Today was a very good school day!

First, Anna read a very difficult sentence all of her own doing (see entry below).

Then, Claire made some wonderful connections during her literature and history narrations.  She began her narration of Pilgrim's Progress in the usual way. 

Then, suddenly, as she began to describe Christian's encounter with Apollyon, the lightbulb went off over her head:  "I just thought of something!  Christian's journey is just like everyday life for us!  Everyday we face danger and trouble and life-threatening destruction, just like Christian."

Yes!  She got it!  I've tried to explain that Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory, but it just went over her head.  Today, she figured it out on her own!  Christian's story is our story!  What a revelation! 

Then as we were reading today's history lesson from A Child's History of the World, another revelation, another connection was made.  The Turks guarded the gates of Jerusalem against the Christian Crusaders, just like Apollyon guarded the gates of the City of Destruction against Christian.  Not only that, but she read the entire chapter aloud to me by herself, because I have laryngitis this week! 

What a rewarding day for a homeschooling mom!  So many days, I wonder if we're making any progress.  So many days, I get more complaints than rewards.  The toddler is fussing, wanting my full attention, and the preschooler is interrupting, while I'm trying to read a history or science lesson, or supervise copywork, or teach math to the older two.  It seems so fruitless so often.

Then suddenly, I have a day like today, where both my students really got it on several fronts! 

Days like these make me realize anew why we do this! 

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