As I explained in my last entry, Tim and I start at what we expect will be the end of our goal in teaching our children, and move backward to see what will need to be covered in their academics in order to complete those goals.

 

We have four major tracks that we might put our children on. 

 

1. College Track

2. Vocational School Track

3. Blue Collar Work/Entreprenurial Track

4. Stay-at-home/Entreprenurial Track

 

We usually choose a track at about 3rd grade or so.  The choice is based on their academic abilities, their hopes and dreams, and their personal interests, hobbies, and abilities.

 

Jacob is definitely college material.  And he wants to do something in the sciences.  We have put him on the college track, and choose his curriculum accordingly.  We assume he'll do a couple years at a community college and then head into a university...we are willing to help financially if the children go thru a community college first. But that choice will be up to him.

 

However, there is something inside Jacob that has always been drawn to missionary work.  His bent and greatest interests have always been in geography and anthropology (studying the cultures of people groups).  So even tho we have him on the college track, we are well aware that the Lord could scoot him right off that track for His own purposes.  We stay flexible and watchful so that we can continue to support and guide Jacob, regardless of what the Lord has for him.

 

He spent his first five years of school following the lists that I made in another entry.  From seventh grade on, this is what the college track looks like:

 

Sciences: General Science, Physical Science, Biology (1 year, unless he chooses to pursue 2 years), Chemistry (1 year unless he chooses to pursue 2), Physics

 

Math:  Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Calculus or Advanced Mathematics, Calculus or Physics

 

History:  6 years with Tapestry of Grace, covering Ancient History to present. He will go thru the four years in six years so that we can take side trips as something grabs his attention

 

Writing: Every year, to include reports, technical writing, essay writing, and fictional writing.  Using a combination of Writing Strands and the writing program in Tapestry of Grace

 

Literature:  Cover four major books a year, discussing with mom. 10th and 11th years, writing papers on books at the college level

 

Spanish: 2 years formal.  4 years playing with other languages and picking them up as interested.

 

Typing & Computer skills: Typing Instructor. When 16, will take some classes at the community college

 

Bible: Continue with Kay Arthur studies for two years with Mom.  Continue with studies with Dad.  At age 14, we will be looking into more formal studies that are age appropriate and more fitting with what he sees as God's calling on his life.

 

Anthropology & Geography: Informally pursue chosen countries on each continent.  Use Operation World as main spine. 

 

What we've done here is consider the freshmen requirements at our local universities and worked our way backward on Jacob's track.  We've also considered his interest in being a missionary. 

 

Jacob can handle these studies easily. He has learned to work on his own, make his own schedules, and correct his own work.  However, that is not true about all of our children.  I will try to explain more about the other tracks in a later entry, talking about my children who are academically average and below average.

 

It's important for Tim and I to remember that though each track moves forward to a logical conclusion, we must keep the tracks somewhat flexible.  For example, Solomon is 11 and working at a first grade level. If something were to change in the next year and all of a sudden he takes off with his academics, we would try to slip him from the vocational track to the college track, knowing that he still wants to be in the military, but equipping him for college in case he chooses to be an officer.

 

And life happens. Things distract and paths are changed.  These goals are not set in stone.  They are rather guidelines that help me remember what I should be doing with each child and where we are heading. It's a tool for the teacher and not much more. 

 

Who am I to say where each of my children will end up?  I can only take what I know from today, and work with that information to the best of my ability. And not throw up my hands in frustration if life takes a huge dip downward and messes up all my plans.

 

Only God can truly plan a future. All I can do is help the best I can.