We’re half-way through Grade 2.
I’m a little sad because it’s just been so very very spectacular.*
Nest Study – she’s making a materials list. Yes, that’s a nest in my bike helmet.
I am grateful every day that Oak Meadow is an all-in-one curriculum with plenty of space to meet students at their ability level. I don’t have to spend all my time (and money) hand picking individual curriculum for various subjects only to discover that we hate what we picked but it’s too rigidly structured to modify. Oak Meadow book selection not working? No need to sell all of language arts on Ebay, just pick another book – the writing assignments will still apply. The library did upgrade my card to “Frequent Flyer” two weeks after we started school.
This is not to say “Meh meh only people who like to complicate their lives unnecessarily pick and choose curriculum!” That would be ridiculous. Everybody family different – every kid is different! There are plenty of individual situations that need the complication. Not to mention that everyone finds learning at home for their own personal reasons. I’m just saying: there’s no reason to knock yourself if you don’t want (or need) to. Homeschooling is supposed to be happier for everyone – there is no reason to not go with the simplest solution. There is no shame in a ‘boxed’ curriculum – especially one that leaves room for adaptation.
*And not just because I am in the kitchen making biscuits while everyone else is headed to school in 28F°. Suckers.**
**I mean that in the nicest way.
Hi there! I’ve wondered how it was going in the stress department so I’m really glad to hear it’s not even a factor. I think that one thing is why some try homeschooling and give up in the first year.
Now….all you have to do is work on your own attitude. lolololol 😉 JUST KIDDIN’, LOVE IT!
Have a wonderful week!
Toni
I get the feeling that a lot of parents end up putting too much pressure on themselves to create the Ideal School Experience*. I freely admit that I’ve got it easier than a lot of people with my one (moderately) cooperative child…but at the same time I’m not going to go out of my way to create a headache for myself and pass it along to Ellie. The things an elementary student will remember and internalize are the ones surrounded with good feelings.** Those good feelings associated with education will go further to promote a life long love of learning than anything else.
*Hah! I have 18 weeks of homeschool experience – I have no IDEA what I’m talking about! However, I think it’s safe to say that we make stuff harder for ourselves than it has to be a lot of the time.
**Think back to your own elementary days: What do you remember as good and positive learning experiences? It’s probably not pages and pages of math problems. If I were going to guess, I’d say it was that one time when your teacher read that really great chapter book aloud to the class…
ðŸ˜ðŸ‘📓