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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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Come on up, Martha! I promise you we will have a good time!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 9:42pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
MarilynW wrote:
Actually I have an alternative point of view. I find it hard to find support for a more traditional point of view. You see - there is an assumption that if a pre-packaged curriculum is used that we are putting our child "in a box" or "stifling their creativity" or "killing their dreams". And I find that really tough.
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There's just no pleasing folks, is there? No matter what we do someone is going to look at us like we are crazy and ruining our children forever. Guess we just keep praying, trusting our own instincts and doing what we think is best and let the chips fall where they may.
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Ain't THAT the truth! Reminds me of a conversation I had with an IRL friend last summer that I shared here. Like Marilyn mentioned, some of my most helpful support comes from friends/family who don't home educate or do so in a much different way than I do. Supportive people - a definition - are those who trust me, my dh, and my child to prayerfully figure out His will for us AND they are content and humble with what they are doing. The more years I home educate, the more confident I become in what we do...and the more humble I become about what works for others.
By its very nature, designing your own curriculum - however formal or informal, rigorous or relaxed - does leave one without a formal support group connected to a specific curriculum. How wonderful that we can support each other through this!
Marilyn, would you believe me if I told you that just because I'm American doesn't mean that I get this? Really! I'll be bold enough to say that many, if not most, American home educating moms have to figure all this out anew with their children. Moms who have never gone to college...moms who went to college a long time ago (that's me)....moms who live in a different state than they were raised...plus ever changing requirements within colleges and among colleges...differences among majors...YIKES! So we all have our moments of needing to buckle down, gather information, forget, remember, worry, celebrate! I think the ride will be a bit lighter and more fun together  .
Thanks so much for sharing, all! I have a few more things I'm eager to chat about, inspired by your posts...but I need to close the computer for tonight.
Praying for us all!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 9:53pm | IP Logged
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I don't fit into a predefined "box" either. My son likes to know what to expect, and he prefers textbooks to living books (literature excepted). It's hard to get him to try something new and different.
He was inspired to try American lit with renewed gusto by his U.S. history professor this fall. Now he's delving into short stories, poems, etc. because his prof says he needs to read these authors. 
Sometimes the support you need comes from outside the home...way, way outside.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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LLMom
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 at 9:43am | IP Logged
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MarilynW wrote:
Actually I have an alternative point of view. I find it hard to find support for a more traditional point of view. You see - there is an assumption that if a pre-packaged curriculum is used that we are putting our child "in a box" or "stifling their creativity" or "killing their dreams". And I find that really tough. I will share our story:
I have always had an individual approach to educating each of my children. My dd fast-tracked seventh and eighth grade. Last year she sat with all my curriculum catalogs and made a comparison sheet of high school catalogs and drew up her own 4 year plan of study. She decided that she wanted to do Seton for Grade 9 - I was kind of surprised - but she wanted to have lesson plans and structure and a plan (without seeing me work all summer, nights and weekends). The cost was tough for us - but we decided to give it a go. It is tough work and not necessarily what I would have chosen - but she is doing well. She is very happy to get her work done and then do other things she enjoys - playing in a homeschool symphonic band, doing voluntary work in a nursing home, playing clarinet at Mass, volunteering with the homeless - and most of all playing with her younger siblings. She wants to be a writer, and still manages to find time to work on one of her many (unfinished!) novels.
We have used a traditional curriculum - but it has certainly not put her in a box. She has come a long way in learning time and work management skills (and still has a lot to learn!)
Now we are evaluating our next year and may not do such a structured approach - but it will be discussed and prayed about in the same way.
I want to also make the point that a high school education is indeed just an extension of our lives - that it is not an end to itself. Each family has to choose what is right for them and their children. Personally I would like to be Theresa - live in Alaska and unschool. Really  (except for the winters). But that is not where God has placed our family and that is not how I am. So we work with what we have - spiritual, emotional and monetary - to ensure that our children receive the best education they can which is consistent with their goals and our family goals. |
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Marilyn,
Have you seen thisfrom Teri Maxwell of MOTH? They have also written Managers of their schools and it is all based on using traditional textbook curricula. I thought some of it might be helpful to you.
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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 at 5:24pm | IP Logged
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Angie Mc wrote:
The more years I home educate...the more humble I become about what works for others.
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I have been thinking of this Angie and thinking how true it is for me. God has a way of humbling us and making us realize that we cannot really do anything without Him...
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Marilyn
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 at 5:51pm | IP Logged
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LLMom wrote:
[
Have you seen thisfrom Teri Maxwell of MOTH? They have also written Managers of their schools and it is all based on using traditional textbook curricula. I thought some of it might be helpful to you. |
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Thank you for posting this Lisa. I like Teri Maxwell - in fact I am reading Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Heart at the moment! I also use MOTH very loosely - as a guide in drawing up my own routines.
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Marilyn
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: What support is helpful to you?
