There has been some buzz lately regarding learning pods. These are small groups of students who are homeschooled together so that parents can distribute responsibility while maintaining a safe and social learning environment for their children. Although just gaining social media’s attention now, pods are not a new concept. They have been used for years in the home learning environment.
This week, I was fortunate enough to meet a couple who knows a thing or two about homeschooling. The husband and wife grew up locally and were each homeschooled through high school. The husband’s mother taught a group of local children together. They were taught wilderness skills, like compass tracking, which helped them flourish into self-sufficient adults.
After buying a plot of land, the husband, who is a carpenter, turned a rundown shed into a tiny home (with all essential amenities). The couple lived there while he built their future family house just yards away. Now they rent out their renovated shed for extra income to guests like me! They have a garden, to cook and can vegetables, and raise chickens, for eggs and meat. They have a 1 and 4-year-old whom they plan to educate at home as well.
Seeing this lifestyle, so different from my own, fascinated me. I asked the wife her thoughts regarding the impact COVID is having on public education. She said she was excited. “I heard fifty percent of our Independent School District’s students will be seeking alternative learning this year due to the pandemic,” she stated. “It was hard getting into college, no one took me seriously. Knowing that more kid’s in the future will have a homeschool transcript is just amazing!”
Spending a few days out in nature with this family was an eye-opening experience for me. I realized that each person plays an essential role in our society. We need plumbers and EMTs, hairdressers, and farmers. I am not for or against any particular educational environment. I believe that all types of education (public, private, home, trade, military, etc.) are important. After all, learning is learning, whatever form that takes.
Best,
Ms. Jones
If you have never considered alternative schooling, now might be the time to do some research on it. The Texas Homeschool Coalition is a great place to start if you live in the area.
If you don’t mind getting your hands a bit dirty, check out Storey’s Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance. The author’s website is a great resource to explore similar books, along with tutorial videos and how-to articles on everything from sewing to gardening.
Tutor Time Talk 