Getting Back to "Normal"

The family spent last week getting back to normal after my week-long jaunt to sunny (ha-ha) California. Today, the boys did school for the first time since I left. We had a great day, and its wonderful to be back to somewhat-normal.

I just love short lessons. They make everything doable. I finally implemented them a few months ago, even though I've read about Charlotte Mason's ideas since the beginning of our homeschool.  I found a great curriculum that looks like it is exactly what our family needs. It is based on Charlotte Mason's theories, and is actually open-and-go.

www.heartofdakota.com

For my 9yo I'll be ordering the "Preparing Hearts for His Glory" package. For the littles, I'll order  "Little Hands to Heaven". I'm excited because it teaches in little chunks, without getting too bogged down in anything. The creator, Carrie Austin, will be creating guides through middle school, so I'm planning on using this curriculum from Pre-K to 8th grade. I really have been trying to streamline our homeschool, so that we stop jumping from method to method and curriculum to curriculum. This seems like a perfect fit for us.

Heart of Dakota really tries to work with the little ones and give them a good foundation, rather than working around the older children. The older children are taught to be more and more independent as they become fluent readers (mom is never out of the picture, though.) This is the reason I didn't go with Tapestry of Grace. It was so focused on the older children, that I thought my youngers would get left out. I do think I'll use Tapestry of Grace during High School, unless something better comes along in the next five years.

So, now that we're back to normal, I hope to be blogging regularly. I have a great post called "A Little Perspective for Thin People" based on several disturbing conversations that I've overheard lately. Check back, I'll try to post it on Tuesday.

7:09 PM - Mar. 24, 2008 - post comment