Managing Everyday Life with Homeschool... My Rambling Thoughts

Wow... it's really proving to be more and more difficult as the school year progresses to get through our daily curriculum. I haven't pinpointed all the reasons for this just yet, but I know we've never been busier. As I look at my calendar, it doesn't look like we should be struggling, so I wonder... is it that we've found more distractions to interfere with the super flexible schedule we've always enjoyed? Or is it that we've allowed ourselves to become more distracted by those things that take us away from a schedule? They aren't the same. One requires new activity, the other requires a new level of involvement in activities we've always been involved with.

In any case, I'm really starting to appreciate (with feet dragging), the need for a fixed schedule. Not just a daily, but a weekly and monthly too. It makes me sad because one of the great freedoms of homeschooling is the blessing of flexibility. It also makes me a bit sad because it requires a hard change from what I'm accustomed too and that means work. Who likes work! Yuck! As far a freedoms go, we'd still have the freedom of choosing what to study, just not so much when to study. The spillover that's finding it's way into our weekend routine is just not working for us.

Just to clarify where my thinking is on this... I don't for a second intend to adopt a rock hard schedule with no room for flex at all, but I do need to draw some serious lines in the sand and that's just sooo not my nature. I kind of blow whichever way the wind takes me when it comes to schooling my children. So long as all the bases get covered, I've never been one to fret over what the order of things look like or what time of day we start or finish our assignments or projects... just so we're all awake, alert, and learning.

The sad awakening: Ok... increasing my scheduling frustration (and the need for one) is the realization that in my efforts to incorporate more social outlets to our schedule, I've lost A LOT of time for school projects and lessons. I've learned that those commitments really interrupt the day. I welcome the occasional interruption until I look at the clock and realize it's nearing 4:00 PM (which is our pick up the house time, followed by dinner prep and another clean-up) and I realize we've not yet done our reading, or we're still needing to erupt that homemade volcano that's been sitting on the counter waiting for it's coat of paint.

So, that brings up another question (probably another post), how do you excuse yourself from invitations without losing friends? Without losing future invites? Will those friends who don't homeschool get why you can't join them at the park again tomorrow? Will they feel like you're just blowing them off? If you tell them you can only play for an hour, will they get that? Will my kids get that? Oh, I know... who cares... it's not about what people think (so they say), but I do strive to remain at peace with those around me. When I'm not understood... or even worse, misunderstood, it drives me a bit batty. Ok, that's definitely a post for another day.

These problems I'm facing aren't unique to our homeschool. I realize that we've been on this journey for such a short time, that were bound to hit kinks along the way and those kinks will need a good pressing (looking at my iron). My family has only been officially homeschooling since last Spring when I made it a daily event in our home. My son is 6 and my daughter 5 and we're so new to this. Although there's so much trial and error that goes into homeschooling, it's real life, and isn't that the way real life is?

Well, better go! It's time for math! : )

It's Official... We're a Legal Private School

I don't know the laws for each state, but in Kansas you must register yourself as a Private School in order to homeschool legally. You're not required to do this before you children reach the age of 7, but since we're starting 1st grade this year thought we'd check off that box.

What's our name? I'm really not that creative with words so I went with something simple and yet pleasing to my ear.

The Lindsey Academy... so, how's it sound? Boring? Maybe, but since everyone in the school is named Lindsey, it just seems to make sense! lol

My Father's World Curriculum it is!

After many many months of research and a trip to a local homeschooling convention, I finally made the decision to go with My Father's World for my first grader.

As a Christian home schooler I couldn't escape the wonder and excitement of how this curriculum incorporates so much Bible knowledge, even to the extent that by the end of the school year my son will have created his own Bible! Filled with his own artwork and verses or story lines that he's written in his own words, it will truly be a wonderful keepsake that he'll no doubt treasure in future years... we might have to arm wrestle when he's grown over who gets the rights to it though! lol

There are so many excellent home schooling curriculums out there, but considering this isn't as structured as some and isn't worksheet heavy like A Beka (my son isn't ready for that), I think this is a wonderful choice.

That said, I am supplementing this curriculum with a few workbooks from Hooked on Phonics. This wonderful series actually includes more than books on phonics, but also math, which are among my son's favorite workbooks. He actually enjoys math thanks to Hooked on Math!

I'll also continue to incorporate worksheets I find online, computer games and lessons, and reading from a variety of books we continue to accumulate including the wonderful Bob Books that are perfect for early readers.

Daddy will play science teacher, so can't wait to see what he comes up with for the kiddos. Should be pretty spectacular though. He loves to teach and is very excited to share the world of science with his kids. ; )

So, according to UPS tracking, we'll be receiving our curriculum on Tuesday. In the meantime we're working through multiple workbooks we've purchased at Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, and a school supply store. I'll keep you posted on the My Father's World experience!