This is one of those crazy busy weeks. In fact, September is one big crazy busy week. Why I even bother to get us into a routine this month is beyond me. Must be my eternal optimism. My cup isn't half full, it's spilling over.
Anyway, September always seems to mean back to carschooling for us. It starts innocently, with Chase's tae kwon do belt test preparations. Then the religious education program starts. Yes, I have my kids take religious instruction. I consider it an opportunity for them to have a taste of "real school." Sometimes a taste is all you need to be satisfied. Good thing we have those deep philosophical discussions about our faith. They've helped overcome the effects of some rather, um, spirited classes. Last year Sierra had ballet as well. We are letting that go for now, hoping that both her maturity and our finances grow enough to handle it. Nature class is the next thing to start, and this week also includes storytelling and a trip to visit another great aunt. Our library visits are a perpetual thing, but I have to admit that I've been a slacker over the summer and often only used one library. I am very thankful for inter-library loans.
Carschooling offsets some of the guilt from a busy travel schedule. Car trips become a time to holler along to Beethoven's Wig, to read history books, listen to Muzzy Spanish, play thinking games like Twenty Questions or pore over the atlas. At least I hope that's what's happening back there. Hard to tell when you're trying to keep your eyes on the road. If I'm lucky, what they don't get from active listening, they'll get from osmosis.
Next week Marina begins her Confirmation preparation. I predict a lot of catching up come mid-October. Then again, we are never behind. We just pick up where we left off and plod along, slow and steady. Homeschooling allows for that.
And please remind me of that when my first quarterly report comes up in November.
3 comments:
hmmmm... the osmosis theory... wish it worked for housework...
Oh, my gosh! Carschooling!! Why didn't I think of that??? Last week was completely lost because we were never home enough to do school work!! Ack. So what other tips do you have for carschooling??
Maybe I should get some more books on CD? We're going to have to pick up where we left off, too. With the paper work of it all. I'm suddenly wrestling with 3rd grade school work and wondering if it's fun AT ALL and if it's not where should I go instead?
Thank you so much for the advice and encouragement to write my own thoughts before reading the thoughts of others. I have a few others that I love to read - you being one. So it's hard to stop reading to write. :-)
Thank you for telling me it gets easier!! I so don't want to miss it as it gets easier. There are some rare gems lately. Mini-E rolled her eyes at me!! It was hillarious. Of course, I didn't laugh because she was being rebellious. *L*
Thank you so much!!
Bleach Free Blessings!!
I love your carschooling theory. The car is a place for great discussion now that you mention it because there are no distractions.
I think the occasional religious education style class is actually fun for homeschoolers too. I've noticed kids from normal schools find this sort of activity tedious. It confirms my theory that a few hours/week in the traditional class setting is probably stimulating and any more begins to become saturating.
Blessings,
Paula
PS Thanks for your lovely comments.
Post a Comment