How it was, and then how things changed, and our Morning Time.
Well... it's that time of the year, when most of us homeschooling moms are planning for the next school year. In the past, I would approach the months of March-May with much fear and trepidation. I decided to make things simple for myself and continue on with Ambleside Online. I don't know why, but in the past, I've struggled with the CM philosophy, always thinking, "Is that really enough?". But after extensive reading and research, I found that, YES!! It is indeed enough!
I have to admit, I rarely sat and prayerfully considered what we would use for our children's education. I would just pick something and go with it. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. When it didn't work, I would research and switch to something else. There came a point where I felt like we were just getting through the days. We were ticking the boxes, but that was it. There was a little depth, but I felt like we could go deeper, make more connections.
So, I prayed. That's when I sought out the LORD and asked Him for wisdom. I let go of my kids and let Him lead. When He said, "Just come, my child... bring them a feast. Let them partake. I will do the rest." That was it. Simple as that. Faithfully showing up, and letting God do the rest.
Then, I read this:
"The question is not, - how much does the youth know ? when he has finished his education- but how much does he care? and about how many order of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?" Charlotte Mason, School Education, pp. 170-171
I felt like I just put on a new pair of glasses. My prescription was updated. I could see without them, sort of. But now, with this new pair, I could see things SO much better. Things were clearer, crisper, and BRIGHTER. Now I really saw my children as PERSONS... as souls entrusted to me (and my husband) that had hearts and minds, that needed to CARE... that needed a feast of truth, goodness and beauty.
After a lot more research, reading, listening to podcasts, and bouncing ideas off of other moms, we jumped right into Ambleside Online, part way through the first term of this year. Talk about nerve wracking! However, the kids are thriving and making so many more connections that they probably wouldn't have made, had we continued with what we were using before. Our time together as a family has changed as well. I took the history portion out of our morning time since the kids were going to be learning from different time periods anyway. It's much more family friendly, without watering down anything for our oldest:
It went from:
prayer
Bible reading
Pledge of allegiance
history reading
sometimes some poetry. sometimes.
To this:
Prayer
Pledge
Bible Reading
Hymn study/singing
Looping: artist/picture study, Shakespeare, Poet/poems, Composer/music, Plutarch
Latin
Memory box
Nature reading (1x per week)
Read Aloud
Map Drills
This takes about an hour to complete, but it really anchors our day and our family. No, it doesn't take the bickering or complaining away... but without Morning Time, we flounder.
I'm so grateful for the changes in our homeschool. I expect things to change again as the kids grow and mature. But for now, I have to hang on to the hope that our God never changes and He loves these children more than I ever could.
I have to admit, I rarely sat and prayerfully considered what we would use for our children's education. I would just pick something and go with it. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. When it didn't work, I would research and switch to something else. There came a point where I felt like we were just getting through the days. We were ticking the boxes, but that was it. There was a little depth, but I felt like we could go deeper, make more connections.
So, I prayed. That's when I sought out the LORD and asked Him for wisdom. I let go of my kids and let Him lead. When He said, "Just come, my child... bring them a feast. Let them partake. I will do the rest." That was it. Simple as that. Faithfully showing up, and letting God do the rest.
Then, I read this:
"The question is not, - how much does the youth know ? when he has finished his education- but how much does he care? and about how many order of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?" Charlotte Mason, School Education, pp. 170-171
I felt like I just put on a new pair of glasses. My prescription was updated. I could see without them, sort of. But now, with this new pair, I could see things SO much better. Things were clearer, crisper, and BRIGHTER. Now I really saw my children as PERSONS... as souls entrusted to me (and my husband) that had hearts and minds, that needed to CARE... that needed a feast of truth, goodness and beauty.
After a lot more research, reading, listening to podcasts, and bouncing ideas off of other moms, we jumped right into Ambleside Online, part way through the first term of this year. Talk about nerve wracking! However, the kids are thriving and making so many more connections that they probably wouldn't have made, had we continued with what we were using before. Our time together as a family has changed as well. I took the history portion out of our morning time since the kids were going to be learning from different time periods anyway. It's much more family friendly, without watering down anything for our oldest:
It went from:
prayer
Bible reading
Pledge of allegiance
history reading
sometimes some poetry. sometimes.
To this:
Prayer
Pledge
Bible Reading
Hymn study/singing
Looping: artist/picture study, Shakespeare, Poet/poems, Composer/music, Plutarch
Latin
Memory box
Nature reading (1x per week)
Read Aloud
Map Drills
This takes about an hour to complete, but it really anchors our day and our family. No, it doesn't take the bickering or complaining away... but without Morning Time, we flounder.
I'm so grateful for the changes in our homeschool. I expect things to change again as the kids grow and mature. But for now, I have to hang on to the hope that our God never changes and He loves these children more than I ever could.
Comments
Post a Comment