A lot has happened since I posted the previous post this morning. After I posted I went through and looked at the rest of SOTW 4 and decided to chunk it for now. It just doesn't work for us.
I sat looking at what we are doing, and asked what could I change. Yes, I paid good money for some of this stuff but if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. TT decided to read The Call of the Wild by Jack London this month and that got me to thinking. I could fill several holes in my curriculum with this one book. We could do lessons in geography (Alaska and Canada), history (the gold rush), science (precious metals and dog breeds), and of course literature.
I found a great free literature unit study to follow to go along with the book. In fact, all I would have to supplement would be grammar, math and spelling. Now all I have to do is follow through with it. TT is excited so I guess I need to get excited too.
To futher inspire me, I went to the library to get books on Alaska, the gold rush and dog sledding. I picked up a favorite movie of mine, Freedom Writers. TT loves it to, so that is what we watched this evening.
I cried, I laughed and somewhere along the way I felt good about teaching again. I mean with my hubby's job being so up and down the thought has crossed his lips that I may need to return to the class room to help out. I cannot say I was excited about the idea. It seems to be the answer in our home when things get rocky or tough, send me back to work. This idea would be fine, but when you homeschool your children it is not so easy.
I admit I miss the classroom every once in a while. Then, I think of sending my own children back to public school and I feel ill. I believe Poogie would be fine, but TT would not. The system would drown him. I have worked so hard to build up his self confidence, and all it would take is one horrible teacher to tear it back down. I'm not saying he is weak or cannot handle life. he is just not ready to be treated like an adult yet, and that is how many, many middle school teachers tend to treat kids. They are not ready for it.
So to say I am struggling with a lot right now would be understating it, however I found a small light today and I am going to let it shine.
1 comment:
OH, Roxy....hugs coming to you. I know that frustration of curriculum. Last year we did SOTW 1 and it did not work for us. So I changed, then changed again. This year we are using real books and supplementing with a text here and there. I love the movie Freedom Writers, it is soooo inspiring.
It can be hard, but you are doing a great job. TT is so blessed to have a mom like you!!
Be blessed,
Chasity
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