We are fanatical about child-led, project-based learning. Don’t misunderstand child-led learning to mean the child gets to watch Sponge Bob all day if he/she chooses! We simply work on projects that involve things our child is already enjoying. For example, now he’s obsessed with secret agents so we’re learning about spys in history, making secret agent tools, creating secret codes, and finding daily news articles relating to secret agents (there’s usually a story at least once a week on this topic!).

Project based learning means that we don’t sit and study things like english grammar, literature, spelling, vocabulary, or writing separately. We incorporate all of it into an actual project. For example, our son is writing a fictional story about secret agents.  So, for inspiration, we have him read aloud from  great  young adult fictional literature. As he’s reading, we assist with any vocabulary and pronunciation questions etc.   When he’s written a significant portion of his story, we take time to review grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.  Another great learning outcome from fictional writing is the opportunity to explore other languages and cultures.  In his story, one of the characters speaks French and travels to France.   So,  we’ve found some books and online resources about France and started learning the French Language.    The story is the project, but the outcome is so much more than the sum of its parts.

If you’re project based learners, what’s your story?