L is for Layers. I like to think of learning as constantly building layers upon layers of knowledge and understanding. The more complex ideas/skill sets that we are trying to teach cannot be fully understood unless our children have mastered the simpler components that make up those ideas and skills. Watching babies learn language is a great example of this. They absorb the language both directed at them and then the language that is happening all around them. They attempt to speak by putting sounds together and then building on a few words at a time — slowly adding to their competence. The more they hear the same words, the stronger their foundation — as they hear new vocabulary, used in different contexts, they expand their knowledge base, and build new layers of expertise! Soon those toddlers are babbling a mile a minute and we then say that they have learned how to talk. This process happens faster for some children, slower for others, but they all go through the same process of building upon layers and more layers of speech acquisition.
Similarly Layers in my homeschooling philosophy is essentially reinforcement of concepts that my children have learned and are still learning and mastering. I approach their (and my own!) learning in a holistic way — an ongoing organic process of absorption, recall, making connections, applying them in new contexts, and then building upon their foundation — layer by layer. One of the most enjoyable aspects of homeschooling for us is that we have enormous flexibility in choosing the form of these layers and I am not limited to evaluating progress and mastery just by success on a piece of paper that says “quiz” or “test.” I can assess learning by observing how my boys utilize concepts in their play; how they are able to engage in meal-time or leisurely conversations among family members or with friends; how they problem-solve; and how they use their knowledge or skill in the projects they undertake through creative endeavors. Sometimes I find a new layer has been formed by one moment of insight; sometimes I realize several moments strung together compositely create a new layer of understanding. I try not to get too bogged down in whether my boys are at “grade level” in their various studies. I have “skipped grades” in curricula resources when one of my boys has shown strength in a certain area and have lingered at a certain level when there has been weakness and more time is necessary to learn. All my boys had some dyslexia in their younger years, but my youngest struggled the most. He loved audiobooks and I knew he was learning a lot of vocabulary but did not like to write. He would definitely have been considered “behind” his grade if he were educated in a traditional school setting. But I had the flexibility to wait. So I waited and waited (I did wonder how long it would take!) and just in the last year, my 10 year old discovered that he has a passion for writing fantasy novels! And there was the vocabulary and writing ability (spelling mastery still improving!) suddenly bursting out of him — validating what some might call my “gut instinct” but which I prefer to label as “Providential reassurance” that he had been building strong layers of language acquisition through his love of reading and listening to audiobooks and oral storytelling with his brothers. I dread to think of whether he would still have had as strong a self-esteem if he had struggled in this area within a traditional school setting. So I am so thankful to God for the blessings of home education and the ability to recognize and celebrate the layers of learning that happen, especially when they manifest themselves in ways that are not normally assessed and followed in most contemporary structured school settings. And I constantly need to remind myself that the most important Layer of our learning is the layer of Faith that permeates everything! What a privilege to be able to offer it all up to our Lord daily —- all of our learning in all of its aspects — trusting that He will guide us to the perfection of our learning (which of course, is imperfect while still on this earth) to be used by Him in the ways He deems best.