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Bookswithtea
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We have been working hard to focus more on advent this year. So far, its been really really good, spiritually. Love the 9 day novena before the Immaculate Conception feast day and the St. Andrew prayer!
That said, I feel like I am running a race, going from feast day to feast day.  I read the Faith and Family article recently that talks about how people tend to be down on and assume the worst about the Advent-Christmas season. I don't want to feel that way. I did my shopping over the summer, I didn't plan too many crafts, meals are simple and we aren't super busy with activities. But school and regular ole life pretty much take a full day. I'm having a hard time getting the laundry done, the Christmas cards addressed and mailed, the wrapping done, etc. In a week or so, the baking will start, which I love, and the O Antipons. Then there's making Star Boy hats, getting ready for St. Lucia Day (scratch buns), St. Nicholas Day, Our Lady of Guadalupe...I gave up on the daily Christmas Mystery readings altogether. 
Do you all do school during Advent? I planned for a reduced load, and we are reading picture books. Is that what I'm doing wrong...not dropping school entirely?
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~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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Mimip
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Books,
In the past we work our year around so that we do not work at all during Advent. BUT, we work on a 3 months on 1 month off schedule. We work Sept, Oct, Nov. Off December. Then we work Jan, Feb March and off April. Then on May, June and July and off August. This year because of family issues we just finished yesterday. I found in the past that with our family and other things, we could not do any "schoolwork" during this Advent time. We engross ourselves in the feasts and read, read, read. We also take out all our card and board games to reinforce Math. Other than that, no school:)
Hope that helps!
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Paula in MN
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This is the first year we have taken off for Advent, except for Math. We are still getting in plenty of reading and writing, and lots of Religion and history. It's going well and I wish I'd done it this way before!
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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Mary G
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We stop "school" for Advent ... but still get in all the subjects thru copywork, history, geography (esp. since we're doing a "round the world Christmas"), math (esp. cooking math with practicing fractions, doubling/halving recipes, etc), art, crafting, music ... y'know we may actually be doing more "school" during Advent than the kids know ... please don't tell 'em! 
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MaryG
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my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Bookswithtea
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Hmmmmmmmmmmm...I think I'll try that next year. It definitely isn't working to try to do both.
Thanks for the help. 
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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joann10
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I called for vacation to start today--hooray!! 
It is just too stressful for try and do schoolwork now--we will just concentrate on read-alouds, crafting, baking, and Christmas fun!!
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Mary K
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we've been concentrating on read-alouds, Advent adventures, Jesse tree. We're just getting started on crafts and baking. I ask my high schoolers to do 1 schooly thing (their choice) each day.
God bless,
Mary
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SuzanneG
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We break from the normally-scheduled-program too....read alouds, independent reads, picture books, Advent Adventures, writing Christmas cards and letters, board games, lots of singing at home and lots of choir practice....has kept us busy enough this year.
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Suzanne in ID
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LLMom
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We take the weeks of December and do math, and then lots of Advent/Christmas stories, cooking, crafts, and celebrate the feast days. It is enough with all of the other life stuff.
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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
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Bookswithtea
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Wow. It sounds like no one is keeping to a normal school schedule. I am soooooooooo wishing I had planned as you all have planned.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Mackfam
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Nothing saying you can't just call it...today!!!  
The minute Advent starts I pare back to simple, living math lessons, read alouds, some independent reading time and nature study. We work on some simple poetry work with the goal of offering a Christmas poetry recitation on Christmas day. That's it for the first two weeks of Advent.
Then, starting with the third week of Advent - we're done! We drop all forms of formal schooling, continue with read alouds in the evening and have plenty of time for baking, writing Christmas cards, wrapping, making Christmas gifts by hand, and crafts. I'm VERY careful not to overplan (I don't plan at all actually - we just keep a list of things we'd like to get to with priority items up top) too much in the way of crafting and baking or I become overwhelmed and so do the children. The goal is focusing on gift of self these last two weeks. I'm EXTREMELY guarded about trips out of the house during this time.
Alright...there ya go! My Advent in a nutshell.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Bookswithtea
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I'm thinking about it, Jen. The thing that is a sticking point for me is that I promised them we would take the entire 12 Days of Christmas off, which means we aren't planning on getting back to schooling until January 11th. I'm worried about getting behind. 
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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stellamaris
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Books, I have spent 20 years worried about getting behind...and it has never happened! Every one of my children who have gone to college, community college, or Catholic high school have been amazingly well-prepared. To be honest, I have no clue how that happened. It always seemed that we were getting off track and never really completing everything I planned, but somehow God worked it all out for good. I do know that the chronic stress of worry and self-doubt is not at all good for you, your health, or your family. Try to enjoy the holidays, not worry about the schooling, and take the pressure off yourself (easier said than done for some of us!) Believe me, you are teaching your children more than you know and they will be well-educated when all is said and done, even if you do nothing at all this year until January 11! Have a blessed Christmas...
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Caroline
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Bookswithtea
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Caroline, I"ve been thinking about this all morning. You're right, you're right, I know you're right.(to quote an old 80's movie ).
I don't know what's gotten into me lately, worry about stuff that just. does. not. matter. At least from an eternal perspective.
Thank you.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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stellamaris
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Well, of course I'm right!
Seriously, though, trust is an uphill battle for me and a lifelong spiritual work. My own excessive expectations are always tripping me up. It's one thing to know what you ought to do and quite another to do it! I'll keep you in my prayers. Maybe you could offer up a little prayer for me in this battle, too?
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Mimip
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Bookswithtea wrote:
I'm thinking about it, Jen. The thing that is a sticking point for me is that I promised them we would take the entire 12 Days of Christmas off, which means we aren't planning on getting back to schooling until January 11th. I'm worried about getting behind.
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Books,
Do you have something planned for the 12 days of Christmas or are you just "recovering" from the Christmas fesitivities?
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Bookswithtea
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stellamaris wrote:
| I'll keep you in my prayers. Maybe you could offer up a little prayer for me in this battle, too? |
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Sounds like a plan!
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Bookswithtea
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Mimip wrote:
Books,
Do you have something planned for the 12 days of Christmas or are you just "recovering" from the Christmas fesitivities? |
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Well, I have picture books I'm planning to read aloud here and there...a few of the kids want to dress up as Wise men and Mary with the baby on Jan. 6.  Picture moment! Mostly just looking forward to enjoying Christmas cookies, old favorite movies and some r and r. Its also the time when I re-evaluate and re-vamp schooling, so I'll be doing some of that as well.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Kathryn
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stellamaris wrote:
| I have spent 20 years worried about getting behind... |
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I think that's what has kept me from pairing back. In fact, I've actually increased my daughter's lessons  so she can be more "on schedule" when the New Year arrives. It was so hard for me to get this homeschooling thing rolling that we didn't hit a groove until 6-8 weeks ago anyway so I already feel like we're sooo behind!
Glad I'm not the only one Books wondering how to do both! May be I should really rethink that b/c I could tell today too that the anxiety of Christmas only one week away has gotten to me. I'm glad others offered their advice.
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Kathryn in TX
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ekbell
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Nothing like losing most of a year to moving cross country stress plus a severe case of uprootedness when my oldest was in grade three (second oldest was kinder age) for me to realize that 'falling behind' isn't the end of the world. (that year we got involved in our parish and very little else)
Three years later my oldest is pretty much at grade level (maybe a bit behind on math but it's hard to tell with a non-graded mastery program). And apparently kindergarten can be completely missed without noticable long term results
When I regained my momentum and started formal homeschooling again I found that there were a number of reasonable ways to 'catch up' again.
Consider if certain subjects could be dropped from formal schooling until you are back on track with the subjects you consider more essential.
Look through your material and see if there is pruning that could be done. You can often prune activities or even whole units without losing the meat of the subject. [I've found that the simplest way to make decisions between two or more activities is to ask the child involved to choose.]
Three-There is nothing wrong with changing your plans so some material will be covered over a year and a bit or even two years . [I admit that this is easier to consider with ungraded or multi-graded material.]
[BTW There is nothing magical about starting in September and ending in June. You can decide that it'll work best if you consider your school year to have started in November and aim to finish in August if you want.]
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Advent and School
