The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

can also provide suitable means to apply the project method. This type of “ education” appeals a great deal to young boys, who are often frustrated by the “sit down and study” type of education that is common in more traditional education.

The typical steps in the project method are as follows:

1. Brainstorm about possible projects that you and the children would be interested in doing, and then choose one.

2. Set goals together, and discuss some of the reasons that this particular project is worthwhile. Make sure you all have sufficient motivation to follow through!

3. Plan the project as much as you can, but allow some flexibility. Sometimes projects wind up taking on lives of their own!

4. Determine what materials you will need to execute the project, and either purchase or create them. Be sure to involve children in every step along the way.

5. Begin the project. Try to work together as a team. As with most projects, there should be a leader, but tasks should be delegated based on the skills, talents, and interests of each person involved. Consider having one of the children be the “leader” in a project once in a while. It doesn’t always have to be an adult.

6. Follow through. Be sure to complete the project. One of the worst things you can do is to continually start projects and never finish them, which teaches the exact opposite of what you are trying to accomplish.

One of the problems I see with a lot of homeschooling mothers is that they love the idea of doing these types of projects but somehow either doubt their ability to follow through or simply feel that they don’t have enough time to do them. In my opinion, these kinds of projects can be even more educational than having the children sit around a table doing bookwork all day. Once children get involved in an interesting experience, they may also read books about the project, write in a journal, keep records, and even use math skills as a natural part of that project. It may be beneficial to set aside more traditional education for a time in order to try something a little different.

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Finally, I know that some of us, in-
cluding me, are much better at thinking,
planning, and dreaming about work-
ing on projects such as these than we
are at actually carrying them out. In
Bill Bryson’s wonderful book, A Walk
in the Woods, 1 which talks about his
experiences on the Appalachian Trail,

Projects . . . . can teach
effective goal setting,
planning, executing,
and evaluating skills in a
natural, family-centered
environment . . . .

he writes about the two people most responsible for the building of the trail: Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery. He describes MacKaye as a “well-meaning visionary.” Bryson stated that nothing happened for quite a while after Mac Kaye came up with the original idea, because “MacKaye occupied himself with refining and expanding his vision until he and it were only tangentially connected to the real world.” It was Avery who took over, mapped the trail, located volunteers, personally supervised its construction, and walked every inch of the 2,000-mile trail himself. Thinking and dreaming are great, but until you start to actually do a project, not a whole lot will be accomplished!

When used correctly, projects can add spice to your curriculum or even constitute the bulk of your educational efforts. They can involve and inspire those who are resistant to bookwork and provide a framework for the use of books and writing experiences. They can be used as additional exercises to supplement unit studies or provide a break from more structured experiences. Above all, they can teach effective goal-setting, planning, executing, and evaluating skills in a natural, family-centered environment, which will not only help your children prepare for adult life but also will give you the gratification of knowing you can come up with interesting projects and follow through until they are completed.

Mary Hood, Ph.D., and her husband, Roy, homeschooled their five children since the early 1980s. All have successfully made the transition to adulthood. Mary has a Ph.D. in education and is the director of ARCHERS for the Lord, Inc. (The Association of Relaxed Christian Home Educators). She is the author of The Relaxed Home School, The Joyful Home Schooler, and other books, and is available for speaking engagements. Contact her via her website, www . archersforthelord.org.