All Education is Self-Education

Episode 202

One of my favorite ideas about teaching and learning comes from Rudolf Steiner who said, “All education is self-education.”

When I first heard this, I was baffled because…isn’t education dependent on what the teacher teaches the student?

Are you intrigued?

Then tap the play button above to listen in to this episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast. It’s all about how to embrace the principle of self-education in your homeschooling.

“Essentially, there is no education other than self-education. Every education is self-education and as teachers, we can only provide the environment for children’s self-education. We have to provide the most favorable conditions where through our agency, children can educate themselves according to their own destinies.”
~ Rudolf Steiner, Founder of the first Waldorf School in 1919

Let’s consider what this quote does and doesn’t mean. And how it can be applied to homeschooling.

First of all, this is not suggesting that we as parents and teachers do nothing. And it’s not referring to unschooling.

To me, the idea that all education is self-education implies that, as educators, we cannot control what is learned by our children and students.

We can only provide the most favorable conditions and allow our children to take it from there.

Steiner had lots of ideas about the most favorable conditions for children to learn. These ideas included stories and the lively arts that bring the learning alive.

It’s not an easy idea to wrap your head around!

In this episode of the podcast, I share three tips for you to help you embrace the idea that all education is self-education.

No. 1: Accept Our Changing Roles

How can we influence and inspire self-education while our roles as parents and teachers change through the years?

In my training as a Simplicity Parenting Family Life Coach, I learned about the metaphor of “The Four Baskets.”

Picture this: the parent and each child has a basket representing influence, sovereignty, and control over the child’s care, growth, and learning.

In the early years, the parent’s basket is mostly full and the child’s rather empty because we have most of the responsibility for caring for and teaching our little ones.

But as our children grow, our basket becomes less full as our child’s becomes more full. Our role is changing as our children grow.

Here’s a description of our role in relation to these 4 baskets:

In the early years, ages 0 to 7, a metaphor for our role as parents might be as the sovereign king, queen, or governor. We make most of the decisions for our children.
Then in the elementary years from ages 7 to 14, we could be considered the farmer or gardener, planting seeds and tending the growth of the seedlings. But then we stand back and watch them grow.
For the teenage years from ages 14 to 21, we can be a shepherd or guide.
After age 21, we become the consultant.

These descriptions can be helpful in homeschooling as well as in parenting as our roles change along with our growing children.

Our job is to recognize and accept our changing roles.

No. 2: Encourage Autonomy in Learning

As homeschoolers, inspiring self-education means encouraging our students to take ownership of their learning gradually as they grow.

We start laying the foundation for autonomy by tailoring the lessons to meet our children right where they are. We can establish the most favorable conditions for learning by looking at each child and meeting their individual needs.

Every child is different. And homeschooling offers the flexibility to tailor education to a child’s strengths, needs, interests, and learning style. We are in an ideal position to cultivate a learning environment that encourages self-motivation, exploration, and personal growth.

Homeschooling is the opposite of a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

Create the Conditions for Learning in Order to Foster Autonomy

Here are four areas of homeschooling in which we can create the most favorable conditions for learning and ultimately, foster autonomy in learning:

RHYTHM: Rhythm can help us to structure our daily activities in a way that’s nourishing and inviting for learning. A steady daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythm provides comfortable predictability and security, which reduces stress and promotes connection with nature and the seasons, with each other as a family, and with ourselves.
ENGAGEMENT: As homeschoolers, we can observe our children and use our intuition about what aspects of a main lesson topic will engage and ignite our children’s imaginations.
ENVIRONMENT: In addition to designing a warm and restorative rhythm in the home, we can also design the environment of our homes to inspire learning. Soft natural light, natural materials, simple elements of the natural world (plants, flowers, branches, stones, pine cones), and warm textures support the senses and create a nourishing environment for learning. Baskets and shelves of books invite exploration and discovery. And we can embrace the idea of strewing games, puzzles, art materials, and building supplies around our learning and living spaces as well.
PACING: Considering the pace of our teaching is also such an important aspect of how our children will learn. If your pace of teaching is too fast and rigorous, your child will let you know by showing fatigue and frustration. Too slow and your child may lose interest or engagement. Some lessons require an element of surprise and delight; others require a slow and steady pace to build competence and competence.

We can set the pace, hold the rhythm, craft the environment, and teach for engagement…but in the end, it’s up to our child to do the learning.

Challenge Projects for Independent Learning

As our children grow and reach the nine-year change, about grade four, we can offer them challenges or projects such as researching a topic of interest related to the main lesson ~ a topic that they choose.

Our role with a challenge project is to help them gather books and materials on the topic and then help them choose how to share what they’ve learned either in writing or as a piece of art for example.

If you want to hear an in-depth discussion about using challenge projects in your homeschool, add podcast episode #174 to your listening queue, “How to Promote Independent Learning.”

No. 3: Foster Lifelong Learning

This idea of self-education promotes curiosity and a love for learning that extends far beyond the formal schooling years.

Homeschooling provides a unique environment to nurture a mindset of lifelong learning from an early age.

Children who learn to seek knowledge on their own are more likely to develop into lifelong learners, constantly educating themselves throughout their lives.

The learning journey belongs to our child. It is not ours.

We of course are on a journey too, learning how to support our children as they grow in independence. We are also developing our inner life and our own interests which can be a great model for our children.

Roadblocks on the Learning Journey

I also want to mention a roadblock I witness often on this learning journey as a homeschool mentor and coach.

This a roadblock that I encountered myself, and I see in so many homeschoolers’ journeys, especially after our children turn nine or ten.

When we continue to hold too lightly onto the majority of the responsibility for our child’s learning, their path toward independence is hindered.

I know that may be tough to hear. But believe me, you can enliven your homeschooling again at any point on your journey by fostering more independence.

Letting go a bit is way more effective than doubling down or trying to be a more interesting teacher!

Teaching and learning require give and take.

So if your lessons are feeling flat, then ask yourself this question: How can I turn a bit more of the responsibility for learning over to my child

The the truth is we can’t do the learning for them. We have to let go of the outcome and then observe our children to see how the lessons are landing.

Today’s the day to embrace the idea of self-education. After all, we are ALL students. And there is always more to learn. 💜

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