Well now that I'm here...

After 8 weeks of school, all I've got to post is this: Random thoughts from my homeschool journal.

From 8/26/09
So I'm seriously considering making some minor to major changes in what we use in our homeschool and how we homeschool. I completely see the validity in the approaches of a classical education, but I don't think that some of these things are beneficial. At this point I'd really just like to throw caution to the wind and follow a Classical/Charlotte Mason/Montessori /Interest Led/ Project Based type of homeschooling. More of a holistic approach.

Right now Alex is doing his lessons like a good boy -Rod and Staff, Saxon, Spelling Workout, Daily Grams...but I'm seeing him doing his work to get it done. Is he retaining it? Is he enjoying it? Is he learning anything from it? I don't think so. He just does it to do it and get it out of the way. That's not what I really want for him.

Charlotte Mason and Classical actually have a lot of the same basic philosophies: Narration,Dictation,Copywork, Whole or Living books and Classical Literature, starting Latin young and in addition to another language. Some points of difference between the two lie in the amount of time spent on individual subjects, science, nature study and art and music, and grammar. In the end, their goals are the same however: to produce adults to know how to think, be creative, and resourceful.

An update on these thoughts- well we are still doing the same things mostly, although we'll be using a Montessori Grammar Box to supplement with Rod and Staff. At 5th grade, it's hard for me to justify not doing the important academic basics. Sometimes school just has to be hard work.

9/12/-9/19/09
Played 2 hours of football at football camp, made playdough, and walked with mom for 60 m.

9/28/-10/03/09
Free Reading-
Goblet of Fire

Art Projects-
Gods/Goddesses Book
Mosaic Coasters
Masks
Map (see "Pages" book)

Art Appreciation-
Usborne Sticker Book
Winslow Homer

P.E.-
Football Game Saturday @1