Learning Curves

This past month has been a time of learning. Not only am I teaching my children Bible, Math, English, French, Italian, Science, Canadian History... but I am learning too. My youngest son actually said that English was fun this year. I am so happy because I chose a totally different curriculum. Last year he was learning from Sonlight but it was not suited to him. I do admit that Sonlight was the right choice for the phonics and reading but not for the grammar/writing part. He is so behind in that area. This year we switched to Bob Jones English 3 and he is loving it. I am so glad!! One thing I am learning is that what is right for one child is not necessarily appropriate for the other. This is what happened with language arts. It is not even a subject I excel at so I am learning from this curriculum too.

Science is proving to be quite good this year as well. My oldest is doing the Exploring Creation with Physical Science. It is a bit of a stretch for him but I think he will do fine with it. We are moving at a snail's pace through module 1 and just finished the test. He got 83 percent so I was fine with that. I recommend this curriculum for an 8th or 9th grader. It is very well done and the CD ROM is worth purchasing since the visual is very helpful with the text.

On a personal level the Lord is teaching me a lot about myself and where He is leading me. It may not be the popular way or the way that is easy but isn't that what the Lord promised is the way to Life. I thank Jesus that He is my way and the narrow way is the way He is leading me by His grace.

Vacation, Allergies and Homeschooling

My trip to Nova Scotia was great. My niece got married and it was a fantastic sunny day for a marvelous wedding for two wonderful people. The salt air was great for my lungs. On return to Ontario however was a different story. As soon as I arrived at my home, my breathing problems began. Needless to say, the first week home was very overwhelming with doctor visits, laundry and getting the homeschooling underway.

This has been a very bumpy start for homeschooling and this 4th week of September will be our first week of a fully scheduled homeschool week. I am hoping that my own physical challenges will abate and not interfere any longer with what the Lord has given me to focus on. I feel that the battle for the child is very real and it is unseen. However, the Lord says to be of good cheer, He has overcome the world. Getting back into a routine is never easy after a layed-back summer. The boys are having withdrawals from a couple of months of entertainment to being disciplined again. I think they will appreciate a routine again and also renew their love for learning new things.

Getting Ready

I see this blog transforming itself more and more into a place for me to interact with other homeschooling moms. It started out very general in my approach but I am getting ready to put more focus into this blog as an account of just how my homeschooling is going and what I hope to accomplish.

I finally transferred Jordan's curriculum into his room on a separate bookshelf just for his curriculum and reading material. Brandon is already set up in his room with his curriculum. Getting it out of my closet was such a relief and is helping me to organize so much better due to lack of space for storage and shelving in our home.

Brandon still has one math lesson and a final test to write before he is ready for the Pre-Algebra. We've been having a lot of down-time these past three weeks due to my husband's vacation, swimming lessons and a death in the family. It's just been a bit crazy but I look forward to getting a little better organized before September hits.

Most of the curriculum is purchased and on the shelves so I am not too worried about leaving anything undone. Readers are probably the only outstanding item on the list.

That's where I stand at the moment, so we are getting ready for another year.

Homeschool Down Time

I'm finally at that point in the year when summer is upon us and yard work is a must. The sunny days beacon me to take the boys out for exercise and fresh air and fun. It is also a time I love to get back into shape again after a long cold winter.

One thing about getting older is that I never expected to get stiffer but stretching is a definite necessity or I pay for it. As a mom, wife, homemaker, and teacher I constantly have to remind myself to put myself at the top of the priority list. It is one thing to be sure to make time to spend listening to what the Lord has to say to me today, it's another thing to make time for myself. I feel as nurturers, mothers are just too busy taking care of everyone else.

I am trying to use the day that God gave Isreal, the Sabbath, to spend more down-time and really call it a delight. I really need this time to rest from running around doing errands and just enjoy the day as it is meant to be enjoyed. I use to try to make every day the same but for me it is just not working. I really need one day to know that this is the down day for me and so I will use this day and call it a delight.

As for teaching the boys, we are using hot afternoons of the summer for indoor study such as math, language and science. It's unscheduled and relaxed. Just the way summer should be. I don't know how homeschoolers schedule when every season is sunny and warm but that's the way we do it in the North country.

Crunch Time

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed today. Last night was the sign-up night for our homeschooling network. There were tons of activities and field trips to decide on. I was very surprised but delighted at the choices and variety of trips available.

It looks like the Family Calendar I bought will be put to good use but I need to sit down and organize all the dates I committed for last night.

I also run our homeschooling website. This is another task that is looking at me because I need to post all of the activities on the website. I also look after the Parent Resource library and that list needs to be updated and posted on our new website as well. Overall, I like doing this stuff but time seems to be escaping me these days and I am finding it difficult to fit it all in.

So I'm feeling a little under the gun to get all this done and my boys' teaching schedule finalized.

Getting Organized

It's that time of year when I feel the crunch to get organized for the homeschooling which moves full speed ahead in two weeks.

So far I have purchased a family planning calendar with cool stickers to use for eye-catching scheduled activities and appointments. I am also in the midst of scheduling the boys' homeschooling subjects throughout the day while making time for healthy snacks, outdoor exercise and group activities such as gymnastics.

This year will be quite interesting with my oldest being monitored by a school in New Brunswick called Tree of Life. The curriculum provides him with a classical education and I am also going to be learning along with him I'm sure. I hope to register my youngest next year with the same school if all goes well.

Every year is different for homeschooling and I am looking forward to the best year ever for all of us.