As soon as I think I have figured out just what kind of learning we will do in our house, I start second guessing myself.  Occasionaly, I go from thoughts of doing school in a box such as Calvert, to putting together my own curriculum.  I am starting to figure out that there is no particular way to learn in which is best.  I am still fighting the style of learning that fits the public school mode;  after all, I did spend a whole thirteen years of my life there!  It is not easy to change habits over night, including habits of thought.

     I have been spending time reading The Charlotte Mason Companion, by Karen Andreola.  At first I did not think it would appeal to me.  I guess my first impression was that school would be very quiet with little else going on.  I don't know why I thought this.  Maybe it is the fact that Charlotte's style of learning focuses on using books and doing a lot of reading.  As I got further into Andreola's book last night, however,  I found that I could not put it down!  I never thought of using living books in addition to a text book, for instance, and doing other projects or field trips to tie in to whatever the topic of learning happens to be.  Often I feel lost when it comes to planning and preparing for school, so the idea of using a text as a guideline was very appealing.  I myself very much enjoy reading, therefore I would love if my boys would learn the habit.

     So far, I like using the Veritas Phonics Museum, (with the exception of the D'Nelian style of printing, though my son doesn't seem to mind), and Saxon math.  In the fall I would like to add to our list.  I am thinking about using the Charlotte Mason style and putting our focus into reading about history and science (following the trivium?)  

     Hmm... I guess I just answered my own question.  What I still need to figure out, though, are what books will be part of the History and Science lessons.  I would love to get some feed back on this.  I know the first year of the first cycle of the trivium is all about ancient history.  I think that would be perfect being that my son is very interested in mummies and pyramids (thanks to a Reading Rainbow show he recently watched...lol!)