Before I could plan for the new year I needed to get my focus. The following represents the areas that I feel that we need to hit the hardest in the coming school year. (In MO, we track hours from July 1st - June 30th).
We will still do science and history, but we will not emphasize those subjects any more than usual. The * sign means this is an area of great focus next year. Each child will be working on character traits that they helped to identify as lacking. I will not embarrass the children by sharing those areas. What is your focus for next year?
Rebecca (entering 5th grade):
* math
* spelling
cursive
grammar
begin Latin
character
Nelson (entering 3rd grade):
* math
* reading/spelling
begin cursive
character
Lydia (entering 2nd grade):
* reading
* penmanship
* math
spelling
begin cursive
character
Joshua (Kindergarten):
* reading
* writing
* math
character
We will still do science and history, but we will not emphasize those subjects any more than usual. The * sign means this is an area of great focus next year. Each child will be working on character traits that they helped to identify as lacking. I will not embarrass the children by sharing those areas. What is your focus for next year?
5 comments:
Before last school year I saw you posted that you were going to be sending the kids to school this year, as you were lacking in certain areas...so you were going to hit hard those areas to do your best so that they wouldn't be sooo far behind when entering the school system? Why the change again?
I still have to sit down and think all this through myself. I think at my house is isn't the kids that need to hit it harder it is me! They do just fine when I can be disciplined to get them to do what they are supposed to do.
Anonymous (if you leave your name next time I can talk to you more "personally"),
Sending the children to public school was not something that I really wanted to do at all. But we did consider private school. The cost of the schooling was the biggest deterrent. It was $5000/child. Also, at least one of the age grades was full already - can't remember which... And, yes, my oldest was going to be a year behind in math. (But advanced in history, reading, and science).
Last July I wrote the post "Uncondemned" in which I did some real soul-searching about homeschooling. I admitted my short-comings and my frustrations. The very next day I wrote the post "Breathing Easy." http://coveredbyhishand.blogspot.com/2011/07/breathing-easy.html
I highly recommend reading that post if you have not already.
Last summer was such a time of growth and metamorphosis for me! I explored all of the lies that I was believing... all the ways I was trying to "earn" my salvation. But, when I discovered that I *could* still do some of these things that are often labeled legalistic (skirt-wearing, homeschooling, etc) BUT do them with the right attitude - THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING!
Yes, the kids were "behind" in some areas (by public schooling standards, though let's not forget that sometimes kids in the system can graduate without learning to read...). They were also ahead in some areas. I have a tendency to be too hard on myself. Also, I have a tendency to be a little over-dramatic. (Oh... you noticed that, did you? :0)
In short, I WANT to homeschool. And, I am working hard to make sure that my children are not too far behind their peers in any area. And, I do not think they are.
We have some hard days. I still have a lot of "sick" days from joint pain. But, I think that I am giving them a quality education even on days that I am sick. True learning is not always found in a textbook.
I am very glad that we decided to keep homeschooling! I know that my children are thriving in mind and body (and I am trying to nurture their spiritual needs as well).
In earnest,
Bethany
You might try song school latin. It is inexpensive and looks fun. I purchased song school greek for my children and we all love it (including Greek scholar daddy). They even have free printable flash cards and "worksheets" for the littles to do while the big kids work on lessons.
Dawn
Dawn,
That looks cute! I think someone is sending me their copy of Latina Christiana. But, I will keep the song school in mind for younger kids or for greek!
Bethany
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