I know it's been a while since my last entry, but I promise: a new one is on the way! With the Christmas holidays, I simply haven't had the time but now that things have calmed down a bit I'm sure that I'll be able to get a new entry posted this week.

You may have noticed that I have posted a video in my sidebar. This video is of my favourite face in Canadian political satyre, Rick Mercer. Good old Rick is 'conversing' with various members of the Canadian Parliament in this video, including Jack Layton (NDP leader) and Jim Flaherty (Finance Minister and the MP of a town near us- I saw him at the Santa Claus parade and I nearly flew off my chair and ripped his head off...lol). The final person you see, is, in fact our current Prime Minister, Stephan Harper.

So do not worry: a new post is coming soon! Rmember to PM me with any questions- I'd love to year from you!

Emma

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If anyone happens to find the whole episode to this, I'd appreciate it if you gave me the link to it. Thank you!

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Now it is time to think about the beginning of a new year.  I always feel that New Year's is similar to the first day of the school year.  There is a sense of  anticipation of the plans you have for the New Year as well as their being  a sense  of  newness.  You can let go of any negativity that happened during the last few months and start all over again in January.   You can start with a fresh slate.

The New Year is a time to take stock of all that has happened in the first part of the school year.  Are you happy with the results?   If you are not happy with how the last few months have played out then take time to think long and hard as to why, exactly, things are not working.  

Is the problem with your curriculum?   Is it too workbook-y  for your child?  Is it too teacher-intensive for you?    Does it meet your child's learning style, as well as your  teaching style?  

Is the problem with your schedule?  Is it too rigid, too time-intensive?  Or is it too relaxed to the point that you aren't getting anything done?  Maybe a rhythm-type schedule would work better for you.  Many homeschoolers start their learning time  first thing in the morning.  Maybe that doesn't work for you.  Maybe starting later in the day, even in the afternoon  would work better for your family.   After starting  school in the morning for 5 years, our family has started our learning time after lunch and that has worked so much better for us 

The problem might just be with your philosophy.  It just might be that the way you are educating your child resonates with you but not so much with your children.   I found myself in that situation.  A Classical Education resonates so strongly with me.  I know that if I could be educated over again,  I would  love to be educated in this manner but it doesn't work for all of my children.  So I have spent this last year   trying to think if it is possible to achieve a happy medium.  So far,  it isn't working very well, but I am not giving up.

I want to encourage you if you are having difficulties in your learning time, to take  the next few days and think deeply as to what exactly is the problem.  Then slowly  try to come up with some solutions.  These ideas might not work, so be ready to go back to the drawing board and fool around with more ideas.  It is very much a trial and error process but once you hit pay dirt, it is so rewarding for both yourself and your children.

Julia lives on the  Canadian Prairies  with her husband,  homeschooling their  3 children (10,8,6)  and is attempting to give them a Classical Education.  You can read more  at her blog.

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