Relaxing and Letting Go of My Plans

Things are improving in our homeschool as we progress forward.  I had to let go a bit of my "plans".  Every couple years I must relearn the lessons I had learned the hard way before, but didn't keep applying.  For some reason, I assumed a different child would be easier to teach since I survived her older siblings.  I was wrong.  This child is her own person, but she rebelled against my public school methods just as vehemently.  

Megan and some of her work

This methods are harder to shake than I thought. They are deeply ingrained after years of public school indoctrination.  I periodically must kick them to the curb or they fester and grow, costing me time, money, and peace. 

I know the public school model doesn't work!  My kids don't need endless workbooks and tests, they need their curiosity and creativity nurtured.  They need inspired!  They need books and music and art and math... Yes, math.  They need to be read to and encouraged and adventures and games!  

The expensive workbooks are in a box.  I put them away for a bit.  I believe in a balance, but knew my littlest daughter was hating every moment of school, despising it, dreading the work. 

Instead, we are reviewing flash cards and fact families after math games on the computer.  We are reading about Amelia Earhart in Storytime.  My little one is reading her Hooked on Phonics lessons and Early Readers Bible.  She began some lessons from the McGuffey Pictorial Primer (lesson 35). She is loving her Language Lessons from Queen's Homeschool and her poetry from Heart of Dakota.  We are reading about the Pilgrims in history and sheep in science. 

My daughter is coloring and painting.  She began some very basic cursive this week after she BEGGED to learn! 

We are done with school by 3... Usually.  I am a lot more relaxed, enjoying what was quickly spiraling into a mess.  

I've revamped or am revamping some of my high school students lessons too, but that's a different post.

I don't have everything figured out yet.  I just know that school is closer to what it is supposed to be... A way to learn about The Lord and His world.