Weekly Wrap-Up and a CM Question

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In my life this week… We enjoyed warm fall weather and practiced for the Christmas concert.  Those two don’t usually go together!

In our homeschool this week… Usually we have a week’s list of things to do and just do them, but this week many things interfered:  Christmas concert practicing, Christmas cards, enjoying the weather, catching up on math, starting to study for the spelling bee.  The kids thrive on such mixed up weeks, but I don’t.

We’re also planning our second term which is usually just a simple fill-in-the-box job.  This time I’m bogged down by philosophical ponderings.  I’ve asked you a question below.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…I’m a flexible person, full of understanding and compassion, and I hate confrontation.  That all sounds very good, but children—being  human, and therefore sinful—occasionally try to use that to their perceived advantage. Unfortunately, it usually turns out to be a huge disadvantage to them.   For their good, I try to be firm, but I really need someone with the backbone to stand up for what’s best, no matter what.  In our family, that’s where daddy steps in, and I’m so thankful.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… Swimming, judo, and catechism as usual, plus the Christmas concert.

My favorite thing this week was…The concert.  Our children sang and read.  Miss 14 and her recorder pupil, Miss 9, played an amazing duet.  Miss 14 also organized and led a small choir.  Of course, we enjoyed many other beautiful and moving songs as well.  There was so much talent and so much praise!

Questions/thoughts I have…The Little Misses enjoy the Ambleside Online books, but not the slow, little-bit-at-a-time pace, nor the narrations.  Charlotte Mason had good reasons for reading little bits at a time and pondering a book, but there are also good reasons for skimming a book quickly and, if it is worthwhile, re-reading it later.  In fact, that’s what is recommended in How to Read a Book.  I’m wondering: Which produces better learning and greater love of learning?   

Things I’m working on…

• freezing all the garden kale (done!),
• freezing our crop of garden pumpkins,
• Christmas cards (almost done!),
• planning the term,
• straightening out my new desk space,
• finishing that parka zipper I started last week before accidentally eating gluten and getting sick,
• fall cleaning (way behind).   

I’m reading…

Matthew.  I’m also really enjoying Organized Simplicity and 48 Days to the Work You Love, as well as Sense and Sensibility and EntreLeadership.

With the kids, I’m reading Proverbs, On the Banks of Plum Creek and Rozemarijntje, a Dutch book. We finished The Escape and hugely enjoyed the story.  Before we start the sequel, we’ll finish the second half of O Canada by Karla Akins.

I’m grateful for … A quiet, peaceful house.  Everyone is away, something that rarely happens.

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This post is linked to The Homeschool Mother’s Journal and to Weekly Wrap Up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.