How I’m Encouraging My Children to Become Independent Learners: This Year’s Curriculum Choice

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When I started homeschooling, one of my biggest hopes was to raise children who didn’t just memorize facts—but who actually knew how to learn.

I wanted my boys to be curious, self-motivated, and confident in seeking out knowledge. Not just for school—but for life.

That’s why discovering the Thinking Tree Fun-Schooling Journals was a game changer for our homeschool.

These journals do more than just teach subjects—they teach kids how to think, how to explore, and how to learn independently.

🧠 What Is Interest-Led Learning?

Interest-led learning is a style of education where a child’s passions and curiosity become the driving force behind what and how they learn. Instead of following a rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculum, they’re encouraged to ask questions, pursue topics they love, and dig deeper.

Fun-Schooling Journals are built on this exact philosophy.

With prompts that guide children to:

Choose their own books

Research fascinating topics

Write

Draw

Explore ideas

Reflect

Create

These journals hand the pencil—and the power—back to the learner.

🔍 How the Journals Foster Independent Research

Each Thinking Tree journal encourages children to:

Find books and videos on their chosen subject

Take notes in their own words

Draw diagrams, timelines, or maps

Ask deeper questions

Form opinions and summaries

This isn’t just learning—it’s training the brain to explore, analyze, and document ideas on its own.

Instead of saying, “Here’s what you need to know,” the journal gently says, “What do you want to know—and how can you find it?”

That’s how real researchers think. And it’s a powerful skill to begin developing in childhood.

And yes, they still need guidance and structure. But with these journals, the learning is theirs.

📚 Our Favorite Journals for Research and Independent Learning

These are a few of the Thinking Tree Journals we’ve used and loved in our homeschool, especially for encouraging curiosity and ownership:

🪨 Rocks & Minerals Science Activity Handbook – Perfect for budding geologists who want to dig deeper into earth science.

🧭 Wild Wilderness Adventure Handbook – Great for outdoor-loving kids who want to combine science, survival, and nature skills.

🌍 Learn Any Foreign Language Fun-Schooling Journal – Teaches kids to create their own language curriculum based on personal goals and interests.

✝️ Biblical Virtues and Values Do-It-Yourself Journal – Blends character training with thoughtful reflection and independent Bible study.

📖 Do-It-Yourself Curriculum: Fun-Schooling with Minecraft – For the Minecraft fan who wants to explore subjects like history, science, and math through their favorite game.

✨ Final Thoughts

If you want your kids to become self-motivated learners who love discovering new things, I highly recommend trying a Thinking Tree Fun-Schooling Journal.

They make it easy to foster independence while still offering enough structure to feel productive and intentional.

These books are more than just homeschool tools—they’re invitations to curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning.

📥 Ready to Raise Independent Learners?

Here’s where to start:

Rocks & Minerals Science Activity Handbook