Thursday, August 30, 2007
The Last Days of Summer
As summer winds down and fall picks up, I find myself looking forward to getting back into a routine again. In the same way that I anticipate summer for it's very lack of routine, I now find myself craving it. It's funny how the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, isn't it? I suppose it's just that everything is good in moderation.
We haven't formally started school yet; then again, we never formally stopped school over the summer. But, come Monday, we'll jump in with both feet, starting full-time school. This week, I'm focusing on getting "life" in order - cleaning, laundry, streamlining, etc. Then Hubby decided he'd like to make a visit down to Key West on Saturday. We haven't been in years and the kids have never gone. I think what triggered it was some game show question about the southernmost state. Which is technically Hawaii, but Key West has the southernmost point in the continental U.S., which apparently made him decide we need to go. Then we'll spend the rest of the nice, long weekend relaxing.
So now I find myself immersed in making plans and schedules and resolutions, like I do at the start of every school year. I promise myself that this year will be different; that I'll magically have been transformed into someone who actually sticks to the plans and schedules and resolutions. Then real life knocks and I fall back into my old habits.
I'm still thinking through all this, but so far what I do know is that this year's curricula is, naturally, our most challenging yet. As I've looked through the reading assignments, I'm wondering how my kids will slog through some of it. We'll be doing Sonlight's Core 6, which is the first year of a two-year World History course. I'm going to continue having the kids do most of their work on their own, but I realize that there are some subjects that will work better done as a group, small though it will be! Those subjects are:
We haven't formally started school yet; then again, we never formally stopped school over the summer. But, come Monday, we'll jump in with both feet, starting full-time school. This week, I'm focusing on getting "life" in order - cleaning, laundry, streamlining, etc. Then Hubby decided he'd like to make a visit down to Key West on Saturday. We haven't been in years and the kids have never gone. I think what triggered it was some game show question about the southernmost state. Which is technically Hawaii, but Key West has the southernmost point in the continental U.S., which apparently made him decide we need to go. Then we'll spend the rest of the nice, long weekend relaxing.
So now I find myself immersed in making plans and schedules and resolutions, like I do at the start of every school year. I promise myself that this year will be different; that I'll magically have been transformed into someone who actually sticks to the plans and schedules and resolutions. Then real life knocks and I fall back into my old habits.
I'm still thinking through all this, but so far what I do know is that this year's curricula is, naturally, our most challenging yet. As I've looked through the reading assignments, I'm wondering how my kids will slog through some of it. We'll be doing Sonlight's Core 6, which is the first year of a two-year World History course. I'm going to continue having the kids do most of their work on their own, but I realize that there are some subjects that will work better done as a group, small though it will be! Those subjects are:
- Bible reading, memorization and study
- History
- Read Alouds
- Dictation
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Poetry
- Vocabulary
- Readers
- Science
- Math
- Creative Writing
- Current Events
- Arabic
Of those, 3 (science, math and Arabic) are computer programs that they can work through on their own. I'll be available for help for everything, but I really would like them to be responsible for their own scheduling.
Within the next few days, I'll be putting together some more thoughts as I prepare to enter a new school year - on the atmosphere I'd like to create, on taking care of myself and my family, and on our educational goals. I think without having a destination in mind, you'll never get where you are going. So even if I don't succeed at ALL of what I'm aiming at, I'll probably still be better off than if I didn't make a plan at all, right?
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- I Could Never Do That!
- Be careful what you wish for!
- Thankful Thursday
- The Last Days of Summer
- Works for Me Wednesday
- Yum-a-licious!
- I'll be Running Late Today
- Menu Plan Monday
- Marriage Monday or "How To Get Married Without Dat...
- Phew! That was a chore!
- Back to Basics
- My 100th Post!!
- I Believe. Help My Unbelief
- Thankful Thursday
- Works for Me Wednesday - Peace
- Southern Sides
- Ouch!
- This is what happens when you procrastinate
- Menu Plan Monday
- Please Pray for Jamaica
- Smart Habit Saturday
- The Passage of Time
- Ugh! Sorry!
- Whoo-hoo!
- Thankful Thursday
- Works for Me Wednesday!
- An Oops That God Used
- Headin' Down South (Well, North for Me!)
- Aw, shucks!
- I Like Mike!
- The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree
- And so it begins...
- Menu Plan Monday
- Smart Habit Saturday
- Rich
- Steps on the Road to Simplicity
- I'm at a loss
- A Strong Woman vs. A Woman of Strength
- The "I AM" Bible Study - Lesson 3
- Works for Me Wednesday - Tweak Your Chili Recipe
- Oh, happy day!
- Your Wish (well, some of you anyways!) is My Command!
- Well, this should be interesting...
- Marriage Monday - An Excellent Wife
- I'd Like to Thank the Academy...
- Discipline
- Some link love
- Busy Day
- Need some decorating advice
- Thankful Thursday
- I Am Bible Study - Lesson Two
- Homeschool Open House 2007
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2 comments:
So many of my blogosphere favourites are homeschool moms and you all make it sound so interesting and creative and fun. I've never even been tempted to CONSIDER it before, but you guys have got me thinking. Any particular reason your kids are learning Arabic? Very cool.
And I'm glad to know there's people out there like me who 'resolve' to change and then get bogged down by reality!! (and bad habits too, for me!)
Lori, just wondering, what language program are you using?