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So I've been organizing our new school year. Planning, choosing, researching -- all of it has kept me focused on things that I can control on not fretting on those things that I cannot. Plus, I have been having fun! I have had an opportunity to delve into some methods of homeschooling that I had previously explored and not fully understood.
I have read the first parts of The Well-Trained Mind a number of times, and am a frequent visitor to The Well Trained Mind forums, but it wasn't until I read The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education
by Lee Bortins recently that I came to a much better understanding behind the methods and purposes of a classical education. My apologies to Susan Wise Bauer, who I think is wonderful. I am sure she did a good job explaining classical education in her book, but for me it got lost in all of the curriculum recommendations, and I couldn't see the forest for the trees. I found her audio lectures much more helpful and approachable -- in fact I would go so far as to call them fantastic. I have also steeped my summer in Andrew Pudewa audios as well. Can't get enough of those. If you are interested I will post about my favorites from those two.
Far beyond Latin instruction and a four-year history cycle, the classical model employs its own techniques and methodologies of instruction. I am just beginning to understand what these are, the purposes they serve, and the potential value they have for my kids. (You can insert the mad-scientist laugh here.) I have been planning our days this year to include some of those methods. Far from my initial assumption that classical methods were tedious and complicated, I am finding a certain simplicity and freedom in making plans based on a few, select goals and methods.
All of this to say, this is what I have been up to (in case you were wondering where I had been), and this is what the conversation is going to look like around here for a bit (in case you were wondering what I was going to write about next). I would love to have you join the conversation as we focus on the us in us-schooling and how we can best be served by our education. I will not be speaking as any kind of expert, but as a seeker who is exploring the value of her discoveries. If you are interested in the journey over the destination, then you might enjoy the ride. More to come...
*Photos by the incomparable Tina Richards. If you are local, I would love to give you her contact information.
Beautiful pictures! General prayers for your wisdom and patience with your current circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I really appreciate the prayers.
DeleteWell, prayers and sympathy from here... I understand only too well the challenges of trying to school (or live!) through those big, life-changing events. Have you read Andrew Campbell's _Latin-Centered Curriculum_? That's my favorite classical resource, just because it seems to fit pretty well with the more unschooly way that we do things at our house. Plus I like his idea of quality over quantity.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! :-)
I did read that one a number of years ago. I gave it a few thoughts, but it was another one that I read without getting the gist of classical education over simply specific curriculum recommendations. I think I still have it on my shelf, though. Will have to flip back through. Thanks for the prayers.
DeleteFascinated, looking forward to reading more about your journey. Interested to know what your selected goals and methods are.
ReplyDeleteWe pull from a lot of methods, but I did feel a bit overwhelmed by TWTM, as much as I wanted to love it. We have learned to pull what works, Us-schooling, as you call it, which I LOVE, by the way. I took a complete break this month, so I won't begin planning until a week or two into July. I do, however, have a basic idea of what we'll be doing.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for whatever you are walking through right now . . .
Lovely pictures of you all!
ReplyDeleteI love how you said "Far from my initial assumption that classical methods were tedious and complicated, I am finding a certain simplicity and freedom in making plans based on a few, select goals and methods." That rings so true for me, too. (But you already know that).
Praying for you, as always. Hang in there, friend! You are awesome!
Well, ditto the prayers and the awesomeness of YOU AND of TINA :) I was just writing up a draft of my "home school planning" and was basically stuck with the content and details :P Then...I see your post. Dang! We think a lot of like, only the realizations will be years a part, and I will have basically blanked-out on applying them, while moving on to something else, never settling. LOL Only it's getting much more hairier for me, as mine are twice as old as yours :P And you're much smarter than I am in your conclusions, understandings, and applications. Clear? LOL But seriously, I'm interested to hear the "rest of the story" and how it plays out. Yes, do blog about your fav audios. :)
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