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Sarah
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| Posted: Oct 22 2007 at 4:44pm | IP Logged
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I am getting very concerned with the amount of stuff we are accomplishing each day. Schooling is seeming to go very S-L-O-W.
Today we are recovering from colds and we stayed up late watching the last of the postseason baseball. All we've done today is listen to Mom read from the Secret Garden, made Yorkshire Robin Cake (ds11 made it & a huge mess  ), went to Mass where both boys served, played the piano, colored in Dover coloring books, made leaf rubbings, and now they are on a nature walk collecting more leaves. I'm here with the sick babies or I'd go too.
While this seems like a lot, none of it look very scholarly. We are having more and more days like this. I can easily start that mode in my head about the real world, college, getting a job, etc. Why don't I have peace of mind?
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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Mary G
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| Posted: Oct 22 2007 at 5:06pm | IP Logged
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Sarah -- sounds like a wonderful day to me .... we often have these kind of days when one or another (or all  ) are sick ... I console myself that they wouldn't be doing ANYTHING if they were home sick from "real" school. Also, they learn SO MUCH from the read-alouds and the times together. And the fact that y'all made it to Mass! WOW!!!!!
Hang in there, you're doing fine ....
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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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MarilynW
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 7:21am | IP Logged
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Sarah my friend - things are going rather slowly in my house too. My dh always makes me feel better - shows me how much we are actually doing. I will pm you later - 3 year old needs me.
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Marilyn
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missionfamily
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 9:58am | IP Logged
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days like that often bother me too...i tend to think there should be many academic days and a few of these. however, god's constant word to me this year has been "be slow and reflective." i still struggle to let myself believe it, but i really think his plan is more days like this with a few "scholarly" days thrown in the mix. i have been trying to lay in bed at night and list all the things we did that day instead of that constant mantra of how much we didn't do. i've started to see my plans as a wish list from which i get to choose a few things at a time rather than a tyrranical to-do list always nipping st my heels. it is still a strugle for the control-freak perfectionist in me to be at peace, but that's probably why God is asking it of me . sorry about my typing, i'm nursing the little one and the toddler is sharing the chair with us. 
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 10:32am | IP Logged
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Colleen,
As you were a high school English teacher (do I have that right ), I always find it enlightening to hear your thoughts and see how you "do school" at home.
There is so much pressure in the schools today. By hearing your thoughts I feel reassured that our days can move at a slower pace (academic-wise) and not ruin our children.
Going on retreat constantly reminds me that the world is not moving at the pace God intended it to move. Though it has become the norm, the fast-paced society we live in is muffling out God's voice.
Homeschooling grants us an oasis of peace and serenity over the mental mind-dump of society.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
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missionfamily
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 1:09pm | IP Logged
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Cay--Well since you've outed me , I will admit that the thing I hated most about watching young women in a rigorous academic environment was how often the pressure to complete their tasks and assignments and to do so well, as well as to participate in a number of activities, left them frantic and anxious, with little time to commit to family, little time to be alone to think and pray, and little time to grow in virtue. Instead, it left them with all the temptation to "blow off steam" in rebellious and unhealthy ways. I used to quip that we were educating the women who would be mopping the perfectly neat kitchen while their husbands packed their suitcases to leave: i.e.--task-driven and incapable of relating to themselves and others. I desperately want my kids to love to read, to have a generally sound knowledge of history, to learn a foreign language, to have a basic understanding of the fields of science, to be proficient communicators of the written and spoken word, to be well-rounded in the areas of art, music, handwork, housework, and physical activity. But does that mean we have to cover all those things every day? These children are mine for the long haul, not just this year. I may not be able to fit it all in this week...but in an eighteen year span...yeah, we'll probably get around to it. On the other hand, if I push and plod through everything quickly to say we have covered it, but lose the joy and wonder of discovery, the love of learning, and the coziness of home and family-centered learning, then I have forsaken everything that drove to home-schooling in the first place. So that's where I am in my reflecting these days. I also think I have figured out a way to plan the week's rhythm without feeling eaten alive by it. I plan to post it on my blog tonight, I'll let you know when it is up.
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
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missionfamily
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 1:13pm | IP Logged
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I just proofread that post...how telling is it that I forgot to mention math in the list of things I want for my kids  ...okay, and at the very least to know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and to be intrigued by spatial relationships and problem-solving challenges. There, that's better.
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 1:19pm | IP Logged
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missionfamily wrote:
| Cay--Well since you've outed me , I will admit that the thing I hated most about watching young women in a rigorous academic environment was how often the pressure to complete their tasks and assignments and to do so well, as well as to participate in a number of activities, left them frantic and anxious, with little time to commit to family, little time to be alone to think and pray, and little time to grow in virtue. Instead, it left them with all the temptation to "blow off steam" in rebellious and unhealthy ways. I used to quip that we were educating the women who would be mopping the perfectly neat kitchen while their husbands packed their suitcases to leave: i.e.--task-driven and incapable of relating to themselves and others. I desperately want my kids to love to read, to have a generally sound knowledge of history, to learn a foreign language, to have a basic understanding of the fields of science, to be proficient communicators of the written and spoken word, to be well-rounded in the areas of art, music, handwork, housework, and physical activity. But does that mean we have to cover all those things every day? These children are mine for the long haul, not just this year. I may not be able to fit it all in this week...but in an eighteen year span...yeah, we'll probably get around to it. On the other hand, if I push and plod through everything quickly to say we have covered it, but lose the joy and wonder of discovery, the love of learning, and the coziness of home and family-centered learning, then I have forsaken everything that drove to home-schooling in the first place. So that's where I am in my reflecting these days. I also think I have figured out a way to plan the week's rhythm without feeling eaten alive by it. I plan to post it on my blog tonight, I'll let you know when it is up. |
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Wow Colleen - what an amazing post! I had to log on and tell you. Just what my contol freak perfectionist nature needs today - I feel a little bit of a failure as spent a lot of the morning not getting on well with my 8 year old twin boys (whose only motivating thing right now is the World Series!!) instead of creating the peaceful home I wanted. I am printing this out and carrying it around with me
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MarieC
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missionfamily wrote:
| I desperately want my kids to love to read, to have a generally sound knowledge of history, to learn a foreign language, to have a basic understanding of the fields of science, to be proficient communicators of the written and spoken word, to be well-rounded in the areas of art, music, handwork, housework, and physical activity. But does that mean we have to cover all those things every day? These children are mine for the long haul, not just this year. I may not be able to fit it all in this week...but in an eighteen year span...yeah, we'll probably get around to it. On the other hand, if I push and plod through everything quickly to say we have covered it, but lose the joy and wonder of discovery, the love of learning, and the coziness of home and family-centered learning, then I have forsaken everything that drove to home-schooling in the first place. |
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Thank you for posting this!  The first part is just what I want, but I so often freak out b/c we are so loose. The second part reminds me of "the big picture."
missionfamily wrote:
| I also think I have figured out a way to plan the week's rhythm without feeling eaten alive by it. I plan to post it on my blog tonight, I'll let you know when it is up. |
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Looking forward to it!!
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Marie
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Barbara C.
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Sarah, it sounds like your "bad" days are more intensive than our "good" days. Of course, with both of mine so young we mostly lean on unschooling at this time. Yours aren't that old either, though, and you might be surprised just how much they have learned by what you have done today and watching the baseball last night (math, geography, good sportsmanship).
If you are really concerned, maybe you can get some workbooks for the older two to work on independently on your days like this. It's doesn't have to be super rigorous; think mazes, puzzles, or even math or vocab ones involving stickers. You can also have the two older ones read to the whole family. Just remember that learning happens all the time.
And Colleen really does say it all.
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Lorraine
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Thanks for your post, Sarah. My kids have been sick for the last 3 weeks and it feels like we didn't get anything done. I've spent more time at the doctor's office than I have read with them. The most we get to do in a day is read a couple of books and draw some pictures. (So Sarah, your bad day would be a really good day for me! ) Even though they are still young, I feel bad that I've wasted time. The routine that we had going quite well for the first month is gone. I'm hoping that once they recover we'll be able to resume the routine.
Colleen, thanks for your post with the "big picture." It's a great reflection on the beauty of homeschooling. At the same time, it looks like a daunting task for me. I just started homeschooling and just trying to take it one year at a time (or even one month at a time for now). I'm just scared that in the future, for whatever reason, when I have to send them to school, they will not have learned any of those lovely things you listed. Actually, I don't even have a clue on how to teach them some of those things yet 
Anyways, I guess I have to take it slowly, pray more, and have faith in God - if He called me to be a homeschooling mom, He will help and guide me through it. (Either that, or I have completely mistaken His calling for me  )
Thanks for listening to my vent .
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Lorraine, mom to dd (12/02), ds (11/04) and ds (06/08)
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mimmyof5
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Sarah,
Your slow days sound like so many of my days with my older two daughters when they were younger. And I always beat myself up over those slow days fearing I was cheating them out of that rigorous academic education. Yet, right now my best memories are those slow days.
My younger dd has been enrolled in Seton for the last two years, and my biggest regret with her is that we don't have time for slow days. The years are creeping by too fast, and I want many memories of us snuggled on the couch reading, discussing and drinking tea. In fact, last week I told her to put away the Seton lesson plans and go read. It almost makes me feel human again.
By the way, my older two, who had more slow days than not, are doing fine. My oldest graduated last year and will start college in January. My next oldest actually went to high school this year, and she is pulling straight A's except for math , and in that she has a B. Our slow days were definitely good enough to meet the state's standards.
And now I'm going to go back and re-read all Colleen's excellent advice.
Janet
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Sarah
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 8:44pm | IP Logged
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Barbara C. wrote:
| Sarah, it sounds like your "bad" days are more intensive than our "good" days. |
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Don't be too impressed. We've been reading the Secret Garden since April (is that slow enough?). 
THANKS a million ladies. You've all made me feel better.
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missionfamily
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| Posted: Oct 24 2007 at 9:05am | IP Logged
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I posted that entry this morning if anyone is interested in my thinking out loud
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
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eileenonhim
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I am surprised at how much my kids learn even when we don't do a lot of "formal" schooling. I only get nervous when I think about being judged by someone else (especially the school district! As if they really care!)
I don't remember a lot of what I learned in school, and not because I'm learning disabled! I just think most subjects never really captured my imagination, and I was never encouraged to really get to know a topic that interested me. Yet, at the kitchen table, often late at night, I would listen to my dad expound about whatever he happened to be reading (and he was, and is, the best-read person I have ever met!) The conversations that ensued at those times are the learning I value the most and treasure the most. He had no lesson plan, he had no agenda. Just a quick mind and a good book...and a willing audience in me! Whenever I remember this, I don't sweat it too much--the kids are learning, and I can justify it. (Though, if it's taking you that long to read "Secret Garden" I'd wonder if maybe you and the kids would find another story more engaging!)
Reading good literature together, some kind of math work every day, and regular Nature Study time are all staples of our program. I also do some narration/dictation about things that really excite them, though I don't stress about this. I try to keep track of my 8 yo daughter's progress in writing and spelling, but I don't drill her about such things. I try to follow their interests, and I also go out of my way to share my excitement about things with them (for example, I am absolutely enthralled by our study of the constellations, something that was a complete mystery my whole life!) I know that my enthusiasm is contagious to them--just as my dad's was to me!--and sharing that is a gift to all of us.
I also have a plan for the year for each subject area, and I try to keep track of what we are covering so I can find and fill any holes along the way. Occasionally, this means buckling down to some formal lessons; and when it works, this can be just as pleasurable as the more laid-back approach.
It doesn't work when I get stressed and start forcing lessons that don't grab their interest, though. They get sullen, I get mad and our home loses its spark of joy. No lesson is worth that to me.
I guess it's just about me being honest with myself about what we're doing here, and about keeping our real goals in mind all along the way.
Eileen
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MarieC
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missionfamily wrote:
| I posted that entry this morning if anyone is interested in my thinking out loud |
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Read it, loved it! Thanks so much for sharing. Is that "it" or do you do some other stuff everyday (math, Latin, etc.)? I've got a few questions trying to form themselves....I may have to pm you.
Thanks again!
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Marie
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Sarah
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eileenonhim wrote:
(Though, if it's taking you that long to read "Secret Garden" I'd wonder if maybe you and the kids would find another story more engaging!)
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I agree. Although I have to cut myself some slack because at the beginning of June I had a baby. . .so everything was out the window for the summer just enjoying him. 
My oldest doesn't really care for this book and up until I bought the companion with recipes he's showed little interest. We'll move on this week as I finish it up for the other children who like it.
Colleen, I enjoyed your post. Lots of ideas there to ponder. Thanks for sharing.
Eileen, I wish I had your confidence. For some reason this year that's what I lack most. Not sure why. 
Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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eileenonhim
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| Posted: Oct 25 2007 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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Sarah wrote:
Eileen, I wish I had your confidence. For some reason this year that's what I lack most. Not sure why.
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Oh, dear! Confidence is definitely not my strong point!!
One thing that helps me a lot, though, is actually writing down exactly what we've done and what they've gotten out of it. That, I think, is the best tip I've gotten so far this year! Everything looks a lot more "important" if you express it in some kind of "educationese."
Now, that may sound a little "cynical." But it's not "spin"--I really can identify what my kids are learning, and have the joy of seeing them apply it in all kinds of ways. Because I'm jotting things down, my eyes are open for "evidence." And if ever I feel, honestly, that what we're doing is not helping them learn, well, I can fix that!
Sorry about not acknowledging the new baby--yikes, that makes a huge difference (and for a long time to come, too!). The kids recently being sick also makes a big difference--we just went through that here, too.
I think the goal is self reflection, followed by whatever simple action seems to make sense (and then reflect again!); but to avoid putting myself down--because that only paralyzes me!
God bless you and good luck in finding a path that makes you feel great about your home school!
Warmly,
Eileen
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Slow Schooling
