Hi all, My name is Megan, and I'm new to The Well-Trained Mind. I'm amazed at all of the wonderful advice and info that's available here, and I've already had many of questions answered - thank you!
Here is my struggle, and I would greatly appreciate any wisdom and insight any of you have to offer...(please forgive me - this is long)
I'll be homeschooling my dd (6 yrs. old - 7 in June) for 1st grade next year. She currently goes to a part-day, 4 day a week Kindergarten. I've been trying to do some supplemental work with her on Fridays because she is capable, and I want to make sure she's being challenged. Iv'e kind of been looking at these Fridays as practice for next year, and to maybe work out some of the bugs ahead of time. My tendency is to want to use a curriculum that goes day by day and clearly explains the directions, and is fun (imo) - it's mostly worksheets. I think I tend to gravitate toward these because it seems to be the easiest way to make sure I'm not leaving anything out of her schooling. The problem is that she sits at the table and is either board, distracted, or just doesn't want to be doing this. Yes - she is strong-willed, No - she isn't ADD or ADHD.
One example is handwriting - She has developed some pretty sloppy writing habits that I'm now trying to fix. We've been using A Reason for Writing to try to help her improve, and a lesson that should imo take about 20 min. to complete is taking about 45 min. at times!
I feel like it's like pulling teeth to get her to do anything, and I end up feeling stressed out and overwhelmed - I can't imagine doing this every day!
Is part of my problem the way I'm going about things? I'm constantly drawn to the idea and philosophy of Charlottle Mason, as well as Classical, but I feel like I need a more structured, step by step approach for my first year of homeschooling. I feel like I need a schedule to help hold myself accountable.
I guess my main questions are these: Is it, perhaps, that I've just got to approach teaching her in some other way than table work? I'm so sorry if this is a ridiculous question, but to me it would be so much easier to do it this way...figuring out another way feels like it's going to push my creativity to the extreme limits! *please see my edit, bellow...:)
Also - how can I use Charlotte Mason AND make sure that I'm covering everything and not leaving anything out?
I'm sure there are other posts on this topic, so please feel free to refer
me, if that's easier. :)
One of her favorite things to do is just cuddle up on the couch and read, look at pictures, talk about stories, etc. We could do this for hours. She's even much more into grammar, math, etc., if we're just sitting on the couch! Maybe I need to find a "curl up on the couch" curriculum!?
Thanks so much in advance!
megan
...edited to say this....I realize that it probably sounds awful that I would NOT want to stretch my creativity to it's limits - it's not that I don't, it's just that I don't know where to start, or how to go about it. I'm realizing that homeschooling is probably not going to be the picture that I originally had in mind, and that's OK...I'm just wondering if there's anyone else out there that had to work through these similar issues. I know that if I let it become what God wants it to be it and stop worrying about MY plans for it, it WILL be what's best for my kids - only He knows best, after all! I guess I need to let go of some preconceived notions... *sigh* ;)