I have a headache. It's 12:30 a.m. and I should go to bed. Husband knocked off a short while ago.Tomorrow is my biggest, best chance at a "teacher in-service day." Husband is going to take the girls out from breakfast until (hopefully) mid to late afternoon. I need the time to think a steady stream of thought as I try to plan goals, surf curriculum sites and maybe even make my orders.
This will be my 7th year homeschooling. You would think it was my 2nd. That nagging, gnawing feeling that my homeschool routine needs to be totally revamped never, ever leaves me! I hear from others that it's a normal thing to feel and that I shouldn't plan on being without it until the children are all grown and gone. So...something for the control freak in me to look forward to.
Until now, I got a certain degree of comfort from my conviction that these early formative years were made for character development, almost at the expense of everything else, if necessary. I believe that. I was thinking just today how much effort I put forth in discerning and correcting my girls' natural inclinations with the Truth of God's Word and way. Let's just say it's a lot of time under my thumb, and I can't imagine who they would be if I had not been with them almost every minute of their lives thus far to train their thinking against the plumb line of God's Word.
But now, Fifi is going to be in 6th grade and is more than capable of learning and retaining many new things that will be a benefit to her as she seeks to grow in wisdom and stature before God and man.
At the same time however, the little girls are still in need of correction -- much correction. It's a worthwhile, yet tedious undertaking and I'm more than a little concerned that something's gotta give. What is it going to be? Fifi's academic potential or the little ones' nurture and admonition of the Lord?
So, before the morning rolls around and I'm caught without a starting point, I pause to pray as I was encouraged to remember to by this post... and then I begin to make a list. This is a working list....
Subjects, in order of priority, modified to each girl's ability:
Bible Wisdom and Knowledge:
Community Bible Study: Peter and Colossians
Our Daily Bread or a study in virtue
Commit To Memory: Pro 31, Is 53, (refresh): Lk 2, John 1, Gen 1, Phil 2:2-10, 1Jn1:5-2:5
Music: Violin/Piano/Theory/Appreciation: CDs, Tuesday Music Club, Kid's Symphony
Art: Observation, Technique/Appreciation
American History Pt 2: WWII thru Current
Math: Math U See Delta/Primer LOVE IT!
Language Arts: Latin Roots, Writing Strands for composition, McGuffey's for grammar, Spanish (?)
Science: Considering God's Creation
Homemaking: sewing, meal planning, cooking, manners (correspondence)
Any homeschoolers who have found the great, critical-thinking, not-clearly-revisionist-history homeschool curriculum are invited...no...implored! to leave a comment.
Oh, and I'm interested in feedback for a composition curriculum. Surely bloggers have something to say about writing prompts!
6 comments:
I'm glad you put in the part about your concerns and that others have told you they never go away. I needed that.
I love Diana Warings history stuff. I haven't gotten to her modern history yet. We are doing ancient history so I can't say if her WWII to present stuff is good or not. I have just been impressed with the stuff we have done.
Are you wanting like journal prompts, or research papers, essays, creative writing...? You could try journalsparks.com and creativewritingprompts.com. I'm not sure about what, if any, theology they hold, but there are some interesting and even thought provoking starters there. They seem, to me anyway, to be geared toward girls.
Wow - sounds like ALOT of work! I never had what it took to homeschool and there was no support for the idea in those days. I was an education major who did not enjoy teaching once I got there. Sad!! In retrospect, I probably should have!
Which leads me to my prayer request. I just discovered your comment on my post about deliverance and my son. Please pray for other members of my family who are still in the grip of that terrible addiction. Thank you! Did you quit cold turkey, or how did it happen?
oHHH I am planning on doing this very thing this week and into the weekend!
I have most of the "stuff and books" but now need the order of the day put down...
I, too, am struggling with the history part...what I have found is that it is either too "Christian-y" by parading or exaggerating lives of leaders or Christianity has been removed entirely.
I am watching the comments along with you for the suggestions...!
We are currently in prayer for all homeschoolers getting started (and those leaving home for schooling as well!
I am not a homeschooler but kudos to you for doing it! In my humbly opinion, it takes a special kind of woman/mother to homeschool. I am not one of those....but to those that do I am awed and amazed. Hope all goes well.
KP...Yeah, I'm not one of those special women either, but I'm doing it anyway.
(I think Mel over at Actual Unretouched Photo said that first.)
I love Mystery of History.
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