Get Real

Today, I was thinking that I really need to get real.  Seriously.  I need to think about homeschooling realistically.  I need to evaluate what is realistic for the boys.  There is such a temptation to do everything that everyone else is doing.  There are so many wonderful methods of homeschooling out there that I question in my mind whether or not I am approaching this in the right way.

One of the things that Robert and I have been considering is Classical Conversations.  There has been much prayer about it.  We still have not decided.  We have heard wonderful things about the program.  Basically, you go to a weekly meeting, which is nice because the children get to interact with a group of kids.  There is a tutor that guides the time and introduces the new memory work in a fun and creative way.  They call the memory work the grammar of each subject.  They begin with timeline/history, geography, math, science, Latin and English grammar.  Beyond the memorization is participation in a fine arts project, a science project, and opportunities to practice oral presentation skills each week.  The meeting place for Classical Conversations or CC happens to be at the church that we attend.  (I had no idea of this until I went on the CC website!)

My dilemma is whether or not this is realistic for us.  We pretty much thought that it would not even be possible to get in at this point.  Things have worked out to where we possibly could do it, but I am hesitant.  Is it realistic for my boys and me?  Perhaps I will have to lower the expectations for what the boys have on the schedule for the regular classes and curriculum that we have already bought (which has been a huge investment).  We would basically have to take all of the things that we have planned to cover in five days and get it done in four.  We also have to spend at least 30 minutes a day memorizing for CC.  Mind you, they have CDs that the kids can listen to, which puts the information to music and makes it a snap for their sweet little sharp minds.  Still, I am nervous at the prospect. I don't want to foist upon them the type of schedule that we detested in public school, which could rip away all of the joys of the freedom of homeschooling.  I want them to have time to pursue some of their own interests.  I want them to read just for fun.  I want them to play.

Maybe some of you ladies out there are more informed about how things go.  I am wondering, too, about how all of the work is packed into a short time.  Some people have told me that they can get their homeschooling done in just a few hours.  WHAT?!  Am I missing something?  What am I doing wrong...or, is it that my little boys are just so very slow at doing the work that is set before them?  I need to be realistic about how much time things take and how much stuff I am going to require them to do.  Dare I add more?  What do you think?  Will it be worth it?  Keep us in your prayers.  Yikes!

Boys 2 Men

One of my finds at The Homeschool Store was a book put out by Doorposts.  When I opened this book I was absolutely amazed at the resource that I happened upon.  Well, I cannot take credit for it really.  The young lady who works at the family business has been my guide to this new world of homeschooling and she directed me to the shelf.  The name of the book is Plants Grown Up:  Projects for Sons on the Road to Manhood.  It is written by Pam Forster.  She bases the curriculum on the scripture from 2 Peter 1:5-8 which says "...And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity, For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."


So, the first sections is "Add to your faith Virtue".  The first section in this area is called Leadership:  Justly Judging in Discipline Situations.  This has been an unbelievable time of learning for the boys.  We have been dedicating time each day to an activity in the book which can range from:  memorizing Bible verses; memorizing Westminster Larger Catechisms that address the roles of "superiors" and "inferiors"; studying the 21 Rules of This House by Gregg and Joshua Harris; role playing discipline situations; to studying how Jesus dealt with his disciples and the Pharisees.  It has been great seeing them learn why it is we do what we do in disciplining them.  While we have tried to make it a point to use Scripture when disciplining the boys, it has still been great for them to see discipline from another perspective.  We are teaching them how to think about discipline.  We are asking them to think about how they will do this in the future.  We are teaching them to think about justice, wisdom, and truth.  We are training them how to lead their own family even thought they are but 7 and 9 years old.  I love that!  I like having the long term in mind.  I would like to think that we are training them to be godly men, but I know that we can only help them to a point.  We must be responsible with these boys that God has given us.  We are merely stewards.  We cannot change their hearts.  Only the Holy Spirit can change the heart!

I pray that in pouring God's Word into their sweet little hearts, God will use this to draw them to Himself.  My hope is for them to trust God for themselves--not because we say to, but because they see that the Bible is truth.  I know that you guys reading are hoping and praying for the same thing.  I will pray for your little ones and you pray for mine.  Prayer is a powerful thing.  In the mean time, we can do our part by finding and utilizing wonderful resources like Plants Grown Up.