Planning

Right now we are in a season of workbooks. I used to always poopoo workbooks because they are boring and I never liked them when I was in school, but I am seeing that they do have a purpose and a role for our family. I am a big advocate of learning through reading great books and doing real life stuff, but we have been missing the consistent practice of the basic school skills: reading, writing and arithmetic. We do these things but not consistently and in enough quantity for the children to master them well enough. The workbooks really fill this need and make sure that these skills are practiced daily no matter what is going on in our home. The girls are required to do a certain number of pages every week day.

Other things I am thinking about for our little school:

Studying home building: This is obviously because we are about to begin building a new house right outside our back door. We can even watch much of it from our window or porch. What I am debating is whether or not to "school" this up or not. We can merely observe and discuss what is going on or I am considering having the girls and maybe even Patrick to some extent, create notebooks/scrapbooks about the process. We are planning to take photos from the same locations every day. They could document in their notebooks what has happened each day. We could get books and read about the various types of equipment used to build and systems within a home. I could even make them write reports. I am not sure how far I should take this. I don't want to make it such a burden that all the joy is sucked out of it.

4-H projects: Elizabeth is planning to do Foods, Cake Decorating, Photography, Crafts, and possibly collections (stamps) and sewing. Anna is still a mini and therefore is still very limited. Other things I am considering for them is Forestry and Wildlife because there are projects at both of their levels so these could really be used as learning tools for both of them.

The arts: Anna will be finishing up her art lessons soon and I do not want her to stop practicing her art. Elizabeth, as well, really enjoys artistic endeavors so I want to make sure I allow them the time to create and give them direction. I have a book called "How Great Thou Art" that I may use for ideas.
Photography: Both the girls, but Elizabeth especially love photography, as well. They love taking pictures and want to learn more about using PhotoShop to improve them and create scrapbook pages. Since this is an area I love also, I find that I am selfish about giving up the computer to them, but I really should allow them a certain amount of time for this.
Music: This is an area that I feel we have neglected. I have a passion and calling here, but have ignored it. I have a desire to pick up the guitar again just so we can have family sing-along. I will be committing this to prayer. If God wants it to happen, I will find the time.
Storytelling: This is another area I feel like our family has been called to, but I have neglected. Will commit this one to prayer as well.

Math: We need to enter a season of more focus on math skills. I have not placed a high priority on this and I fear I have allowed my girls (especially Elizabeth) to fall behind. This is an area that comes easily for me, but not to her. Although I have stepped up the math workbook pages, I am feeling unsure in a definite direction for us here. This is perhaps an area I should talk Barry into becoming more involved because he really feels this is one of the most important things right now.

This has just been a bunch of random thought that I wanted to get our of my head and chew on for a while.