Do you ever feel that with Classical you are getting stale and in a box?

[HappyGrace]

I was just thinking this today as I was looking at Sonlight's LA sample, and the different genres of writing they do (specifically in SL5.) We are doing IEW with the rising 4th grader, and have done mostly imitative writing and copywork before that with her. We're doing almost NO creative writing! I know the classical philosophy on all that-that the creative comes later-but it just seems to me sometimes that we can get so into this "classical" box! Our days have degraded into typical classical-Latin, recitation, 4yr cycle history, math, imitative writing, grammar, reading and readalouds usually tied into history, very light on sci. By the time we get all that done, there's not much time for picture or nature study or any fun stuff like that. I'm not a "fun" mom, which is why classical is a perfect fit for me, but I feel my kids are missing out on all that "fun" stuff like crafts and experiments! They seem happy and are both doing well, but it's probably because they don't know what they're missing! :)

 

I've read and own LCC and it resonates with me; same with CM. But they don't really fit-I feel like we're too light if we do them (not arguing, just saying for *me* it feels that way.)

 

Does anyone know what I'm trying to say here? I kind of wish there was like a classical "lite" that we could do and get done by lunchtime and have the rest of the day for other stuff! Is anyone else feeling boxed in by classical? Or have you in the past? What did you do about it?

[Amber in AUS]

I felt like that after reading TWTM. I think I have to be content to be eclectic because I know if I strive to be like TWTM in its entirety I will burn out myself and my kids and feel like a failure. I'd rather pick the things I like from TWTM, LCC, CM, Monti, Waldorf and put my own spin on everything. That to me doesn't mean we are not providing a rigorous education, it says we are real people and I'm just trying to approach school in a realistic manner.

[birchbark]

Classical "lite" . . . I like that.

[Peela]

Yes, I read TWTM and it started me on a whole wonderful journey...but I didn't stop there. I kept reading, exploring what different people are doing, what other thoughts are out there, Classical and not....and I bring in new things, adjust our schedule to fit in something more interesting. Never mind the kids...I would get stale just doing the same things, laid out for me, all the time. I like to be creative. I make up writing assignments. I pick ideas from LCC. I take booklists from AO. I play with CM ideas. We spent a year doing Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings. They have spent weeks making one beautiful map. My dd paints and draws while I read aloud. My son just spent two days building a snake cage with his dad instead of school.

I don't go out of my way to make things "fun" because that burns me out. We dont do a lot of hands on because that burns me out too. But I do like to move out of the box regularly.

[amtmcm]

As Cathy Duffy would say, my older daughter is a "Perfect Paula" and the classical approach suits her perfectly. She thrives on the rigorous coursework and rises to every challenge. In addition to the items in my signature, we're also doing Art, Sonlight Alt 7 reading list, A Beka Science 9 and Vet Science through Tx A&M AgriLife so we have very little free time during the school day which suits her fine. She was bored at private school and is excited to be working ahead.

 

My younger DD is the opposite. She does not like reading (yet), she has no joy for school and all she wants to do is play with friends. I keep reminding myself the Greeks did not begin school until age 7 and some "experts" don't believe in formal education until age 10. I won't attempt a full WTM approach with her when I start homeschooling her in the fall. I'll be following a Charlotte Mason approach which will suit her kinesthetic learning style and I hope will inspire a love of learning.

 

If your child is thriving with a Classical approach, IMO it's good to stick with what feels right to you. And for words of encouragement, I attended a Classical Private school from 8-12th grade. It can't even compare to the public school I attended previously. Like my younger daughter, I was more interested in socializing - but the coursework was so rigorous and rich that even as a B student I was receiving an incredible education. When I went to college, Composition & Rhetoric was a required class for Freshman and was taught by a grad student. Needless to say I aced the class and the teacher & I were both a little embarrassed that I was probably more comfortable with the material than he was. My classical education made me extremely well prepared for college. How's that for a glowing endorsement that the Classical method really works - even for a non-academic student like I was? :)

 

On the other hand, if you desire time for creative writing & nature walks, put it on the schedule (this coming from a person who has to schedule time to be spontaneous).

[linders]

My oldest is only 8 and yet I sometimes feel school is a "grind" already. Part of this is DS (he isn't the most diligent worker and can dra-a-a-g out a simple math lesson). Part of it is trying to do classical. I love TWTM, it is the education I wish I had had, every bit of it. For DS8, I realize more and more that it is a bit much.

 

So, I am trying to restrain myself. After much thought, I decided not to do Latin in elementary, just roots. We use WWE but are pretty light on the copywork (but he writes letters to friends and poems). We dawdle around in science based on his interests, not even trying to tie to the 4-year cycle that is recommended. And although we read some lit tied to history, we more often divert to Ambleside and SL recommendations and just plain fun stuff like Bunnicula and Harry Potter.

 

My upcoming dilemma - DS5 (almost 6) is a different critter. Super-focused, learns so quickly, loves rigor and checkboxes. I think he could immerse himself in all classical has to offer and still have time for fun stuff. I will have to figure out how to stay relaxed with DS8 and still give DS5 the challenges he craves.

 

Maybe you could look at your schedule and very purposefully block out one or two afternoons a week for some of what you feel you are missing - nature walks, picture studies, art, whatever. (Hmmm- I should do that.)And ditch some of the TWTM readalouds and read Buunicula (they will be laughing hysterically, I promise. And I found out there are sequels.)

 

I keep telling myself it is still lots better than school.

[Strawberry Queen]

I feel like the op sometimes. Like I should take a year off and do fun school without worrying about the history rotation. So far I haven't been able to do it. ;) But when the feeling hits I often go and research other philosophies. Sometimes I add a new idea in, but I'm coming to the conclusion that I like classical. What I should do when the feeling hits is to relax and take some time off. When I go and delve into some hobbies with my girls then I feel better. I feel like we're doing the fun stuff and being balanced.

 

What I used to do is to try and chnage what we were doing. I wouldn't take time off but I'd organize a unit study for something different. The problem with this is that I didn't end up getting rested and my dds had the joy taken out of the endeavour because I was trying to make something be school.(we did quilting this year)

 

So, my new resolution is to just take time off and do fun things when I'm tired or feeling constrained and not turn them into school. We can learn to make candles without it having to be when we're studying pioneers. We can cook food from other countries without having to learn about each country, etc. (I'm trying to reassure myself here;))

 

If I still feel like changes need to be made after I've rested then I will rationally look at my options and the reasons for changing things up.

 

HTH

[HappyGrace]

sometimes feel the same way! I should emphasize that we do NOT do WTM as written-we are more eclectic than that and I do make up my own curriculum stuff that is tailored to us. I also feel very confident not being a slave to having to cross every T and dot every i. I'm just trying to get a picture for what I want our days to be like-maybe it will be as simple as taking an afternoon off per week to do more fun stuff, planned or unplanned!

[katilac]

It might also help to realize that part of this is just plain ol' boredom from doing the same thing, and you would feel it just the same if you were doing Sonlight or any other curriculum. I think I've seen this weariness from users of every curriculum out there. There's always excitement in the new and shiny, :tongue_smilie:, but I think that curriculum hopping to keep up motivation is almost always a mistake.

 

The ideas people have given you about scheduling in the time for the fun stuff are great - - I love the idea of scheduling time to be spontaneous, that's me to a T!

 

What has worked really well for us is to schedule fairly big blocks of time to fall off the classical wagon. An afternoon a week seems so doable, but with a rising 6th grader who also has piano lessons and such to juggle, our 'free' afternoon tends to cause rather more tension than not.

 

So I schedule in project weeks at regular intervals. This is our time to do those messy science experiments, learn to cook something new, go on extra field trips, etc. I don't schedule routine lessons in math, grammar, history at these times, although we would use them as a catchup time if it were ever needed.

 

This year, we've mostly done 'whatever' during project weeks, with little preplanning; next year, I may do a few themes (cooking, etc).

 

Oh, and I always try to schedule them for weeks that are already a struggle for regular schoolwork. We're always off the Tuesday of Mardi Gras week, and have to go to church on the Wednesday, which just wreaks havoc with a regular schedule. So I just note that as a project week from the start.

[prairiegirl]

I have been struggling for awhile to find a good fit for us. We have tried every educational philosophy known to man but we always come back to Classical. The problem is is that I am the only one who loves CE, my kids are not doing well with this at all. I regularly have mutinies. So I have been trying to find a balance. I think I may have struck upon it finally.

 

In the mornings we do the basics (math, latin, writing) classical style. In the afternoons we do unit studies for history and science. This is working out very well for us.

 

This is just one way of many to overcome the staleness.

[PeterPan]

Happy, Katilac had great advice. My additional thought is that you might be bored and need to spend this extra time reading ahead the Omnibus books. (the readings, not the actual textbook) Join me and get started! :)

[Maria/ME]

TWTM got me going on homeschooling. It encouraged me and gave me guidelines. Essentially, I believe in the Classical model of homeschooling. That having been said I didn't so much burn out on WTM as much as I felt so much pressure, like I couldn't keep up or do it perfectly enough. I felt like I was obsessing and trying to overachieve too much. The fault obviously doesn't lie with WTM, but my perception of it. However, my personality is also such that I find too much structure difficult. (Likewise not enough is a problem, too.) It has taken me awhile to find our balance and sometimes I still struggle with it....Again, I kind of go for that middle of the road eclectic/relaxed approach.

 

We schooled very "lite" until we hit this year (approx. fifth grade) and then we started doing more "sit-down/formal" work. We homeschool year around. During the summer we try to school a few hours during the morning and spend the rest of the day outside or on field trips. These afternoons are certainly not w/out learning but they are informal and child driven for the most part. Our interests lead us! During the winter we are focused more at home and our days tend to be more "formal" even in the afternoon, with a bit more structure. This has seemed to work well for both "sides" of my personality. I feel like we accomplished more in terms of formal studies this winter, but I feel the weight/pressure is off in the summer, but I really see that the learning happens even in the informal times and that's been excited. I make sure to keep a list of all the positive things my child is doing and learning. I, personally, get hung up on what we DON'T do. I come here and feel like "OHMYGOSH look at all these incredible moms do and I'm failing my kid!" I panic. I think this is typical for ANY parent and homeschooler, but writing the positives each day help me really focus on all we DO accomplish! All and all this balance has worked well for us this year!

 

This thread ties in nicely with the one on rethinking the Prussian model (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91926) Well, for me it does! Both have been timely and helpful threads!

 

BTW, Prairiegirl...when I read your post I thought you said "I regularly have martinis." !! NOT mutinies! I was thinking, "Well, whatever works, a martini might work very well for me on some days!"

Edited April 5, 2009 by Maria/ME
I talk to much!

[amtmcm]

I think we'll do that next year. Great idea! My kids would like that too.