Picture this: a frazzled mom, surrounded by a whirlwind of construction paper, dinosaur figurines, and half-eaten snacks, on a mission to craft the perfect homeschooling curriculum. My eldest, now a confident 5th grader, was just a tiny preschooler back then, and I was on a quest to find that magical blend of community vibes, life skills, and literacy gold. Spoiler alert: that perfect curriculum? Yeah, it didn’t exist. So, in true DIY fashion, I created my own—enter GoSchool, where chaos meets creativity.
Back in those early days, I had grand dreams of a curriculum that would be like a finely crafted stew—equal parts nature, reading, and whatever else preschoolers need to survive. But what I found were curriculums that either focused too much on frolicking in the woods or were so obsessed with phonics that they forgot kids need, you know, other skills too. None of them had that special local seasoning I knew would make my kids’ education really pop. So, naturally, I decided to whip up my own recipe, using local community events, resources, and experiences as the main ingredients. Voilà! GoSchool was born—handcrafted to turn my little preschooler into a well-rounded human.
But just when I thought I had this homeschooling thing figured out, life threw a curveball: more kids. Suddenly, GoSchool had to level up from preschool fun to a full-on multiage circus. Picture juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle—except each torch is a kid with a different interest and need. Now, instead of focusing on just one little sponge soaking up knowledge, I had to create a curriculum that could engage everyone from toddlers to tweens. It was like trying to feed a family of picky eaters with one meal—somehow, I had to make sure everyone got what they needed.
GoSchool evolved from a one-kid show into a family-wide adventure, where each child brought their own flair to the table. The result? A multiage learning model that’s as chaotic as it is beautiful. We’ve gone from toddler tantrums over crayons to deep discussions about architectural design, all while still finding time to chase butterflies in the park.
Of course, none of this would’ve been possible without our trusty MVPs—those go-to places that have stuck with us through thick and thin. The Whitaker Center has seen us go from wide-eyed preschoolers to curious elementary students. The State Museum of Pennsylvania? It’s like our second home, with exhibits that keep up with our ever-changing interests. And let’s not forget the local libraries and parks that provide the perfect backdrop for our impromptu lessons and sanity-saving fresh air breaks.
As I look back on this wild journey, I’m both exhausted and exhilarated. What started as a way to keep my eldest entertained and educated has morphed into a full-fledged family operation. GoSchool isn’t just a curriculum; it’s a lifestyle—a constantly adapting, never-boring, multiage masterpiece that somehow manages to keep everyone learning, growing, and (mostly) smiling.
So here’s to the next chapter of GoSchool—whatever that may look like. Let’s keep embracing the chaos, finding new ways to blend our values with our kids’ evolving interests, and most importantly, enjoying the ride. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that homeschooling isn’t about perfection; it’s about making it work, one crazy, beautiful day at a time.
GOschool Free Resources:
Community Field Trip Guides:
The Grocery Store (yeah, seriously)
Community Based Units of Study:
Apples: Toddler-Kinder || ~Ages 6-9 || ~Ages 9-12
Disclaimer: While the ideas and the bulk of the brilliance are all mine, I confess that I enlisted the help of ChatGPT to polish things up. Why? Because AI is the friendliest grammarian I know—no red pen, no judgment, just pure, unadulterated love for a well-placed comma. So if you find any rogue semicolons or unnaturally perfect phrasing, you can thank my digital editor for that.
