New Term

I am getting  excited about our new term of school coming up.  I have divided things out in three twelve week terms to go along with AmblesideOnline and I have started working on planning term two.  During this first term, we have gotten used to the material, our schedule, and each other.  Now we can add a few things and maybe make it more fun and enriching.

The materials I use do not tell you exactly what to do.  I am working my way through the six volume series of books by Charlotte Mason and she really gets into  the “whys” but leaves most of the “hows” up to the parent.

AmblesideOnline provides book lists for each year so that you can get started without having to have read all of Mason’s books.  This first term, all we have done is the basics- reading, writing, rithmatic.

For term two, I want to add in some activities and just more fun.

Maybe to kick it off, we will have Roman Week.  We will have the entire week off before Thanksgiving and Bucho has been interested in the Romans because they keep showing up in our stories.

Home Education

Wasn’t that what this blog was supposed to be about?

Homeschooling.  Well, we are about to start our sixth week of our first term of first grade.  Our oldest Bucho (blog name) will be six at the end of the month.  We felt that he was ready to begin reading last year, but he was not old enough for public school.  So we decided to take the opportunity for a test year and I ordered a kindergarten curriculum from My Father’s World.  We had been thinking about homeschooling for a while and wanted to give it a try.  Even though I was pregnant and there were a few other rough patches through the year, the schooling went great.

So, sixth week. . .  Things are really good.  I really like our curriculum.  We use the Charlotte Mason method supported by Ambleside Online.  It is very literature based and supports old fashioned hard work and practical skills.  This attracted me because love quality literature and I have an English degree and use to teach, so it was right up my ally.

Our local homeschool group has started a co-op this year and I am teaching a class and both boys are taking classes.  We get together one afternoon a week at a local church and have three hours of classes together.  It has been a fun way to regularly meet with people who are trying to accomplish many of the same things we are.

I have a great friend who is homeschooling her second grader for the first time and we have really been able to compare notes and spend time together.  She sure has made this experience less lonely and scary.

To be continued . . .

Things I like

A few life changing or defining topics, products, books, etc. in no particular order.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: favorite book

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Bible

On Becoming Baby Wise by Ezzo, breastfeeding: Yes, I agree with the premise of the book and have successfully nursed 3 children all of whom slept through the night by 3 months.

Godly parenting supported by print resources such as those by Dr. James Dobson and Focus on the Family.

Being the best Homemaker I can through management of time and resources.  Finding Your Purpose as a Mom by Donna Otto and time management strategies by Emilie Barnes have helped.

Beth Moore Bible studies.

Homeschooling.  I like the Charlotte Mason method and use resources from Ambleside Online.

Being committed to a local group of Christians.  My particular favorite is Trinity Fellowship Church of Plainview, TX