Ok so this blog I'm starting for homeschooling is for me to record my/our adventures in homeschooling. We began to set up our "school" in September on Eve's
frist day of public school. Setting up entailed me seeking
cirriculum and doing lots and lots of reading. I we've chosen the Trivium (Classical) approach using Susan Wise Bauer's book "The Well Trained Mind" as a guide. It wasn't until just a couple of weeks ago that we seem to have found our
rhythm. So from here on out I will do my best to record our journey.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced so far has been keeping Isabel and Mara busy while I am teaching Gabe. An answer to prayer came when a new friend loaned me the book "Managers of Their Homes" by Steven and Teri Maxwell. It gives various examples of the schedules of different homeschooling families, many with as many or more kids than we have. It shows how to create a schedule where you can have time slots blocked out so that the older kids are playing with younger kids while you are attending/teaching another child. I'm working to tweak out our own flexible schedule, little by little. One of the most helpful suggestions that I've found in the book is the suggestion of a "quiet time" with God. Many women said that when they started to make this a priority it gave them more strength and energy throughout the day. I'm also finding this true. Well that's all for now.
Today I decided to switch things up a bit. Instead of starting "class" first thing after breakfast I played games with the girls. I did this in hopes of improving their behavior while I work with Gabe. It seemed to work pretty well. There was much less fighting and messes. I also "filled" the chore charts and sent Gabe off to work on his chores while we played. So Gabe happily raked leaves outside.
