Insecurities eased

After months of studying the classical approach to education and classical curriculum, I found I was becoming overwhelmed by the choices and desperately wanted someone to step in and take my hand. I wanted to see the sign post that says I'm going the right way. This is when I met Dr. Mary Clark from Seton Home Study and decided to let them guide me.

We are only two weeks into the program and already insecurities over my decision are taunting me. Our Liturgy Director at our parish saw my children doing their religion out of the Baltimore Catechism and was shocked at my allowing it. It seems our arch-diocese only approved Sadlier for religious education. Did Seton lead me astray?

I'm also concerned with the 15 subjects my two older children are carrying. Because they are in different grades, hence have different subjects, I don't feel that I get to be a part of their studies the way I wanted to. I give them their lesson plans for the week and they are pretty much on their own after that. Of course they come to me with questions periodically and they enjoy answering the reading and history questions orally as opposed to writing them down. Sometimes they will retell a story they have read and that keeps me in the loop as well as lets me check their comprehension. But I really envisioned myself relearning along with them. They both move through their subjects so fast that I'm left wondering if there is a better way.

And then there's my 4 and 5 year old. They need direct "in your face" instruction but their attention span is so short that I feel their daily formal instruction time is only about an hour. Could there be a deficit in my teaching style? Do they need more? And how do I give it to them when they are no longer listening and the older children are asking questions? Why on earth did I think I could teach four different grades at one time?

Well, I had an epiphany last night. I decided to go back to those books on designing my own classical curriculum to see if they could tell me what I'm doing wrong. Reading through these books a second time without the frustration of choosing a curriculum in time for school to start allowed the information to really sink in. In fact, they proved to me that I'm actually doing things right! According to my findings, home-schooled children who are strong readers should be studying independently. The information they are studying is important, but even more important is that they are learning how to learn. The retelling of stories and answering questions orally are the best way for the information to really take hold.

And furthermore, the Baltimore Catechism has been suggested by several sources because it is an excellent preparation for theology because it is St. Thomas distilled. Pick a topic, see what the Baltimore Catechism says, and then compare it with the relevant article in the Summa Theologiae. St. Thomas is much more complete, but the basic position is in the catechism. Therefore, using the Baltimore catechism in the early years makes St. Thomas much easier. And the format in the catechism is perfect for little children, who can memorize so much more easily than we can do.

As for my 4 and 5 year old, only about 45 minutes of formal instruction a day is recommended. The rest of their learning will come from interacting with the family and participating in daily life.

Even more reassuring, several of these books actually recommended Seton Home Study and their chosen curriculum. I feel so much better for my decisions and for the way our day to day home school life is going. I feel more confident now even though I haven't changed anything that we are doing. I guess I am learning along with my children, just not the way I had envisioned.

Classroom disruptions!

Let's make one thing very clear, cell phones are not permitted in the classroom! Dear 4 year old keeps making ringing noises at regular intervals and then proceeds to answer her "phone" by raising her heel to her mouth and her toes to her ear. Her conversations are brief but the giggling around the table by her siblings is very disturbing to the tasks at hand! Is it possible to get her a mailbox number for messages?

And what about the door bell? All four seedlings seem to feel a sort of surge when the door bell rings and race each other to the door in excitement. The Sparkletts man never felt so welcome! We regularly greet our mailman and the UPS guy is better than Santa; you don't have to wait until Christmas! Children, come back!

Recess in the backyard and lunch at the park are offered. So why do we feel compelled to chase each other around in circles after every other subject?

Lord, thank you for my happy children.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Proverbs 17:22