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Molly Smith
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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Okay, we've only been homeschooling for 7 years now, but I've finally come to the realization that we can use a book for reference or a jumping off point (like Sea to Shining Sea, or Apologia Botany) or extra practice (like Seton English and Handwriting) and not actually do all of the lessons or finish the book!
That may seem common sense to you all, but my OCD personality has never been able to grasp it. I realize now that we'd be better off doing Lively Language Lessons and supplementing with appropriate pages of Seton English for extra practice than making ourselves miserable trying to complete a workbook only to still be detached and disconnected to English. And that is okay. I've had this epiphany in several subject areas and I feel so free! I still have to work it all out, but at least now I can see a bigger picture of what I want our family to actually learn this year instead of breaking our days down into "pages to complete".
I've also given myself permission to take two years to complete our Saxon math with my boys. One is accelarated, the other is grade level so they'll work together. Saxon's spiraling and review work well for my family, so we bumped up one grade level and will take two years to complete it. It's 6/5, so this is a good year to spread out. We'll do a 1/2 a lesson each day M-Th and then do Challenge Math or some other fun/practical math activity on Fridays.
Phew! I can finally put this "school at home" mentality behind me and get on with real learning!!
If you've stuck with me this long, thanks for listening  .
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Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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Mary G
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 4:11pm | IP Logged
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Congrats, Molly -- isn't it cathartic when you come to that realization? Enjoy your year, dear!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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KC in TX
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YAY!!! I know what you mean! My son has this difficulty. He has autism, and he just cannot skip workbook pages, but he hates to do them! That's why we're still on Beta of MUS even though he could probably be the next one up.
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KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
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And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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LLMom
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 6:42pm | IP Logged
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That is so wonderful and freeing, Molly!
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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
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Jess
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| Posted: June 30 2008 at 11:26am | IP Logged
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I know what you mean Molly, it kills me to leave stuff undone in a book, or even on my plans for the day. I don't think I am all the way there yet but I am getting better.
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God bless,
Jess
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TracyQ
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| Posted: June 30 2008 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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It takes awhile to realize what works for your family, but when you do, it's a GREAT freeing feeling indeed!!!  
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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JEJE
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I am also finally learning to make curriculum work for me instead of the other way around I have bought *tons* of programs, and then sold them because I didn't want to use them as a whole. This year it *finally* occurred to me I could use parts of a book, or activity guide without feeling guilty! It is liberating isn't it 
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SylviaB
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Molly,
We have just started our homeschool journey (doing preschool w/my 4 year old) and what you have said makes perfect sense.
Although not really an issue for preschool (I don't think)- I think I would be afraid I would overlook some key items by using multiple sources! Maybe it's bc/ I am so new at it.
Do you create an overall plan of what you want to make sure you cover each year and then just pull from different sources to meet that goal?
Sylvia
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Courtney
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I think this is what I was struggling with this past year. I posted last week re: This Country of Ours. I feel compelled to read every single chapter instead of catering it to our families needs. I need this reminder sometimes, too!
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Courtney in Texas
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Kristie 4
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Wonderful Molly!
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Kristie in Canada
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: June 30 2008 at 6:15pm | IP Logged
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Courtney wrote:
| I think this is what I was struggling with this past year. I posted last week re: This Country of Ours. I feel compelled to read every single chapter instead of catering it to our families needs. I need this reminder sometimes, too! |
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I had another "light bulb" come on today when looking at some of Elizabeth's plans. She uses the picture books as the spine and then supplements with texts and other books, whereas I would use the text as a spine and supplement with picture books IF I could squeeze it all in. But, we always lose interest because the work is boring and I'm wrapped up in checking off boxes. Duh!! For as long as I've been on the boards, and CCM before that, you'd think I'd have clued into this by now!!
SylviaB wrote:
| Do you create an overall plan of what you want to make sure you cover each year and then just pull from different sources to meet that goal? |
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That's my plan! Right now I'm focused on American history and geography, because they entail the most sources for us this year. Science will be a biggie to plan, too. Everything else either has or will soon fall into place--the other subjects seem to come more naturally to me.
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Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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mariB
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I have been doing the half of a book a year in science and history (with lots of living books) and loving it! Thanks for posting this, Molly! It IS liberating:)
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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JudyJz
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I had a similar liberating moment this past year. I was planning out what we could get done before baby was born in March and suddenly realized that it was ok for me to pick and choose which parts of CHC first grade I wanted to complete and in what order I wanted to do them. It was orginially so frustrating for me that the holidays weren't exactly matching up with real life holidays etc... It was so freeing to go through and pull out (granted I had to rewrite/type stuff in my own planner) the stuff that I wanted to do and put it in place the way I wanted it to go. It took alot of time, but I felt so much better that I wasn't wasting the money I had spent. I have alot of guilt for spending alot of money on winterpromise animal worlds and then finding it wasn't scheduled in a way that worked for my brain. (still might have to go back and rethink Animal worlds now with my new outlook) So, was able to grab some of CHC's good ideas but put it on MY time schedule with MY prefered resources taking center stage etc...
thanks for sharing,
JudyJz
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TracyQ
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| Posted: July 02 2008 at 10:53am | IP Logged
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One resource that has helped me immensely in designing our own courses, pulling bits and pieces from various resources, or using something as a spine, and working it for our purposes is Barb Shelton's book, Senior High: A Home Designed Form U La.
I was able to apply her method for designing high school courses to lower level learning as well very easily, it's just the method that's taught in the book.
Her website is extremely helpful as well. You can get a good idea of how she may pull togther a course here:
Barb Shelton's website
I can use this with ANY method of learning, or eclectic method as well. It gives me a GREAT idea of how you can pull together a really good, well rounded course or plan for our school using parts of books, DVDs/documentaries on TV or otherwise, magazines, online resources, etc. (depending on what we're learning).
I really love using the method because I there are SO MANY really great resources that I want to use, and this allows me to pick and choose the best of the best,to be creative in our learning/my teaching, and to apply our learning philosophy much more easily as well.
I never feel I have to *finish* a resource, because my course design is what I go by, not the resource themselves. The resources/curriculum become my tools in my toolbox for teaching, rather than the teaching themselves.
This works GREAT for our daughter in particular, and also worked great for our oldest. I use it also for our will be 11th grader, but his high school is more all in one (Trisms), and so I don't have to design his much, because it's done there for me, and works great for him.
But I do still apply this to some degree to his as well, because I want to round out his coursework with the few things he needs that aren't offered in Trisms.
I think many of us use this in our own way anyway. This just gives me a good idea of HOW to do it, because I'm not good at getting past the mentality of using a basic resource, so this gives me the guidance I need for my personality.  
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: I feel so liberated!
