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Greetings!

Deborah Wuehler and family

 We went for a family walk Sunday evening. I didn't want to go. I wanted everyone else to go but me so that I could enjoy rare quiet time. But the looks on the children's faces when I finally said that I would go, more than made up for my lack of quiet. We moms can get so comfortable indoors that we forget about the glory of God shouting to us just outside. So, what did I exchange for that quiet, and was it worth the time and effort?

As we walked, the children brought me treasures they found, such as acorns and wildflowers. They pointed out squirrels nests and chestnut trees as they ran up and down the path by the creek. They found sticks to throw and stumps to sit on. We went down to the creek and played in the water and found creatures of all sorts. We had to bring a crawdad home, of course. And a bottle full of creek water to investigate further. We found one area of the creek that had an overgrowth of an invasive water plant, and watched the insects scurry across the green layer on top of the water. We found ripe blackberries and learned to identify poison oak. We saw which trees' leaves were starting to fall and which were going to hold on much longer, and the all-season evergreens.

A simple family walk turned into a nature excursion of learning. I always forget how much learning takes place outside, not only in the physical make-up of the outdoors, but in the minds and bodies of the children. Both cry out that there is an amazing Creator whose glory is waiting to be discovered.

Sometimes we take journals to draw pictures in, sometimes we take pictures in order to identify things back at home, and sometimes we bring paper and tape and just tape little things in our notebooks, and sometimes we just walk and witness the glory of God in the smiles of our children.

Whatever you do, take your class outdoors by taking your children outdoors and enjoy the creativity and wonder and beauty of your Creator.

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

~Deborah

TOS Senior Editor

SeniorEditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com

Diana Waring

Dear Friends,

One of the freedoms I cherished most about homeschooling was that my kids could discover the adventure of learning rather than the boredom of school.  And this week's topic gives us one way to actually break through the bonds of boredom and into that learning adventure.

So, if you will, I'd like to start with a bit of a poetic meander through the obstacles of learning outside in autumn.

Remember. . .

Do you remember sitting, sitting, sitting in a classroom while, outside, the wind and the multi-colored leaves were swirling and dancing? Do you recall smelling tired air from the school's furnace, while, outside, the brisk tang of autumn air invited you to run and jump with the sheer joy of being alive? Do you remember the exuberance of the last bell of the day, when you were now free to revel in the scampering wind and blowing leaves and reviving briskness as you walked home? Can you picture it vividly? For me, the memory is startlingly clear. Now, in the contrast between the outdoors and the classroom, does one of them remind you at all of, dare I mention it, a prison?

Hmmm. 

Consider. . .

Now, on to today. Here you are, perhaps still enthused at the beginning of the school year, with all your hopes of getting through all the books, accomplishing all the goals, and finishing all the projects. You might even have worked mightily to get your lesson plans, schedule, and orderly row of books and notebooks all sitting neatly, ready for implementation. You are determined to tidy the deck, muster the troops, haul out the sail, and do battle-to conquer Mount Academia! I absolutely relate!! I started nearly every year with that same anticipation, that same optimism, that same goal. Would you mind if, as a result of my own experience, I ask you if your children happen to have the same goals? The reason I ask is that mine seldom did. As children, my kids were a lot like me when I was a desk-bound student, restless, bored, and longing for a breath of fresh air.

Hmmm.

Picture. . .

What if your kids could learn something, anything, outside.  How would that impact motivation and interest? If they could read, sing, paint, skip, collect, run, examine, imagine, compose, recite under blue skies amid falling leaves . . . would that count, academically speaking? If the afternoon is pleasant and the yard is inviting, would it be possible to enliven study by taking the math or phonics book outside? If an afternoon spent foraging for acorns-whether for a science experiment or an art project-brought a sparkle to their eyes and laughter to their hearts, would it be worth the hassle, the interruption to our well-laid plans? The reason I am asking is because both you and I know that it would be worth its weight in gold. So why don't we feel the freedom to do it?

Hang on to your hats, friends. I think the reason we don't feel the freedom to do it is because it isn't in the curriculum. It isn't in the textbook. It isn't in the scope and sequence.

But if it's in your heart and in the hearts of your children, then maybe all you needed was permission. So, here it is:

I hereby grant YOU permission to go outside this autumn with your kids and learn to your heart's content!!

Remember, stay relational,

Diana

Raising Real Men

www.RaisingRealMen.com  

Hal & Melanie Young

One year we traveled through New England in autumn. It was glorious, just full of beauty in every direction. To a boy, though, beauty just isn't the most interesting thing in the world. How can we draw them to see God's creation with new eyes this year? Get outside. Most boys love the out of doors. Sometimes you may have to pry the controllers out of their hands and kick 'em out, but once they experience the freedom of the big world, they're on it.

Take a talking walk or a walking talk. Whatever you call it, boys think better when they've used their big muscle groups. Get out there and as you walk together, discuss autumn in a way bound to fascinate your boys. Here are some ideas:

The coming of fall as a prelude to winter has impacted many historical events from the landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth rather than farther south, to the defeat of the invasions of Russia by Napoleon and Hitler by "General Winter"- the fierce climate of that country.

Fall means the days are getting shorter. Pick up a couple of balls. Let one be the sun and tilt the other a bit to be the earth. Show how when our hemisphere is more tilted away from the sun, our days are shorter and colder!   

Fall is a great time to be a nature detective, so notice what is around you. Today on a walk with friends, we saw deer tracks, picked up old nails off a dirt road, and found a turtle nest that had been raided by a fox or raccoon. We would have missed those things, except for the elderly friend along with us who notices everything and knows so much about nature. Maybe a grandparent or neighbor should be invited to join you for your walk!

Fall is hunting season, football season, and when bears and frogs get ready to hibernate. Any boy would love to talk about firearms, huge guys crashing together, or big dangerous animals and small kinda-slimy ones.

Most importantly, talking walks are a great time to get to know your children's hearts. There's something about walking side-by-side that makes it easy to share your wisdom and concerns. Talk about what your child brings up, too. Nothing says "I love you" like caring about what they care about. Share your memories, talk about your childhood, tell them how you came to Christ, let them see what you care about. Building a real relationship with your child is one of the most important parts of parenting, and the cooling days of fall are an invitation to take it outside! 

Hal & Melanie Young

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