone. This is both a gift and a challenge. There isn’t one way. There aren’t set rules or curriculum.
Here are a couple of examples of how Interest-Led learning works for us:
A Third Grade Interest-Led Curriculum
A Day in the Life of Interest-Led Learners
Questions You Might Have about Interest-Led Learning
1. What are we going to do all day?
The sky is the limit. Your child’s interests may lead you on a hike, into a documentary, on the couch with a pile of books, making slime, reading to animals at the shelter, playing games, or learning Pre-Algebra.
If you’re a classroom teacher read and learn all you can about Reading and Writing Workshop. Nancie Atwell’s books will give you all the tools you need to implement both in your classroom.
You can have a set schedule or keep one that’s more loose. You can do every subject every day or focus on just a few things each day. Again, there are no rules. Interests are simply prioritized.
2. What are my kids/students going to learn?
A lot! Kids are more motivated to learn (especially if learning is hard) if they are interested.
3. Life isn’t always interesting and sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do.
It’s true. Don’t worry, your kids will get PLENTY of experience with this fact of life just being alive.
4. What about _________? Insert the subjects and skills you want your kids to learn.
Reading, Writing, Math, Science- anything that you as a parent/teacher believe are important can still happen. We just make sure the way we are teaching and the things we are teaching fit our kids the best way they can.
5. Will my kids fall behind?
We are all “behind” in something. Our kids can’t be experts in everything any more than we can. Tests and What a Child Should Know in Grade X are weak guides. As a former teacher, I can tell you, very few children fall exactly where they are “supposed” to be. Why? Because while it would be convenient and much easier to teach if every 2nd grader already knew x,y,z, every 2nd grader learns at their own pace and comes into 2nd grade with a variety of different experiences, gifts, and challenges.
Life is messy. No one is on the same page.
Interest-led learning helps us meet our kids where they are and go from there.
6. Will I have time for myself, to work, For my family’s other needs?
Boundaries, we have to set them. We can’t be in facilitator mode 24-7. Just because our family practices Interest-Led Learning, doesn’t mean I drop everything the minute my children have an interest. They can pursue a lot of things on their own. Some things, like buying project materials or going to the zoo, might need to wait a day or two.
Every season or few months, my kids and I create a family rhythm. Every day and week I schedule time for myself and my work. I put it on the calendar. I’ve learned my time must be as important as any other appointment I’d never cancel. I also enlist the help of co-ops, friends, family, and babysitters.
We can’t do it all. We don’t have to.
Welcome to Curiosity Encouraged!
Each button below leads to ideas that will help your child/student delve into their interests.
There are also ideas related to Play and Travel.
I offer local writing circles, individualized online mentoring, a resource library, a private VIP Facebook group, and a monthly letter of encouragement.
Whether you are a parent, teacher, homeschool or you’re like me, all of the above, know there are lots of ways we can help our children love to learn. Interest-Led learning helps us focus on what’s most important- Each and Every Child.
