Leah Martin provides an interesting perspective as she shares the process she went through of letting go of other people’s expectations of what her children should be learning and how their homeschool should look. Drawing on her years teaching in a public school, then in an Ambleside school, and now teaching her own children at home, she reminds us how the early years requires a very different approach than the school years and what that looks like in her home. She also relates how she has learned the value of building her children’s skills and abilities to learn in many different learning styles.

What we talked about

• The shift from teacher to parent that had a profound impact on their homeschool. She learned that the early years requires a different approach than the school years. We don’t need to avoid all learning. We can spread before them a feast of ideas and let them learn about what excites them.
• Letting go of other peoples expectations will allow you to help your child learn successfully. You do you need to be a purist of any one philosophy. Instead, you need to have the confidence to believe you can learn and apply the principles on your own in a way that benefits your children.
• The value of the art of narration for all ages. And how implementing this lost art in a book group benefited the ladies involved.
• How “I am, I can, I ought, I will.” applies to learning styles. Our children may have a preference of how they learn, but similar to habit training we need to help them build the skill and fortitude to learn in different learning styles so they will be equipped for life.

What advice would you give to a new homeschool mom?

The longer you homeschool you learn what works best for each child. You need to let go of expectations and be flexible.

Links and resources mentioned on the show

• Connect with Leah
• Featured Triumphant Learning Product: Calendar with Place Value

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