Following your own path through Delight-Directed Teaching (5 Days of Teaching Creatively)

The term delight-directed teaching was something foreign to me before I began homeschooling, but it has become a big part of my philosophy as a home educator today.  It only makes sense -- identify your child's interests and strengths and pursue them as educational opportunities.  I guarantee that you will have an eager student, ready to expand her horizons and soak up information like a sponge!

What does delight-directed learning look like in action?

It looks like a field trip to the Wilder Homestead when Big Sis takes an interest in The Little House on the Prairie series and we begin studying The Prairie Primer . . .

and dressing up for the time period we're studying

or visiting the Mayflower replica and Plymouth Rock because Big Sis is interested in learning more about the pilgrims

Visiting a lighthouse because Big Sis wants to learn more about the life of a lighthouse keeper

Taking a watercolor class because she's developed an interest in art techniques

Dropping our planned science lesson on astronomy and doing an experiment about colors because she wants to learn about rainbows

For those who like to plan everything far in advance, delight-directed teaching might be a challenge.  You can still have a rough outline in mind, even if your child's interests sometimes take you down an unexpected path.  How?  Sit down with your children and make a list together of all current interests or "delights" as the name implies.  Use it as your master list of ideas to plan lessons that include those interests.  Does your child have an interest in marine biology or dolphins?  Plan a trip to your nearest aquarium.  If your children are interested in botany, visit a local greenhouse or plant your own garden at home.  The possibilities are really endless!

We spent an entire month doing a unit study on horses because Big Sis took an interest in them.  For art, we painted ceramic horse figurines.  For math, we did horse word problems (calculating speed and distance) and charts and graphs of horse characteristics.  We read the Misty of Chincoteague series by Marguerite Henry, which served as a history and geography lesson since the books are based on true events in a real location.  Science included learning about the horse anatomy and physiology, as well as the kinetic energy properties of motion in relation to the way a horse runs and how it builds up speed.

There are many ways to incorporate your child's interests in your lessons.  Delight-directed teaching may require some ingenuity and flexibility, but the end result -- an eager student who loves to learn and gets a well-rounded educational experience -- is worth it!

This is Day 1 of the 5 Days of Teaching Creatively Blog Hop from the Schoolhouse Crew.   Read what other moms have to say about Delight-Directed Teaching at the links below.