Posted in Educational Pursuits

It's that time of year when we once again find ourselves with the excitement of a new school year before us, and all that brings.  New books, old favorites, routine; perhaps some fresh supplies.  We are bombarded with back-to-school ads and sales, the rumble of school buses as they  lumber down the roads, and a hum that pervades the nation that schedule is once again the word of the day.

As home educators, back-to-school has the same feel, but different look.  We delight in burrowing into our homes, focusing on our families, snuggling on the couch for a good read-aloud, getting "our" libraries back, and dealing with the twinge that always hovers just out of swatting distance when we take our children out in public during "school hours."

Back-to-school also hints at encroaching holidays, an imminent change of season, and the stress of unavoidable social gatherings - family or otherwise.  It is a time that can make us, or break us.

For those who home educate, we see our fellow educating mothers sharing their excitement at another year successfully started.  If we have had no major occurrences of late, then we may be among them.  If, however, life has had you by the coattails and you are just now beginning to take that deep breath and ready your pupils' lessons, this can be a very discouraging time.  I beg you to take heart.  You are not "behind," or "less than" any other mother because you have not begun your more formal lessons as of yet.  If there's something specific you wanted to research and incorporate this year, you still have time.  I know, because that's me.  Allow me to explain my situation, and then maybe you too will take the time you need.

Over the course of the past few years, because we live in the desert and the summers are unfit to be out in for any length of time, our school schedule has slowly morphed into the opposite of most others'.  We have begun our year in January for the past couple of years, and taken our 'summer break' from November thru December.  That's when the weather is lovely, and it only makes sense to be out in it, enjoying nature.  It also has the added benefit of allowing us time to leisurely enjoy the holidays.  It's worked well. Until this year.

This year, we decided to gear up for a cross-country move, back to the land of 4-seasons.  Already I started feeling 'behind,' as our current schedule would have to be shortened up to change.  Then, beginning in June, we had an extended family member's health crisis which lasted until mid-August, and meant three separate stays in hospital, two surgeries, several procedures, and a young family member came to live with us unexpectedly for one week in June and then three weeks at the end of July/ beginning of August.  Needless to say, our routine was certainly disrupted.  The boys kept on with Maths, Religion, Spelling, Handwriting, Literature, and Grammar, but the remainder of our lovely lessons went by the way-side.  The only refrain I could hear in my mind was "behind, behind, Behind!"  I was beginning to despair.

One day, I stumbled across a blog I had once enjoyed for direction and inspiration, and was once again inspired to pick up my "A Charlotte Mason Companion" by Karen Andreola.  Over the course of the past year or so, I had slowly turned more towards the classical style, and away from the Charlotte Mason style.  It was a gradual morphing that I was not pleased with.  I am still reading ACMC, and am beginning to feel the excitement grab hold of me once again.  I could feel badly about not fully finishing this past school year, or I can just pick up where we left off and incorporate new things in as well.  I can moan that I won't begin our lessons for another few weeks yet due to planning and purchasing, or I can thank the good Lord above that I was led to re-read this book and my soul is being refreshed.  In any given situation, perspective is our choice.  I choose gratitude and inspiration.

So now, amidst cleaning supplies, packing boxes, and garage sale items, I am eagerly anticipating the resuming of our lessons - in spite of the "untimely" and "inconvenient" start.  I'm trying to keep Miss Mason's advice forefront in my thoughts each day to follow:  "Each day, make sure a child has three things:  1) something or someone to love, 2) something to do, and 3) something to think about."  To that end, maybe we have already begun our school year when I review, nightly and weekly, all that has been accomplished in spite of having no formal lesson plans.  The boys are doing their religious studies every day, journaling, and practicing their instruments.  Last week we did a Nature Study on an item we had brought back with us from our camping excursion north.  When we were camping, we took a Nature Walk that lasted hours as we were identifying items, collecting specimens, and telling stories.  At the campsite afterwords, we sketched a wild mushroom, labelled it, dissected it, and read all about it from Comstock's "Handbook of Nature Study."  We made a list of all the flora and fauna we encountered on our weekend away.  We have a nightly read-aloud, which is currently "Little Britches," by Mr. Ralph Moody.  The whole family is enjoying this one, and I'm charged with getting the next in the series this weekend.  The boys are reading a literature book a week, with the youngest orally narrating his daily reading every evening, and the oldest orally narrating his book at the end of every week.  Last week he chose "A Time to Stand," by Walter Lord, from the public library - he was interested in the Alamo and chose an author he described as being an engaging writer that tells history well.  I've now added Mr. Lord's name to my list of authors I would like to research and incorporate into our studies.  Classical music is always playing in the background, exposing them to great works of art.  For maths, the boys are actively involved in our weekly shopping trips.  It is commonplace for me to hand either boy a bag of produce, tell them the price per pound, and ask them to go weigh it and tell me how much it costs.  This deals with rounding, fractions, multiplication, weights and measures, and mental arithmetic.  They have daily chores that must be done without reminder, and because oldest son's chores include walking the dog, he has decided to set his alarm for early every morning so as to do it before the heat of the day strikes.  Responsibility and formation of character are more important than 'book learning,' so even when formal lessons are not being given, character formation lessons are always in session.

As I look at all that the boys are doing, I do indeed feel that we are doing our lessons, and I highly encourage you to make a list for your children as well.  You will surprise yourself at all the book lessons and character formation lessons that have happened during daily life.  Did big sister read a book to little brother?  Did big brother keep little brother entertained quietly and well for a rainy afternoon?  Were read-alouds heard in your home?  Were instruments practiced, engaging music played, art prints looked at?  Did your children not scream and run around like lunatics in public?  Do the little dears do as they are bid the first time?  Do you follow Miss Mason's 3 dictates? 

Educating our children at home doesn't need to be a big production, nor should it be a mystery - even to us.  It should be the natural progression of living, making connections, and expanding our base of knowledge.  The means to doing that are totally at your discretion, and will look like no other home.  Delight in the every day, form those precious little characters, and relax, secure in the knowledge that you are not 'behind,' you are exactly where God means you to be.