I love this. My husband and I both thrived in rigorous academic environments – I was homeschooled, he was not — so between us we can’t really come up with any other way to “do”
Homeschool. At the same time, I see how painfully jaded some of the homeschool students I work with become when they are being pushed through a lackluster curriculum and I hope to tread carefully the line between maximizing opportunity (which I feel is part of my duty as a homeschooling parent) and killing the “spark” of love for learning (or making my kids think wow, mom is such a bore with all her nerdy interests!). I look forward to this series.
As a student I found the most joy in rigor… in finding a new challenge and being able to say to myself…”Look what you achieved.” How can you not find joy in that as a young person? As a person at any age?
I love this. My son just completed a year at a Classical School and I am feeling what you articulate so well here - rigor, but dry, dull, joy-dampening, etc. I have found myself frustrated with Shurley English and IEW. The kids actually "mock" some of the exercises. He hates Latin. Oh, my! Although Classical schools are seeing a resurgence, it has left me wondering if this is really the best way.😔 You sound like you are forging the right path!
I feel this. I don’t love IEW for their writing. I far prefer the progym, but even that I modify to make more joyful and work until children have mastered and then let them explore it on their own. i hope you’ll find some of the things I’ve found helpful to bring more delight into your children’s education❤️
I would also like to say that IEW can destroy any desire to write if a teacher says, "Here are 12+ rules about what you can and cannot do." Then, when my 3rd grader, overwhelmed at this, comes home with a big D- on an IEW assignment, I am left trying to re-teach and convince him that he can learn to write. With so much curricula, it is how the teacher uses it.
Exactly! I took the IEW class on how they teach writing and then turned it into a fun game. They are getting the same structure, but in a fun way. I think more parents need to feel empowered to take charge and change the curriculum. I’m sorry you are having a bad experience❤️writing can be so delightful!
I love this. My husband and I both thrived in rigorous academic environments – I was homeschooled, he was not — so between us we can’t really come up with any other way to “do”
Homeschool. At the same time, I see how painfully jaded some of the homeschool students I work with become when they are being pushed through a lackluster curriculum and I hope to tread carefully the line between maximizing opportunity (which I feel is part of my duty as a homeschooling parent) and killing the “spark” of love for learning (or making my kids think wow, mom is such a bore with all her nerdy interests!). I look forward to this series.
I hope it will be of value. It’s an important balance to strike.
As a student I found the most joy in rigor… in finding a new challenge and being able to say to myself…”Look what you achieved.” How can you not find joy in that as a young person? As a person at any age?
I love this. My son just completed a year at a Classical School and I am feeling what you articulate so well here - rigor, but dry, dull, joy-dampening, etc. I have found myself frustrated with Shurley English and IEW. The kids actually "mock" some of the exercises. He hates Latin. Oh, my! Although Classical schools are seeing a resurgence, it has left me wondering if this is really the best way.😔 You sound like you are forging the right path!
I feel this. I don’t love IEW for their writing. I far prefer the progym, but even that I modify to make more joyful and work until children have mastered and then let them explore it on their own. i hope you’ll find some of the things I’ve found helpful to bring more delight into your children’s education❤️
I would also like to say that IEW can destroy any desire to write if a teacher says, "Here are 12+ rules about what you can and cannot do." Then, when my 3rd grader, overwhelmed at this, comes home with a big D- on an IEW assignment, I am left trying to re-teach and convince him that he can learn to write. With so much curricula, it is how the teacher uses it.
Exactly! I took the IEW class on how they teach writing and then turned it into a fun game. They are getting the same structure, but in a fun way. I think more parents need to feel empowered to take charge and change the curriculum. I’m sorry you are having a bad experience❤️writing can be so delightful!
Yes! That is why I subscribe!😊
I love the intention of balancing the two. Can't wait to read your plans this summer!
I hope you’ll find them of value! I’m excited to finally have the time to put them together. Have wanted to for a very long time.