Catholic Family Vignettes

The winter "blahs"...

Apparently, I'm not the only one suffering from them! So many of my homeschooling friends seem to be "stuck". Lacking inspiration. Struggling with feelings of inadequacy.

I've been there, sisters...many times. I've been digging out my rut for the past week.

The unfortunate tendency of mine during these "down times" is to scale back... to do less. We call it "core"; a nice way of saying "just the essentials, please!" In my experience, it only seems to exacerbate the problem. Feelings of guilt over not doing enough, frustration over merely "doing" school and not "living" it, abound. And boredom, boredom, boredom!

It seems that the moment that I'm most ready to throw in the towel, it becomes increasingly obvious that I'm being called to take up the cross and persevere.

So...I'm in evaluation mode. As a classical home educator, I'm constantly searching for the best "Multum non multa" (much not many) approach. I've used packaged curricula, but none have ever seemed to fit well for my large family and teaching style. Our current program consists of whatever product best suits the subject being taught with Latin and Religion forming the base upon which the entire "house" is built. I'm constantly seeking the best of the best, questioning others on the efficacy of a particular text book and listening to both experienced and novice home educators. Believe it or not, in spite of the fact that our homeschool boasts three graduates (two from our homeschool and one who went to public school her senior year) and all three have made it to college, I agonize as much as any novice over whether or not I'm up to the challenge of home education.

I prefer "flying by the seat of my pants", adhering to (as much as this home educator is capable) the principles set forth by Dorothy Sayers' excellent essay The Lost Tools of Learning. The following quote aptly summarizes the desire of most of the home educators with whom I am acquainted:

What use is it to pile task on task and prolong the days of labor, if at the close the chief object is left unattained? It is not the fault of the teachers--they work only too hard already. The combined folly of a civilization that has forgotten its own roots is forcing them to shore up the tottering weight of an educational structure that is built upon sand. They are doing for their pupils the work which the pupils themselves ought to do. For the sole true end of education is simply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain.

What a terrific reminder!

So...having decided to persevere in the face of the "blahs", I've happened upon a real gem...one I've been meaning to read for sometime. The Latin Centered Curriculum by Andrew Campbell has truly helped this classical home educator get back on track. Too many distractions, too many diversions from our primary goal has dimmed the original vision, indeed the mission of this homeschool. Time to get back on track...

My point: whether you're a classical home educator, Thomistic/scholastic, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, unschooler--whatever--if you're in a rut, dig out! Find inspiration. Remember why you're doing this. And don't just "do school". Live it.

Nothing succeeds like success!

Read more!

9:00 p.m.

The time that all children should be sleeping peacefully in their beds.

Except mine. I taught the last class of the day at 9:00 p.m. last night. After battling the scholars all day long to finish up "this and that", I was pretty sure we were finished for the evening by 6:30 p.m.

Until Gareth reminded me he had not read to me. How I wanted to turn him away! D-O-N-E...and T-I-R-E-D! But there he was, a sweet smile and an innocent request.

So we read. And I praised him for his fine effort and desire to finish all of his subjects.
If only he and his siblings had been so motivated, earlier in the week! Our extended Christmas vacation has thrown everything off balance. I'm still trying to put the house in order, take down Christmas decorations, teach school, cook, and maintain my sanity while trying to motivate the children.

This is perhaps the toughest "back to school" week that we've experienced in quite some time. Our school days typically start by 8:30 a.m. and end by no later than 2:00 p.m.--with lunch and breaks in between. This week's schedule has been full of starts and stops, outside interruptions, illness and just plain laziness!

As I told a dear friend last night, I was hopeful that this week would end better than it started. That the children would "find their footing and get down to business". She reminded me that the next day was Friday and the week would be over.
Time flies even when you're not having fun!

So, dear friends...say a little prayer for this homeschool family. No major catastrophes--just a few grumpy people that really haven't felt like doing school this week. Even the college student is having a bad week.

Next week will be better...next week will be better...next week will be better... Read more!

Three weeks down.

I'm very encouraged. School is going so very well...why do I keep waiting for the rose to lose it's "bloom?"

Today was an excellent day. A day devoted to History, Science and Art. The scholars (a term I use as a reminder of our mission statement) had an excellent time creating their own...gasp! ancient Roman tomb markers. Using the example of Gaius Mucius Scaevolus' marker, they designed their own. Abigail was tickled to hear Gaius Mucius referred to as Mucius the Left-handed. She's been calling herself Mucius the Left-handed all day.

We had initially begun an exploration of aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Due to a very profitable thrift store expedition, we have changed course. A really nice microscope and a good friend's donation of a smaller microscope and slide preparation kit, have paved the way for Microscopy. We have prefaced our class with the history of the microscope. It was such fun to see the look of delight on four year old Rylee's face as she observed the magnification properties of a drop of water. Not once did the younger children exhibit any signs of boredom or restlessness. The up close view of an "invisible world" was simply too intriguing.

To my great delight, Zachary has asked to lead our microscopy class labs. He is more than able, having poured over manuals on care and usage of equipment and slide preparation. All in all, a delightful and engaging day.

Monday, we travel to the National Museum for the USAF for Homeschool Day. The children are excited, but are even more anxious for Tuesday's classes at home. Microscope slide preparation.

I hear the "professor" is very, very good... Read more!