May. 24, 2006 - On Homeschool Planning - esp. High School
I started this a while back, then wiped the whole rambling mess off the net and this is the re-start of that, hopefully less rambling than the previous effort.
Ahh, homeschool planning! We love it, we hate it, we agonize over it, we change it. It's one thing that never seems to be written in stone no matter how many years you have been doing it.
I have read lots of posts by lots of homeschoolers in my 9 years of overseeing our little educational experience, and this seems to be the roughest, toughest monster to wrangle each year. It doesn't seem to matter where people live, how many (or few) children they have, or whether they are eclectic, classical, Charlotte Mason, textbook or whatever, we struggle epically each and every year with the vast sea of curriculum choices tauntingly hawked at conferences, on web sites, in magazines et al. (A sea that has long since broken the shores of a few simple choices that were available when we began - and we're not even pioneers in this area.)
Over the years I have learned a few tricks, come to be able to effectively block 90% of the vendors' cries, and settled in my own heart and mind (for the most part ;-) "where" we are heading, educationally - and by that I mean academically, but also character-wise, skill-wise, and rock-solid, spiritual-foundation-wise.
What seeps in, like some insideous toxic gas is the collection of un-truths that I have accumulated during my own years in the "educational system". Funny thing is that back in 1979 when I "graduated from high school", I had not learned much that was going to get me very far - academically, emotionally or spiritually! As a matter of fact, I think I came out with a hefty handicap that took literally 10 years to begin to overcome. And because I am a child of that "system", I have struggled to not compare what we do in our home learning, to what the kids in the school system "do". Really, much of it doesn't look much like what is prescribed by the educational gurus of our country, but then, our daughter doesn't look much like the children the gurus have presented our society with either.
So what *am* I doing? I am trying really hard to stay focused on what the Lord is doing in our daughter, and seeking His face for her education. It's hard. It's hard not to hear the other voices, but I know that He has a plan that is better and higher than 'theirs'.
I am a fan of Barb Shelton, and her book Senior High: A Home-Designed Form-U-La. Now, I freely confess that at first, this tome is a little daunting, but that's really mostly because she has included reams of forms that can be used for various things (I'm not going 'there' right now). Don't let the size of the book turn you back!!! It's worth every moment!!
What I LOVE about Barb's message, is that she is guideing her readers to seek GOD'S MESSAGE for their children, their education, their peace, their all. Have I arrived at the end of the 'thinking make-over' assembly line? Nope. I'm getting there though (tell me that on a PMS day!). I still struggle - but I struggle less. I still fear, but I fear less often. I don't have a handle on it all, but I have started being able to acticulate some of this thinking to friends who have the same struggles, and who also long for all that God would have for them in their homeschool and their homes, period!
Back a bit I referenced the "insidideous toxic gas" of untruths I have unknowingly breathed during my own school years. This is Barb's big mission: to help us de-tox from all that has shaped us in the past. From this same book (Senior High Form-U-La) Barb writes:
"I believe that once parents get the system out of their system, and get new (God's) ideas about education, they can do a wonderful job with their own kids! So that's the heart and soul of our ministry!
"I no longer regard the traditional school system as any kind of "standard" that I am to live by or up to, or as being one smidgen better, or more valid, or more effective than what God can lead us into."
Like Barb says elsewhere, you don't realize how much the system of thinking is in you til you try to get rid of it!! It's like some of those really nasty, deep-rooted weeds that come back every spring despite your best efforts - except, I do find that as I try to submit my thinking to God's thinking, that the roots become weaker and are finally starting to shrivel. They should be all cleared out by the time we graduate ;-)
More on what we have been using, aspiring to use :-) and planning to try to use ;-) next year and the following years.
So much for not rambling!! Sorry. Now it's time for tea!
Cheers.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Mt. 6:33
Comments
Jun. 16, 2006 - So how's summer going?
Posted by TRINITYPREPSCHOOL
Have you decided on any high school plans yet?
Come on over and vote in my summer homeschooling poll.
Blessings on your day,
Maureen
