Help is always available
So look around and try to find something that can help you. If you need some more direction, an ideal first step is the Start Here page.
history,
above all things, is a story
And that story is still being written.
Have you ever stopped to think about the way you learn history?
History is everywhere and we learn it from many different sources.
The importance of learning history is always stressed, for good reason. When we learn about history we are able to learn from it and better our future.
But how often do we stop and consider where we’re learning our history?
I did so when I started realizing the flaws in some of the “facts” found in the textbooks of my high school and college years.
Why “facts”?
Because I came to a realization that any textbook or history program involves a bit of editorialization. Sometimes a lot. And with that editing the history presented gets shaped by the writer(s).
This isn’t a dig at history texts or programs. Well, not all of them. It’s a necessary evil when it comes to trying to present a body of information that is deemed important enough for everyone to learn.
But every source teaching history is, at the core, telling a story. As that story is being told, history is analyzed by the creator of the source and is then viewed through a lens of how they choose to tell their story.
Have you ever found yourself saying, “Why didn’t I learn ______ in school?”
Excluding some topics while including others is another way that this editorialization affects the history we learn. Simply by choosing to study Edison while ignoring Tesla, a book can present a very different story than one that included both.
It can be difficult to teach history that is interesting to everyone. One person may not be thrilled by learning about Gettysburg but is endlessly fascinated by the Battle of Hampton Roads.
With all these problems with history sources, how do we overcome these hurdles to learn history better?
Now is the fun part. I’ve been figuring out this very thing and I’d like to help you out, too.
History is one of my favorite things to learn. It’s bothered me that others have been fooled into thinking history is boring or is limited to what’s covered in their high school textbook.
It’s more than just dates and random, disconnected events. It’s a tapestry woven by all who have come before and is still being made by all of us today.
History really is, above all, a story. I want to show you how to pick where you learn the pieces to that story and how.
If you’re ready to jump in, start here where I’ve distilled my blog into a more manageable beginning.
And while you’re here, you can find general homeschooling information and things I like to dabble in, including amateur astronomy, (attempted) homesteading, cooking, my efforts to become an autodidact, and more.
Okay, so all of that stuff isn’t quite here yet. But since that’s what you’ll find in my life, that’s what you’ll eventually find here.
Because in the end, this blog is a reflection of my life. So it’d be great if you hang around and share your stories with me, too. After all, Hoosier hospitality isn’t just in person and I’d love the company!
Note: the photo at the top of the page was provided by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash
Since you’re still scrolling, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Margaret McLaren and I’d like to welcome you to Hoosier Homeschool.
My husband and I have 6 kids, all girls. We homeschool them and always have. Our oldest is in high school and our youngest isn’t quite school age yet.
Additionally, we have several businesses and multiple hobbies. Needless to say, we all keep ourselves rather busy.
So to get started learning, choose one of the three options below. I’d recommend going with the Start Here if you want me to decide. 🙂