A Life Update and a New Project
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In January of this year, I decided to pull my son out of school. At the time, I was working on a book and this newsletter. My wife had a full time job. Neither of us had seriously considered homeschooling, but we didn’t know what else to do. So on that snowy Friday night, just as we were cozying into our routines after Christmas break, I decided to take over my son’s education full time.
You may have noticed that’s right about the time I stopped engaging with this project regularly. I thought I could keep writing and learn to teach. I thought I could do all that and support my wife in her job, and train BJJ regularly, and well… you can see where this is going.
It turned out to be way harder than I thought. I had really high ideals for what I wanted to do, so I was really hard on myself. I also had a lot of learning to do, which meant I had to humble myself and let my son teach me how to guide him. There were some inner demons that came up from time to time, and a number of days when I just felt like I was failing. But we made it.
Actually, we thrived. The results have been incredible. My son is learning in ways he didn’t know possible. I’m filled with excitement and love in a way I didn’t know was achievable. And we both have opened up, individually and with each other. This feels really right. Just to share a few accomplishments:
He learned cursive in 12 weeks and now writes everything in cursive. Before he struggled with basic printing and was a year and a half behind average.
We read books like The Odyssey, The Chronicles of Narnia, and an anthology of Greek Myths. Before he struggled to read two pages without giving up.
He learned math as ideas rather than just operations, and went from hating math to really loving it.
We studied 21 weeks of Latin together, and now he trash talks in Latin regularly.
He convinced me to let him build an airplane as part of school next year. Like a real two person airplane.
And we’re just getting started.
There is so much more to share. Which brings me to my next big update:
As we really get going on this new education, I’m sharing everything on my new project. I’ve spent months looking at everything from classical education to the newest alternative education ideas. I’ve had amazing conversations with really impressive educators. And I’m bringing much of that into my own home.
Oh yeah, and did I mention we’re building an airplane?
At Building the Plane, I’m sharing updates along the way. Those will include ideas about what’s worked and hasn’t worked, what resources we found, why we’ve made the decisions we have. Of course it will include updates about the airplane build. And so much more. I’m really proud of what we’re putting together; I’ve put a lot of thought and intentionality into this. It launches today.
If this sounds like something you want to join, please subscribe. Every subscriber will support our journey, and there are various ways for you to be a part of it.
I’ll continue to post occasional personal essays here, but my main focus will be on Building the Plane. I hope you’ll consider joining me.
As a note to paid subscribers, I will be cancelling the paid option in the next couple of days. If you’d like to continue supporting me, the best way to do that is to consider a paid or Angel subscription to Building the Plane.
Dang dude, can you teach my kid as well? 😄 I've wanted to get her out of the school system, but she really needs the social interaction, and being a single parent means it isn't feasible. I'm very impressed though. What curriculum are you using?
This looks amazing Latham! Makes total sense and will help you articulate your learnings better and increase serendipity WHILE every reader benefits from learning about learning/teaching. I, personally, I'm very eager to read it, it will be super helpful since we plan to have kids soon. And in general I admire you for making the decision of homeschooling your son, will be a treat learning about it alongside you!