Heritage Matters: How to Incorporate Heritage Into Your Own Homeschool

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In today's world, where we are more connected than ever but at the same time, struggling with deep-seated social divides, it's important to instill a sense of empathy, compassion, and understanding in our children from a young age. 

One effective way to do this is by incorporating diversity and different perspectives into their education. This is particularly relevant for homeschooling parents, who have the power to weave in lessons of empathy and inclusivity into their curriculum. Today, we delve into an insightful conversation between Amber Johnston, known to many as Heritage Mom, and Julie Ross, creator of the popular homeschool curriculum, A Gentle Feast.

Celebrating Diversity in Homeschooling:

Julie Ross warmly invites Amber to the conversation. Amber shares about her own homeschool journey, diversity in education, and her new book dedicated to creating a diverse homeschooling experience - "A Place to Belong."

Amber discusses her own experience with the Charlotte Mason philosophy of homeschooling and the importance of diversifying her homeschool curriculum. She also emphasized on how this philosophy could be adapted to better reflect the diverse realities of 21st-century America.

The Importance of Mirrors & Windows in Literature 

In the conversation, Amber introduced the concept of "mirrors" and "windows" in literature. Mirrors are books where children can see themselves, their culture, and their world reflected. On the other hand, windows are books that allow children to gain insight into experiences, realities, and cultures different from their own.

Amber stresses the importance of children having both mirrors and windows in their reading. This not only aids in validating their own experiences but also fosters empathy for others from different backgrounds. She cautions against the tendency for the literature to be biased towards hardship and trauma and urges for a balance of stories that also highlight joy, celebration, and everyday life.

Cultivating a Diverse Atmosphere at Home:

Julie and Amber also explore the idea of creating a diverse atmosphere at home through story-telling, family history, heritage, and music. They discuss the value of having an intergenerational self, understanding the stories of our ancestors, and the impact it has on a child’s identity and perception of the world.

The conversation concludes with a discussion on how to teach children to become allies and accomplices in advocating for cultural respect and racial equality. Both Amber and Julie stress the importance of raising children who see inclusion and equality as central to their lives, creating a generation who believe that "nothing's okay until it's okay for all of us."

Inclusion, diversity, and empathy should be at the heart of education. As homeschooling parents, we have the power to incorporate these values into our children's curricula and foster a more understanding and empathetic future generation. Inspired by Amber Johnston and Julie Ross's conversation, let us take strides in creating a homeschool environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

You can connect with Amber at any of these places:

Heritage Mom: https://heritagemom.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeritageMomBlog  

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/heritagemomblog/ 

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/HeritageMomBlog/_created/ 

A Place to Belong: https://heritagemom.com/belong/