Each August you can find me working away on the upcoming year's curriculum and lesson plans. Here is what my work table looks like today. I wish that it was picture perfect, but this planning is a work in progress. This is our 8th year of home schooling, so that puts my daughter in the 7th grade.
Middle school is where the "rubber meets the road" in my book. If you notice there is a bright and shiny new book in the stack titled "Pre-Algebra", that alone is enough to send those who are faint of heart running to hide. Not my girl, she's also chosen to tackle that other big book in the stack titled "Biology". Now this one is a high school text and she is ready to jump into it.
One way I always describe home schooling is that it is a life style choice. We work hard, but my girl can study in the way that best suits her needs. If she decides to spend an afternoon reading and writing about spotted frogs-we shift the schedule and she can do that. Or if she gets tangled in an idea or concept we can take the time to untangle her and renew her enthusiasm and not let her become lost in disappointment and confusion.
The lifestyle aspect comes in because we choose for me to stay home and home school her-it's a choice we all three make. Its a choice that affects other parts of our life, I can't work more hours, my art studio stays empty, it is a ton of work and at times my daughter and I get tired of each other. It's a choice we keep making, because we see a bright and shiny kid who loves to read and learn and explore the world. She feels she can make a difference and I can't think of anything more important that I could spend my time doing than helping her accomplish her goals.
Back to work.
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