Our School
Tonight I finally got motivated to start organizing for school. I went through all the old paper work and stacks upon stacks of art the kiddos have been so busily creating. I feel bad, but I threw most of it away...they'll make more. I organized the shelves, the kids drawers and sharpened pencils - I think I will invest in an electric pencil sharpener, by hand just takes too long.
Two weeks ago we went to the homeschooling convention down in Phx. We had a good time learning all sorts of new things and being encourage by all the like-minded people.
Tom came away with knowing that we're on the right track for our family. I gained courage, laughed, and tried my best to steer clear of all the many curricula displayed in the exhibit hall (I get a wee bit overwhelmed when it comes to decision-making). We had already decided on which curriculum we were using, so it was easy just to tell myself, "No. Don't even look".
Here's what I saw:
We'll be starting up our year at the beginning of September. We're joining forces again with two other families one day a week for "discovery days". Livvy will be doing My Father's World First Grade for the main Bible and science portions, but Horizon's math and phonics (those are actually the Kindergarten curriculum, but it's more advanced than MFW's kindergarten). Sammy will be tagging along, doing his workbooks and the little game I learned at the convention.
I'm excited but also nervous to start. If I start thinking too much (which is one of my major pitfalls) than I end up six years down the road trying to figure out how to homeschool a 6th/7th grader, 4th grader, a 2nd grader, and who knows who else might show up. Aaagh!
One day at a time. One day at a time. One day at a time, sweet Jesus.
Two weeks ago we went to the homeschooling convention down in Phx. We had a good time learning all sorts of new things and being encourage by all the like-minded people.
Tom came away with knowing that we're on the right track for our family. I gained courage, laughed, and tried my best to steer clear of all the many curricula displayed in the exhibit hall (I get a wee bit overwhelmed when it comes to decision-making). We had already decided on which curriculum we were using, so it was easy just to tell myself, "No. Don't even look".
Here's what I saw:
- lots of pregnant women...lots (and those were the ones that were showing)
- dads and moms of all shapes, sizes, ages, etc.
- Arizona Governor Jan Brewer
- Senator John McCain
- State Senator Huppenthal
- President of ParentalRights.org and chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association Michael Farris
- "Homeschooling is efficient and forgiving" - Thank you, thank you, Carol Barnier!
- Homeschoolers uniform: pajamas
- Grace
- Lots of good ideas, including a oh-so-simple game to teach kids to read. Can't wait to start using it.
- Encouragement
- Importance
- U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child - very bad!!
- The Proposed Parental Rights Amendment - very good!
We'll be starting up our year at the beginning of September. We're joining forces again with two other families one day a week for "discovery days". Livvy will be doing My Father's World First Grade for the main Bible and science portions, but Horizon's math and phonics (those are actually the Kindergarten curriculum, but it's more advanced than MFW's kindergarten). Sammy will be tagging along, doing his workbooks and the little game I learned at the convention.
I'm excited but also nervous to start. If I start thinking too much (which is one of my major pitfalls) than I end up six years down the road trying to figure out how to homeschool a 6th/7th grader, 4th grader, a 2nd grader, and who knows who else might show up. Aaagh!
One day at a time. One day at a time. One day at a time, sweet Jesus.
Comments
I've really appreciated your openness and acknowledgement of your real emotions as I've been reading your blog. You and Tom are not far from our thoughts and in our prayers much.
Many blessings,
The Keeners