Contributor and blogger Sarah Kurliand interviews the the Khuluq family, a vegan, Muslim family of 5 living in Philadelphia. Elizabeth homeschools her 3 boys, ages 9, 4 and 1. This is their story.
Tell me a little bit about your family.
We are a vegan Muslim family of 5. My husband is a self-employed wall paper hanger and I’m a part time vegan baker at a local cafe. We have 3 boys, ages 9 yrs, 4 years and 1 year old.
If you had to define it, would you call yourself a homeschooler, unschooler, or worldschooler? Or is there another moniker that fits your family’s choice?
I like the term Life Learners. Our philosophy is that we’re just enjoying our life together, which includes learning together. We enjoy deciding how we spend our time (as opposed to being told what to learn) and exploring topics of interest that spark curiosity instead of having to remember something for a test.
Do you use any formal curriculum in your teachings?
We have a couple go to pieces we use once or twice a week, but for the most part we use the library, museums, the internet or local classes that provide hands on experience. We also meet up with like-minded homeschoolers for activities.
Describe a typical ‘school day’ in your home.
A typical day begins when the older boys wake up on their own, usually between 7-8am. They quietly play or read books while eating some cereal. I’m busy helping with the baby or getting my husband’s lunch ready for him. We might snuggle on the couch and read a book aloud. Soon my little Hobbits are ready for their second breakfast. So, I begin cooking a real breakfast. We leisurely eat together and talk about our day. After breakfast, we clean up the table. My oldest son has a few daily chores he begins after brushing his teeth. We might begin with a short walk to stretch our legs or jump right into something of interest like a science project or a story we’re reading aloud while the boys draw or play with playdoh. We usually tackle at least 2 subjects a day. Read aloud/science, geography/cursive, project/math, history/art. We try to work on topics until lunch-time. Then either pack up some food and head to the park or local arboretum. Or we open the afternoon up to free choice or movie time. We have about 1-2 social commitments per week.
What are your qualifications to teach your children?
Besides my education in early childhood education and working at a private school for 5 years, I believe my true qualifications are that they are our children and we know them best, therefore we will go far beyond what any school could/would ever do for them. I believe that leading by passionate example is key. Start with enthusiasm and learning will follow.
Do you outsource any subjects? If yes, how and what platforms do you utilize?
Yes, we do, when the opportunity arises. We’ve joined art, science, & history classes at the library. We’ve also joined in lots of fun classes like wilderness survival, herbal studies, & hiking. There’s a tremendous amount of educational opportunities all over the Philadelphia area.
What are some pros/cons about the way you teach your children?
Pros: We get to schedule our day/life as we please. We’re able to enjoy museums during the day-time hours when it’s quiet. Travel at our convenience. Take a day off and play all day at the park. Any day is filled with possibilities.
Cons: At times, we need breaks from one another. There’s always a mess to clean up.
Why do you choose alternative education for your family?
We tried the public school route for almost 2 years and discovered it just wasn’t for our family. Our oldest son didn’t fit into the structure of the public school day and was coming home crying every day. He just wanted to play, not fill out worksheets. I was told by his 1st grade teacher that “something was wrong with him”. Since I was home with little kids we decided to try an alternative route and found a community of like minded people.
Anything else you want to share with people that might be considering alternative education?
I feel great pride in having this opportunity. It’s a tremendous blessing and honor to spend this short time with my children. Homeschool isn’t public school at home. It’s having a life and enjoying life WITH your children. Slow down, connect, cuddle, bake brownies, read books together, cook together, watch movies, explore new places and have conversations.
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Sarah Kurliand is a Wife/Mama/Yogini/Writer who spends her days adventuring around the Philadelphia area with her crazy boys. She is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle, discovering new places, people and things and living a life that leaves the world better than the way she found it. You can find more of her writing at www.ourspiritedlife.com or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.