For a glimpse at what’s up in homeschools around the world, check out the WEEKLY WRAP-UP on weird, unsocialized, homeschoolers.
Does anyone else have it? I certainly don’t feel that I do. After ten years of this, you’d think that I would be comfortable with the how and what of my teaching. Nope. Not me. I’m forever in this tug of war between what I want to do and with what I think I should do. A tug of war between radical homeschooling that looks nothing like traditional school and that desire to ‘prove’ how smart my kids are by having them do the most rigorous college prep program known to man.
I don’t ever think that I’ve lost or that I’m retreating. I am consistent. Consistently advancing in a new direction! If nothing else, my kids should be flexible when they grow up.
In the month since I last posted an update, we’ve moved full court press into BASKETBALL SEASON. Note to self. Next year, do NOT schedule dentist and orthodontist appointments during the weeks where soccer and basketball overlap. After finishing nine weeks of school, we took a week off to rest and recuperate. Didn’t get much done, but it was RESTFUL. At this time, the Lady Trailblazers have three big wins under their belt. Great start to the season!
Flower Child is in the last weeks of studying the Roman Empire. I love how Tapestry of Grace incorporates the life of Christ so wholly in their curriculum. She loves the projects. In math, she’s finishing up her unit on geometry. Makes me sad. It was kind of nice having all three study the same topic. We haven’t had time for any great art projects, but there is a mosaic on the agenda for next week. Her week was interrupted by a relapse of the strep she had a couple of weeks ago along with the arrival of *my* new Nook. I haven’t read a single book on it yet and she’s on her THIRD! There is no justice in this world. 
Princess is over half way through her online college class. She’s doing really well and totally enjoying the experience. In Cultural Geography, she’s studying Haiti and the aftermath of the earthquake. The timing is incredible given hurricane Tomas’ visit there this week. I imagine there will be several new articles to add to that study next week! We continue to plod through Advanced Math, doing MUCH better than we did last year. So far, no major snags and only one minor one that gave us both a good laugh after we asked for help only to realize that we were making a very, very basic mistake.
Austin is marching forward. Six more weeks of school until graduation. He’s still resistant to doing chemistry experiments without me standing over his shoulder and writing assignments are laborious. He will start next week behind a day or two AGAIN. It would be REALLY nice if he would just catch up and stay caught up. I found a couple of graphic novels about the Constitution and the American government. I hope that they, along with a high school level lap book I have, will engage him enough to get the basics. I just need to get MY act together and get them scheduled.
Next week is shaping up to be our first NORMAL week of the school year. I’m excited to see how it pans out. No appointments, two full days at home, one practice and one game. Plus I get to have lunch with some new and old friends in Nashville on Friday. Lots to look forward to!
Elizabeth – thanks for visiting my blog! And I am totally with you about consistency!! There is a part of me that would love unschooling and another part that likes having “control” over their education! I’m also terribly frustrated with the inconsistency in our lives that my headaches bring. Ugh. But then I remember that kids are more resilient than we often give them credit for being. So, they are learning in the way that works for our family. And I pray a lot!!! Best wishes and hang in there!