Bookish Trend: Self Education and #PersonalCurriculum

Hello Lovely Readers!

I apologize for being absent for most of August. Between travel, Lord Bookish away on business, and a toddler sleep regression, I unfortunately had to put the blog on the back burner. Luckily, things are slowing down slightly and I can put down all the thoughts that have been percolating in my brain. 

Happy Autumn! The crisp morning air, the changing color of the leaves, the anticipation of sweaters and warm beverages- I revel in it all! While I do mourn the longer days, I am ready for the new season. September reminds me of school days long gone- the buying of school supplies, the choosing of the first day of school outfit. I have always been a lover of learning- I know you are all shocked- and it is sad to think as adults we tend to put intentional learning to the side. It is understandable of course- responsibilities to our job and families have to take priority. But if you are anything like me, you find ways to waste our free time. While reading is definitely a form of education (especially nonfiction or fiction that offers tangential learning opportunities), it can feel near impossible to set aside time for intentional learning. I know for me, it feels even selfish to take time away from my toddler and husband to focus on myself. 

So when I came across the trend #personalcurriculum on instagram, I felt so encouraged and fired up for learning that I wanted to share it with all of you! This trend shows adults who create a curriculum for themselves based on their own interests. This can be as many topics as you want and for any period of time whether it be a month, season, or semester; the focus is the intentionality. It also does not have to be limited to ‘book learning’ type topics; it can include fitness, crafts, or niche topics within a subject. The outlines or mood boards for the curriculum remind me of a college syllabus, complete with readings, recommended material, assignments, and final project. From my research down the #personalcurriculum rabbit hole, I found interesting topics that included: History of Witch Trials, Fundamentals of Tea, Business & Entrepreneurship, Expressive Writing and Journalism, Songwriting, Feng Shui, and Learning about Octopuses. Some people have even decided to make attention grabbing titles for their classes, which I think is a really fun idea! 

I have been contemplating what my curriculum will be for the rest of the year and it’s a LOT harder than I thought it would be! I do a LOT of random research for fun and it is hard to pick just a few to deep dive. Some potential topics I am considering are Writing Processes of Famous Authors, Knitting & Embroidery (advanced beginner), Old Testament Studies, Italian/Latin/Greek Language, Charlotte Mason Education Philosophy, CS Lewis Writings, and Domestic Life through History. If you would like me to do a full post/syllabus of what I decide, let me know below! Otherwise I might just post it to my bookstagram (@ladybookishblog). 

Though this is a current trend, self education is hardly new. In fact, many of the most famous learned men and women in history have engaged in this style of learning. So much so that it has a name: autodidacticism.  According to the Cambridge dictionary, to be autodidactic is relating to someone learning by himself or herself, rather than being taught by a teacher.  I found a very interesting article online that looks at some of the founding fathers who were autodidactic which I would recommend checking out: https://samuelrinko.substack.com/p/self-education-the-secret-weapon?utm_medium=web

That’s all I have for today! I am so excited for the next few months on the blog. Some future articles include a bookish game review, recommendations of translated fiction, and FINALLY finishing my Don Quixote post. 

Also, this month hosts the ONE YEAR Birthday of Lady Bookish! I cannot believe I have been putting my thoughts out into the world for a whole year. To celebrate, check out my instagram (@ladybookishblog) tomorrow (September 10) for details on an AWESOME GIVEAWAY I will be hosting- you won’t want to miss it. 

ONE LAST THING, I was honored to be interviewed by another bookish blogger here on the internet, the lovely Michelle who writes Library Binding on Substack. She is fantastic and I always anticipate her posts sent directly to my email. Go check her out and subscribe: 

https://michellewatson.substack.com/

Happy Reading!

Lady Bookish