I really thought I'd be able to write more often when I began this. Guess I've been rather busy as of late....lots going on here. Two things are really taking priority....next years school order (before the money get spent on something else!) and the up and coming hysterectomy.
Regarding the school order.....well that has been a mission in and of itself. When I first started homeschooling in 2001 I followed what my sister-in-law was doing. Sonlight. It really was a great thing for a newbie such as I was. Then through the years I've read The Well-Trained Mind and was introduced to classical education. I of course, fell in love with this and pursued it. I also read Teaching The Trivium by the Bludorn's. I mostly gathered things to go with the Story of the World (SOTW) four volume series and activity sheets. I let go of some things for the littles since I didn't want to squish their love to learn. Though, it was pretty neat when my then 2-year-old was standing on the sofa at my brothers house and I told her to sit and she said "Sedate". Everyone in the room had to pick their jaw up off the floor when they realized that she said sit in Latin! That was just from listening in!
I had lofty aspirations of a wonderfully classical education for my children, something I never had! The above worked well, but our literature and read alouds weren't. Books are THE most important part of any education. My eldest really rather hates the outlining of Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (KHE) which I would have her do since she was so much older.
This last year has been the toughest. I now have a Kindergartener, a 1st grader, and a 7th grader. So next year 1st, 2nd, and 8th! She does enjoy the SOTW, still loathes the outlining. We have really tried to incorporate notebooking this last year and that went over well. During all of that I have been reading pretty much whatever I can get my hands on about Charlotte Mason. I have yet to finish her Original Homeschooling Series, but I'm trying! I love, love, love Karen Andreola's Charlotte Mason Companion. Still wasn't sure how to incorporate that. However, I really felt like something was lacking....I saw my dreams for this "classical education" vanishing before my eyes. I liked the guide for Sonlight, but wanted to do the classical model. I also didn't much care for having to do 2 different Cores and the cost. I tried My Father's World. Sigh....still wasn't right. Now I'm starting to feel like Goldilocks. I'm thinking why can't I get it together for history?
I love Spell to Read and Write, can't sing its praises enough! It is really helping to improve spelling for my oldest and my youngest is now reading because of it! Math....love Math-U-See....but now that my husband isn't working at home (another story) and availabe to be the "math teacher" we need some extra assistance for Pre-Algebra and so will be trying Teaching Textbooks for that. Praying that will make the difference there. Science....the verdict is still out....I really like Apologia's Exploring Creation with Astronomy for my youngest....and am working on incorporating General Science by the same for my 7th grader. I love that Jennie Fulbright (the author of the elementary science for Apologia) is using a Charlotte Mason (CM) approach for that.
History....geography....literature. Sigh! I stumbled recently upon Winter Promise and could not believe I finally found something semi-affordable with a CM approach....I'd have all the books I need, the lesson plan I craved, and could just open and go.
One problem, Tapestry of Grace (TOG). I am very impressed with their redesign and am at the stage of history that their new Year 2 (due out in July for units 1 and maybe 2 (of 4)) would be what we need. I like the plan, the classical approach, the training the older ones to think and plan for themselves and since I'll have an 8th grader next year I have an eye towards the high school years. They also have a very strong writing program and hands-on stuff which all my kids love. I have been praying and praying between Winter Promise and TOG. There are two things that are helping me to lean towards TOG, easier integration of the ages and stages of my kids and an amazing post I read on their forum boards about using the program for littles and for me. Me! The post was all about using the Rhetoric level for me, so I could get the education I never had and better prepare me to teach at the younger levels.
My poor husband has tried to listen to my list of pros and cons for both and he likes TOG. I would love to be able to do both, WP for the littles and TOG for my oldest. I know that would be too much, not only in expense but also time. I am so completely torn, seriously praying and have not come to a conclusion yet.
So there it is....a decision needs to be made. I prayerfully expect that the Lord will let me know what His desire is for my kids education.
Second on the list of things on my mind is the up and coming hysterectomy. I have battled Chronic Pelvic Pain for the last two and a half years. I've tried everything I could to avoid a hysterectomy. I know it's a result of the tubal ligation I had after Emma. That is a whole other story. I've since had a reversal and tried to have more children, heartbreakingly unsucessful. I really felt that that was what the Lord wanted from me. Since my time has run out with options I have to proceed. I pray for peace that this is what He wants me to do, there is no reversing this one! Somehow I feel like Abraham....only instead of putting my son on the altar, it's my ability to have more children...my uterus. I pray that if it's not His will, then He will heal me or somehow let me not have to do that which I do not want to do, but His will be done, not mine.
I truly believe that it is SO wrong to mess with his glorious design...our bodies. That trouble can only come from it, and for me it has. If some haven't been called to let the Lord decide the size of their family....there are other ways besides sterilization!
So, there you have it....seriously random thoughts! I really need to visit other blogs and connect with others here. I think it's a neat way to share in this journey!
Till next time....
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