When Your Homeschool Must Change
Monday, June 3, 2013 at 5:00AM
Have you ever had a hard time admitting something just wasn't working?
About halfway through the last school year I just knew something had to change. It was hard for me, however, to admit what we were doing didn't work as well as it always had.
To be honest, there have been a lot of tears (mine!) over the past six months. I have felt defeated, frustrated, and that I was failing my children. It's hard to admit this, because I like to think of myself as in control and successful.
*This post contains affiliate links.
I try to be honest here on the blog, but sometimes it was just easier to not talk about the problems. After all, if you don't talk about them - they aren't real, right?
WRONG.
After all, I LOVED teaching my children when they were little. Kindergarten through third grade is my sweet spot. It was that way when I taught in the public schools. I just love that age. I feel well equipped with that age and love the wonder and sweetness that comes with it.
Now that my children are getting older (7th and 3rd grade) I have had to admit to myself that I need HELP. I also need ACCOUNTABILITY and a PLAN.
I felt like I mustn't be a very good teacher if my students just weren't as excited as they used to be. I toyed with the idea of just homeschooling until middle school and then sending them to school. But in my HEART, I knew this wasn't what was best for my kids. (And I'm so thankful for a husband that just LISTENED to my concerns!)
What I have learned in the past 6 months is that God is equipping me to handle this new phase in our homeschool. He has placed the friends, resources, and finances in place to allow me to make a change, and it's one we're very excited about.
Enter Classical Conversations
We've always had a Classical bent to our homeschool.
The Story of the World, Writing With Ease, and First Language Lessons worked so well for us.
Classical Conversations has always been very intriguing to me, but I had felt I could do everything on my own. We also didn't feel that we could safely spare the tuition. I thought maybe "one day" it would be a good option.
That day has come.
After meeting with a good friend of mine who is a CC tutor and attending the parent information night, my husband and I decided this was what we needed to do for our children.
I had a peace about the decision. In fact, I think I breathed a huge sigh of relief when we sent in our registration.
The finances worked themselves out, too.
This week the kids and I will be attending Practicum (only 10 minutes from our house!). I will be learning about math and logic, Grant will be participating in the Geo Drawing Camp, and Anna will be volunteering with the little ones in Play Camp.
Why Classical Conversations?
My youngest LOVES memorizing facts. He loves math and he loves history. Classical Conversations will enable us to play on all of these strengths.
In the Foundations program there is just enough structure for me to follow, but we will still have the freedom to pursue unit studies and other interest led learning opportunities.
My oldest will be in seventh grade. I am feeling the need to have her be accountable to someone other than me.
She thrives on personal relationships. She values a one on one relationship with adults and a few close peers. In her small group in Challenge A I think she will appreciate the interaction and relationships.
Her curriculum for the year is set by CC. I like everything I have seen, and Anna is excited about it, too.
(You can see the Scope and Sequence for the entire Challenge Program.)
We made the switch to Saxon Math last year (for some reason - I'm not sure why - but we did). Classical Conversations recommends using Saxon Math. It's quite serendipitous that she will be ready to jump right into Saxon 8/7 this coming year.
Our local CC community was so welcoming. We already have a few friends there and I am so excited to be in community with these like minded families.
Perhaps the biggest reason we chose CC was its philosophy:
The purpose of education is to know God and make Him known.
As we mulled over this and learned more about CC it just felt so right.
Preparations
We have slowly been preparing to make the change. Most of this preparation has been studying and reading done by my husband and myself.
- The Great Homeschool Convention - We attending this convention in South Carolina in March. We went to almost every Classical seminar we could squeeze in. We were excited by what we heard and were impressed with quality of the speakers. Andrew Pudewa and Andrew Kern were our favorites.
- Reading The Core by Leigh Bortins - This book was INVALUABLE to me! Even if you aren't interested in CC, it just provides a great framework for a Classical education.
- Educating OURSELVES - My husband has taken the lead on reading. I am so thankful for him. We are trying to read more CS Lewis, Chesterton, etc... We were never taught this way, so it's very new for us - but SO exciting!
- Materials, Materials, Materials! - I ordered timeline cards and the curriculum manual from CC. I have been pouring over these. (I put all of the timeline cards in binders by cycles - they're just beautiful.)
- Blogs - I have been scouring blogs for information, too. My favorite currently is Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood. Wow is all I can say.
- Homeschool in the Woods - These gorgeous materials have been a huge blessing. I'm so proud HSITW is a sponsor of this blog, because I get to share their products with you. Next year Grant will be using Project Passport: The Middle Ages and I think this will be a great addition to what he is learning in CC. We are also using their timeline and figures which are BEAUTIFUL!
I don't claim that this change in our homeschool will make everything 100% perfect. No one program or curriculum will do that.
I am hoping, however, that with this change will come a productive and exciting school year, full of community, learning, and knowing GOD.
Most of all, I have learned that I can't do it all by myself. It's OK to ask for help, and it's also OK to admit when something isn't working.
That is the beauty of homeschool, and I am so thankful to be able to make these decisions about my children's education.
Are you going down a new path in your homeschool next year?
Reader Comments (17)
Mary, I wish nothing but the absolute best for you and your family as you make this change! I hope the transition goes smoothly. Hugs!
I am familiar with the blog Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood, and wow is right :)
I am keeping an eclectic base to our homeschool but I am considering adding more structure as well. Grace will be in 8th grade and I want to set a foundation for high school. I am going to add another writing session to our week, keep our lessons (piano and guitar) as is and I am looking into a structured co-op for teens that offers classes (even AP) with paid outside teachers, which means Grace will be accountable to another person. This would be a way for her to get Biology and higher level maths. The downside it that some classes meet twice a week and they are an hour away. It would be ideal if I could link one of those days on to her internship but it is too soon to tell if that will be possible.
I look forward to reading about your changes!
Enjoy CC! We don't have a group close enough to participate in, but I love the Classical method and our curriculum (TOG). I also loosely follow the CC memory work schedule and it works for us. Noodle LOVES memorizing and he is so good at it - as the age is perfect for memoriation. I also love The Core and I have read it twice already this year. Have a great year Mary! I can't wait to read about your weeks.
Mary, I have thought about Classical Conversations many, many times as well. For the same reasons (I can do this at home, and the money), I haven't taken the bait. This year, a friend of mine is doing it and a location is fairly close to my home, but I honestly really like what we are doing right now, so I'm really torn, but today I'm leaning toward saying no. It changes daily though =) I'm sure I won't make up my mind in time and then I'll be out of time ha! I truly hope that you enjoy CC and your whole homeschool year next year!
So funny you wrote this post. There are changes coming to our home school also.....stay tuned! LaDinna loves CC. I don't know too much about it. But can't wait to hear more!
Sounds exciting. I have a few friends who use CC and one of my friends is the director for Cherokee. I wish you luck in your changes. I often feel the way you do. I'm sure every homeschool momma does.
I'm going to a CC interest meeting tonight! Maybe not this year, but next year for us, we'll see. I'm thankful the Lord is guiding you, providing for you and making the path straight! I trust for the same. :)
And thanks keepin' it real. We all need that!
Our homeschool shifts this year in small ways. My 7th grader took more control in what she'll study and chose the curricula for most areas (after setting her goal/focus areas for the year). I blogged a 3 part series about planning 7th grade recently about it all.
My younger grades will be 3rd, 2nd, K (gifted and keeps up with 2nd/3rd easily). They're sticking with our nice, eclectic, relaxed method and enjoying learning.
Then I'll have the four youngest boys who will be 4, 2, 1, and newborn. They're just focusing on real life learning and being boys.
Overall we're sticking with our Charlotte Mason based homeschool, it works for us!
Sounds exciting, Mary!
I can't wait to see how this works out for you! I love the classical model and have looked at CC as something we may use for the later years, Lord willing with schedules and finances :)
So excited for you. We have been doing CC for the past three years and love it. My children will be in 3rd and 2nd grade next year and we will be starting our fourth year of CC. I think you an your family will find it a wonderful blessing.
One more thing - you may want to take a look at www.andherewegomama.blogspot.com
Melody is a new CC member, any she has great blog with a ton of resources.
Yay for you Mary! I've always been intrigued by CC but either couldn't afford it or felt inadequate (Satan's lies). I'm excited to see how you and the children enjoy it... and if you don't, I still want to see the real! Love you girl!!
Yes! We're on a similar journey of going down a new path, I'm still thinking and working through it all. For me, it will mean making even more room for delight-directed, self-motivated learning for my 5th and 2nd grader. What we've done hasn't been wrong and it worked beautifully for my older 2...but these kiddos need a change. Thanks for sharing your story, and enjoy CC!
So as I understand it, CC is basically like co-op or "homeschool" school, right? I went to a co-op when I was homeschooled, and even before then, I didn't even know that existed. It's nice to see that there are other options out there other than just studying at home.
Wow! I can't believe you are talking about Classical Conversations! This year has been very hard for me, too. I have been schooling 7th, 4th, and 3rd. I knew I needed to pray and see what God wants us to change. Long story short, at the homeschooling conference a few weeks ago, I stopped at the Classical Conversations booth at the very end, just to buy a couple things. The woman saw where I was from (on my nametag) and began telling me they are starting a new group there, which I knew because the people who are pioneering it are actually part of my homeschool co-op. I left the conference, knowing I would have to seriously think about this now. There were some things lining up. Today, I was thinking I would NOT do it. I was thinking that it would just be too much with the homeschool co-op we already attend. I had seen your "Need homeschool encouragement?" on Twitter yesterday and finally stopped by your blog today to see the latest. And here I am, seeing your story and change. Back to square one. :-) I need to pray, think, and talk to Hubby! I might have to email you to talk to you more about this!
Just catching up now. I appreciate your honesty and I just love how you shared how everything just fell into place...that is how you know it's God working on this plan!
We had some bumps this year, too. I think a lot of it was just that it was an emotional year with a lot going on. I ended up just backing off and taking care of myself emotionally and the girls THRIVED and found productive things to do and learn about and they REALLY DUG IN! So now we are taking a more interest-led approach...a little mom-led (as you said, I love that) and a little interest-led and it is working. Co-op was a blessing and something we decided on because I needed time to heal emotionally and I wanted to know the girls were accountable to someone other than me for their learning.
I think it's great what you are doing for your family, Mary!