What Emma will be studying this year:
Various literature selections from Ambleside's year 5 list
Winter Promise: Children Around the World
Winter Promise: Animal Habitats
Dance
What Hannah will be studying:
All About Spelling
Dictation/Copywork (selections taken from her literature)
Various free reading books from Ambelside's year 2 and 3 lists
Right Start Math (Hannah has tried Saxon before and hated it- we'll see how she likes this one instead)
Winter Promise: Children Around the World
Winter Promise: Animal Habitats
Piano
Dance
What Laurel will be studying:
All About Spelling
Dictation/Copywork (taken from her literature)
Various books for free reading from Ambelside's year 0 list
Right Start Math
Winter Promise: Children Around the World
Winter Promise: Animal Habitats
D'Nealian Printing
Dance
*Feel free to chime in on what you are studying this year and ask any questions about what you see listed above.
Our first few days have been mostly good. I did panic a little when I saw the school bus pass by our house the other morning. I'm finding myself very tired at the end of this first short week. As I look on into the future of the school year I feel overwhelmed. How will I continue on at this pace? How will I avoid burn out? Am I short-changing anyone? What am I not covering? Is there a way to balance it all?
The only answer I am able to come up with is this: God gives enough for each day. Tomorrow will worry about itself- each day has enough trouble of its own. I can't look that far ahead. My vision is blurry and inaccurate. God sees, knows, hears, cares, comforts, and provides. I remember the manna. I am just going forward trusting that there is enough of Him to sustain me- moment to moment. One day at a time.
Today, we complete our second week of homeschooling. I am teaching 7th grade, 1st grade and Kindergarten. I also have a 10th and 9th grader going to a private Christian school, a 2 year old and two older ones that have finished school. I am exhausted and slightly overwhelmed and I have been doing this forever! I always feel this way, and never quite feel like I accomplish everything how I want to. But everyone is learning and both girls in high school qualified for honors, so I guess they are learning something LOL
I had always planned to homeschool through high school, but it was just way too much! Plus, my kids really wanted to go to high school. Now, if I could just figure out how to fit housework and cooking in without feeling like I am going to pass out at the end of the day, then I am good lol
Posted by: Tonya Richard | September 02, 2011 at 06:26 AM
Sounds like you've got a great plan! Day by day....is how we are taking it, with two officially schooling a toddler wanting to be a part of it and a new little one due in feb, it's going to be interesting :) one question what are you doing with history? I see no curriculum of sorts or is that what ambleside will cover? Just wondering since I've decided to do some world history this year and I'm trying to decide how to go about it.
Posted by: Christina | September 02, 2011 at 06:28 AM
Hi Christina. The Winter Promise: "Children Around the World" is our Social Studies. It is an amazing study of different cultures and world geography. Already it is beginning to breed contentment and thankfulness in the girls as we look into the lives of children in different places around the world. I am so impressed with Winter Promise! Their materials are gorgeous and geared towards the Charlotte Mason style of learning. (but expensive! I am borrowing this set from a friend). The ambleside history didn't work for Hannah. She has to have interactive and hands on activities or she just dies of boredom. This winter promise curriculum brings the best of both "experiences" and "living books" together.
We plan to jump back into the chronological study of history next year with American History. I wanted Laurel to be a bit older so she could have a better grasp.
Hope that helps!
Posted by: Libby | September 02, 2011 at 07:11 AM
Just took a peek, looks amazing! I will have to look a bit more into it. Thanks for the reply :)
Posted by: Christina | September 02, 2011 at 07:51 AM
Looks awesome Libby! A great year ahead! I love your focus that God can provide!
Posted by: Clara | September 02, 2011 at 12:01 PM
You are way ahead of me regarding homeschooling (my eldest is only 4). Happy seeing that you are going to use Ambleside :) I've been part of Ambleside yahoogroups for 2 years now and I've learned a lot. Looks like Winter Promise could be a good alternative if the history part of Ambleside does not work for us :) *Just curious.. was doing the Classical Method (Tapestry of Grace) hard to implement? I see more and more homeschoolers switching to Charlotte Mason style.
Posted by: gina@myrubyslippers | September 05, 2011 at 03:31 PM
One day at a time, mama. You'll get the rhythm!
Posted by: Jessie Padilla-Bryson | September 08, 2011 at 02:19 PM
I had always planned to homeschool through high school, but it was just way too much! Plus, my kids really wanted to go to high school. Now, if I could just figure out how to fit housework and cooking in without feeling like I am going to pass out at the end of the day, then I am good lol!
Posted by: Insurance Check | October 06, 2011 at 09:51 AM