Homeschooling Mama!

It sounds so weird to even say it, but it's official!  I emailed her teachers and sent the withdrawal letter yesterday.  For the last year or so, I've seriously considered homeschooling Will when he gets older but have never really thought about it for Katherine.  It's not because I haven't wanted to, but I really thought public school was best for her and we definitely want to do what is best for each of our children.  She is SO social and loves being around her friends... too much... so much that she would rather talk to her friends than do her work or even daydream about getting to talk to her friends at lunch and recess than pay attention to what her teacher was teaching.

Really... I must be crazy. I have an 8 month old who has slept through the night 2 times in her life and doesn't nap well consistently. Oh - did I mention she has separation anxiety and won't go to anyone except Nathan? Even then, if she can see me, she reaches for me... I also have a VERY busy 2 1/2 year old who is into everything. SO. BUSY.  He is also begging me all day to do puzzles or read to him, or to "teach me read, Mama."  In some ways this is going to take time from Will and Claire, but it will also be great for Katherine to spend some wonderful quality time with the babies that she would have missed out on otherwise (she has been doing homework from 3:30 to 9:00 EVERY night for the last 1-2 months).  She'll be able to work on her fluency while reading out loud to Will and/or Claire.  She can work on remembering her reading rules (which will hopefully help her spelling) while helping Will sound out words.  I have grand ideas of how it's all going to play out. :) 

Yes, I know she's going to miss seeing her friends at school but the leader/director of the homeschool co-op I joined told me last week that Katherine needs to learn/realize that the people living in the four walls of our home are the most important relationships she will ever have (except for her future husband and kids, of course).  That really hit home with me.  She will still get to see friends 3 times each week at church and the homeschool co-op has "Friday School" each Friday morning (9 other girls her age).  We will also have so many opportunities to go on field trips, travel to visit family, take learning vacations (i.e. Alamo & Sea World with in-laws this summer), etc.

I've read more than 10 books about homeschooling in the past several weeks, but the one that influenced my perspective the most was The Well-Trained Mind.  It really talks about the benefits of homeschooling using a Classical approach (back to the basics of learning, lots of real books, lots of writing, lots of real life experiences).  I highly recommend it! 

For family members who want to know more details, here you go.
For the rest of 4th grade, we'll be doing Saxon Math, My Father's World Exploring Countries & Cultures for Bible, Social Studies (Geography & International Cultures), Science, Music, and Art, Mind Benders workbooks for logic, and a couple other programs for grammar, writing, and spelling.  There is a huge homeschool book fair in DFW in May that Nathan and I will attend to look for curriculum for 5th grade.  I'm hopeful that My Father's World works well for Katherine because I am really excited about next year's

time period from Creation to the Greeks. Here is their 5-year cycle for upper elementary to middle school. 

Year One Geography: Exploring Countries and Cultures

Year Two History: Creation to the Greeks

Year Three History: Rome to the Reformation

Year Four U.S./World History: Exploration to 1850

Year Five U.S./World History: 1850 to Modern Times

That's it!  I'm extremely excited and so is Katherine.  Since we are waiting for the last of our curriculum to arrive, this week is Spring Break and we'll hit the ground running next week.  Wish us luck and say a prayer for us.  Supportive comments, please!