In recent months an acquaintance has been asking me a good many questions about homeschooling and just exactly how to go about it. Since I don't believe there's any single "right" way, I'm finding it difficult to provide this woman with the information she desires. You see, while she wants to teach "like you (I) do," she also wants to be sure she's covering the same ground as the public school and staying on the same timeline.

Unfortunately, those two desires conflict. However, there was once a time when I, too, was driven by the same concerns, so I do understand her fears. Still, I struggle with how to help her overcome them. I think there are some things that must be learned largely by experience. This may be one.

My friend's desire to use the same approach and resources I do stems from the fact that my children routinely score in the ninetieth percentile on their annual tests. Yet, when I explain that although we do a fair amount of bookwork the majority of our learning is "loose," I'm not sure she's convinced. And when I say that I don't worry too much about keeping on track with the school other than to glance at a basic Scope and Sequence a couple of times a year, her confusion is obvious.

So how do I go about explaining that what curriculum or workbooks or methodology you choose is simply not that critical? In fact, it's the everyday occurrences that offer the greatest opportunity for education. Frankly, learning is such a normal and enjoyable part of our lives that we generally don't view it as "school."

For example, a few days ago my 7-year-old son asked me what rank came after Sergeant. He and his 6-year-old brother were playing with their army men and wanted to know how to properly categorize them. I told him I wasn't sure but that I would check it out. At some point during my morning's work, I did a web search for "military rank chart," found a wonderful chart, and printed it off. I promptly forgot all about it until lunchtime, when I said, "Oh! I have something for you!"

Skylar grinned with obvious pleasure as I showed him the two-page chart listing the corresponding ranks in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. After a brief explanation about how to read the chart, I sent him happily on his way. Would you believe he spent no less than six hours studying that chart?! I kid you not. In the course of his study and play, he would return, chart in hand, to either ask a question or note an observation. We discussed the different roles of the various branches, how the corresponding rank names differed between branches, what the Chief of Staff did, and more. In fact, at one point, the entire family was enlisted in an intense search because "I can't find my favorite guy and I know he's the Chief of Staff!"

The important item to note here is that there was much more going on than simply a child playing with Army men. We had "lessons" in social studies, deciphering tables and charts, reading, vocabulary, current events, drama, and more. And it wasn't even a school day! Not only that, what was learned will "stick" because it was practically applied. Yes, play is a practical application. The next time we read a biography that mentions a "General" or "Admiral," my son will know just where that rank falls. In fact, he'll likely have a better idea than I do!