First of all let me say, I'm not all that crazy about the movie.  My husband and kids love it, but it is just not my kind of show.  However, I did pick up one thing.

When I first began homeschooling I was scared to death of not doing a good job.  I mean, these were my kids and I wanted to make sure I really did the best for them.  Since homeschooling was a brand new thing for me I went to the only homeschooler I knew and said "Tell me how to do this".  Normally, I tend to have clear opinions and ideas of my own, but here I was very unsure of myself.  So (because these were the people I learned from) I was very structured in the beginning.  Workbooks, desks, clock, chalkboard.  That's all I knew and all I was being told by the people I was looking to. 

After a while I began to read other books and articles.  They talked about a more natural lifestyle of learning.  I found a few friends who learned with their kids in this way, it looked fascinating, appealing, wonderful.  And it was. 

My structured friends were worried that I was being "deceived" by doing my portfolio differently (state requirement) reflected the more relaxed way.  When I thought of doing Unit Studies they said "go ahead, get it out of your system"

As we continued our homeschooling journey we became more and more relaxed.  I read lots of books on unschooling.  Picked peoples brains, branched out, tried new things.  Again, a very good thing.

But there are those in the unschooling camp who are every bit as extreme as the ultra structured.  One says "you must have just the right curriculum" the other says "you must NEVER use a worksheet".  One says ALWAYS the other says NEVER.  Two examples too extreme. 

So the pendelum swung the other way for a while.  All workbooks and suggestions I made were anathema.  It must always and forever be child initiated.

Now I've found MY place, not anyone else's.  I've learned that I can find what fits us, mixing elements and resources.  Do I sometimes nudge my kids to do things now?  Yes, but not to the point of frustration or tears.  Just getting them to try or taste something new.  S may start out not wanting to do some math with me and then we finish with "maybe I'll become a mathematician".  Do I scrap my plans if they find something they want read or pursue or make?  Yes, I do that too.  I'm learning that I don't have to have the approval of either side to be doing just what's right for my family.  The more I tried to force a philosophy or idea of someone else the more stress we had. The more I flow with what's fitting us, the more peace.

So now we use workbooks or not, writing assignments or not, movies or not.  According to what helps us best.

So, what did I learn from Napolean Dynomite? 

"hey, Napolean, what are you going to do today?"

"Whatever I feel like, GOSH!!"

doulos