This article is primarily about strewing as it pertains to homeschooling. However, you’ll also find definitions for the words strew, strewing, strewed, and strewn.
Strewing is a word that is common in the homeschooling world. In essence, it’s a parenting or educational strategy that is used to spark curiosity in children so that they want to learn or engage in an activity.
Be sure to listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast episode about strewing and watch the video about strewing that’s further down this page. Let’s dive into the definitions for variations of the word strew, and then we’ll explain more about strewing as it relates to homeschooling.
Strewing Definition & Strew Meaning
Before we get into more detail, let’s define strewing. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, strew is a verb that means “to spread by scattering.” So strewing is the act of spreading or scattering items about. By the way, if you’re wondering if strewings is a word, it’s not. Strewings is not a word that can be found in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary or many other dictionaries.
Strewn Definition
Strewn is simply the past tense of the word strew. Strewn basically means that something has already been spread or scattered about. If you want to use this word in the past tense, you might say to your child, “It frustrates me when you leave your laundry strewn about your bedroom.”
Strewed Definition
Strewed is another way of using the word strew when referring to the past. You might say, “The children strewed their toys about the house.”
Strew Pronunciation
If you’re not sure how to say the word, “strew,” you’re not alone. Strew is a very old word. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, strew has Proto-Germanic roots. Strew has the double O sound like the word spoon. You can hear how to say the word strew here.
What Is Strewing for Homeschool & Unschooling?
In the homeschooling world, strewing refers to setting things out for your children to discover. The goal is to spark curiosity and engage your child in educational and thought-provoking activities.
Strewing 101: Podcast Episode
Listen to this HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast episode about strewing. You’ll get a good idea of what strewing is all about and how you can implement it in your own home.
Who Uses This Parenting Strategy?
While the term strewing is a strategy that unschoolers often refer to, it is a strategy that every parent and educator can use.
In addition, strewing isn’t just for little kids. Parents of teens can strew things about the house to engage older kids with various activities and educational items.
Video: Strewing Is a Game-Changer! Engage Your Kids In Creative, Deep, Educational Play
Why Strew?
While your children may have access to games, books, blocks, and toys, they’ll likely forget about many of them. When you make a point to leave these items strewn about, your children will likely start using them again.
Strewing can also spark curiosity around a subject area. You can intentionally strew items related to curriculum or educational areas that you want to help your child learn about.
Finally, as a parent, you can take a break or get things done while your kids entertain themselves with items that you have strewn about the house.
Strewing Homeschool Ideas
Below are a variety strewing ideas that you can use in your homeschool.
- Leave a game on the coffee table.
- Save various bits of packaging that you would normally throw away and add them to your arts and crafts stash. Leave the arts and crafts glue, tape, and supplies on the table with the items you’ve saved.
- Rotate a variety of books, crossword puzzles, educational magazines, and fun workbooks about your home each week.
- Start a puzzle and leave it on the table.
- Set toys out that your kids might not usually play with at the same time. Perhaps blocks with animal figures.
Strewn Synonyms
Here are some other words that you can use instead of strew or strewn. It might be fun to teach your kids the meaning of the word strew and then see how many other words they can come up with that have a similar meaning.
Here’s a quick list of synonyms for the word strewn.
- Scattered
- Distributed
- Spread
- Disseminated
- Dispersed
- Strewn
More Podcast Episodes & Blog Posts For You
- Information About Unschooling.
- How to Homeschool Your Kids.
- More Homeschool Styles and Methods.
- Learn More About HomeSchool Thinktank.
- Join Our Coaching Program for Homeschool Parents.
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