Planning for next year...

I spent a good part of today putting together my plan for next year.
It is always very exciting to feel another year coming to a close, but I have learned from past experience not to let the year end without looking at where we are, and thinking about where we want to go in the coming year.
If I let it go until summer and get all the paperwork filed and the books put away, it is too hard to visualize the continuum of our journey.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I don't need to buy very much for next year.
Most of the History, Science, Math and Reading books are being handed down.
There may be a new edition or two that I will need to update with. I do have to buy a few workbooks, of course.
I have been using "Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum" rather loosely as I have gone along. I really like Laura Berquist's style. She gives a very detailed plan for each year.

There are plenty of areas where I feel that we are more successful if we step outside that plan though. Just in the different learning styles and speeds. Paul will not finish "Sound Beginnings" for example. He just doesn't need it. He is an instinctive reader, he will have a Spelling book and will start Grammar.

This is John's plan for next year:

Religion- Faith and Life Gr. 6, Wilmington Guidelines, various stories of Saints.

Math- Saxon 76

Reading- Faith and Freedom Readers, 6th and 7th.

Grammar- Easy Grammar 5 & 6

Writing- WordSmith Apprentice/Wordsmith-Love this!

Spelling- Seton Spelling 6

Poetry/Latin- Alternate Latina Christiana/Harp and Laurel Wreath

History- All ye Lands, buy @ Amazon.com

Science- Apologia Science, Botony; Usborne Science handbooks

Art- ArtinHistory.com-for use with our history program.

Literature- Free reading of titles from list in "Designing..."


Brendan 3rd/4th:

Religion- Faith and Life, 3rd grade, Wilmington Guidelines

Math- Saxon 54, need Tests and worksheets book

Reading- Faith and Freedom Readers 4th and 5th

Grammar- Easy Grammar 3/4 Workbook

Spelling- Seton Spelling 4

Writing- Type Dictation

History- Pioneers and Patriots, Evangelization..., OLDG 4th gr. teachers guide

Science- Apologia, Botony

Geography- Trailguide

Latin- Flashcards

Typing Pal/Handwriting

Art - Seton Art 4

Music- Piano Lessons

Literature- Books from List

Paul 2nd Grade:

Religion- Faith and Life 2, Wilmington Guidelines

Math- Grade 2 Abeka, Math

Reading- Faith and Freedom, 3rd and 4th

Spelling- Seton Spelling 2

Grammar- Language Lessons for the Elementary Child

History- Our America/ States and Capitals/various titles

Science- Apologia, Botony

Art- Seton Art 2

Music- Piano

Poetry- Memorize poems from Harp and Laurel Wreath.

I am going to be haunting Amazon for the next few months. I need to go get one more Abeka math book, well I will need a third grade the following year.
The most expensive item on my list is the History book that I need to get for John, but I am really excited about it. I have been looking forward to doing ancient history.
We will probably take two years to do it.

Well... Onward!

The Three P's

The other day I was having a conversation with another mom about how children learn to behave at Church. I have found that, with all my kids, being able to sit through Mass with patience and attention has served them very well in many, many other areas. They learn the discipline of peace and quiet and are able to discipline themselves, for appropriate amounts of time, when we are at the homes of friends, on a field trip, at a concert, listening to a presentation, or even at the movies.

We have never spent much time in the "cry room" at church. Unless a young child is actually crying and disturbing others, the only thing the cry room is good for is teaching them bad manners through the example of all the other little ones, playing with toys, eating, etc.

By the time a child is three, it is not unreasonable to expect them to sit quietly, refrain from eating and drinking, and to leave the toys at home.
I have used a system that I feel is quite realistic to gradually bring my children into full participation with the Mass.

The Three Ps are:

Peace: At three years old, I expect a child to be able to whisper, keep feet from kicking the pews, sit fairly still (no walking up and down the pew), and keep his hands to himself. I take little prayer books, laminated pictures of the family, Holy cards, and other "quiet", prayerful items.
The boys are able to keep from starving for one hour, but we always sit near the bathroom so that if they have to make a stop or have one drink, we are able to accommodate them.

Posture: At Five, I ask the children to follow the Mass with their posture. Sitting, Standing and Kneeling at the appropriate times. The Mass is such a wonderful multi-sensory experience. Even if they don't understand all of what is being read or said, they are learning about the importance of reverence and the flow of the Liturgy. They see the people kneeling and bowing, the prayerful posture, and they begin to understand why. The "extras" on Holy Days and special occasions, Incense, Bells, Flowers, all add to the sense of being in a place where something MORE is happening. There is a feeling of anticipation and mystery, Tradition and ritual, that make them feel at home within the Mass. The boys always love the Triduum. It is long, but all of the ritual and tradition from year to year bring them closer to their Catholic family.

Participation: At Seven it is time to actively participate. I encourage this before this age, but at seven, in anticipation of the Sacraments that they will receive this year, I require it. I tell them that if they are not participating in the prayers and really paying attention, they shouldn't be going to Communion, so they need to practice responding and singing as they prepare. They are old enough to receive the Body of Christ and they are old enough to be present to Him in the Mass. I have found that they understand this very well and actually embrace the new responsibility as a sign that they are growing up. It makes them feel fully a part of the larger Church.

I have really enjoyed watching my little boys become "grown-up" in the Mass. They are always willing to go to any type of church activity and it really does my Mother's heart good when my sons sing, respond and serve at the Mass. When we get ready for daily Mass on Fridays, they are happy to go and in fact, John is always very disappointed when, because of illness or weather, we can't get there.
A little etiquette can go a long way in making this a peaceful and Joyful time, every time!

A Great Family Tool

Here is a great idea for organizing the family.

I have been using this organizer for years and I love it!
The layout is so easy to use and I love the fact that there is so much space to write in. I take it everywhere. I ended up buying the nylon cover because I always have a pencil, post-its and other helpful items tucked inside.

I used to use the Menu feature, but I don't anymore. I prefer the flexibility of spur of the moment meals right now. It is just the way things go around here.

I really need a planner when I am out. I use Google for all my time management needs at home, but I really need to have the planner for things like phone numbers, errands, and the details that I need at my fingertips when I am out.
I have used it to put down notes during three car accidents, 2 of Nina's and one of ours. It is really handy to be able to go back to that date and find the accident report #, the phone numbers of everyone involved, and all the info I collected at that time.
I have used it at meetings, to write notes and put dates on the calendar, and I keep phone lists in it.
I put down birthdays and try to remember to transfer all of them into the new one :)
It has really helped me to keep my time on track. I may look at others someday, but I really like supporting Amy. If you go to the website, read her story. It is very inspiring.

You can go to the website here.

Now this girl can multi-task!

Elizabeth Foss

This is a blog entry that I found on "In the Heart of my Home"

Elizabeth Foss says it so well. It is worth sharing here and committing to my memory.


April 03, 2008

Why Bother?

One thing that my massive clutter clear out has unexpectedly done for me, is give me some time and space to think about my role in my home and my goals for how I want to serve my family here. It's been a bit of an odyssey, actually. About a year ago, the house felt like the walls were closing in. I just could not seem to keep up. Two friends in particular offered me advice when I solicited it. One of them was local and one was a far-away friend. Both have known me for years. I went looking for home management advice and what I got from both was time management advice. They both said to back away from the computer. Both of these women understood online communities and were part of the same ones I was. And, frankly, their advice surprised me. I couldn't imagine backing away. So, I continued to bumble along, doing the best I could (which wasn't very good) to "balance" homeschooling, general parenting, being a wife, and my outreach on the computer. Oh, and the house. And frankly, the house didn't get much better.

My family and I went to visit another big homeschooling family. I've known this woman to be gracious and lovely. She is always nicely dressed and her children are always tidy and beautiful. The public areas in the front of her home are neat and welcoming. On this day, though, my husband was going to help with a repair, so we went into the parts of the house which were not public. Everywhere I looked was clutter. There were books and toys strewn about and piled high in the family room. The bathrooms were dingy. Upstairs, the beds were poorly made, if made at all, and the mattresses were sinking. Wallpaper was peeling. It was a shocking experience. Here was someone who clearly placed a great importance on her public image, but in the private parts of her home, there was no care at all. It mattered to her that her home welcome friends, but clearly she did not care to make it a haven for her family.

On the way home, my husband commented that he would not allow his family to live in such a home. This family had the means to make repairs and to maintain the home and the whole thing just really perplexed me. The public persona so conflicted with the private reality. And then, came the epiphany moment. Mike said, "I cannot imagine commuting every day into the city, working well after the dinner hour, and then coming home to that." He went on to explain that he would feel as if his hard work was not appreciated at all. As a provider of a home, he would be discouraged by how little regard his wife and children had for it.

Somewhere during the conversation, I began to understand that it was no longer about the other family, it was about mine. To what did my husband return everyday and how did my home reflect my priorities? Were the public places fine enough and the private places less so? My house did not look like the one we visited, but I definitely was a long way from having my home reflect the respect and appreciation I had for my husband and the sacrifice he was making for our family. Something was way out of balance.

I talked to my friend about her home, gingerly at first. She told me her husband didn't care. She was involved in a half dozen different ministries and he was very supportive of the way she was spending her time. I even asked if I could share this story. She told me to tell you that apostolic households are always messy. We agree to disagree. I think our first field of apostolate is to our family. And our homes are the mission field.

I love the book of Sirach. There are so many nuggets of wisdom for daily living there. We read:

Blessed the husband of a good wife,
twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband,
peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift
bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content,
and a smile is ever on his face.

A gracious wife delights her husband,
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the LORD is her governed speech,
and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife,
priceless her chaste soul.
A holy and decent woman adds grace upon grace;
indeed, no price is worthy of her temperate soul.
Like the sun rising in the LORD's heavens,
the beauty of a virtuous wife in her well-ordered home.

I cannot reconcile these beautiful verses with the idea that being busy with other projects excuses us from welcoming our husbands into well-ordered homes. I'm not talking about a mom with two toddlers and a baby who is struggling to keep up and feels like she's losing the fight. That's a season during which both husband and wife will grow. I'm talking about the veteran mom with a range of ages of children who makes choices every day to neglect her home. That is simply the fruit of bad habits and misplaced priorities.

I want to be a gracious wife, not just a gracious hostess. Not just a lovely face to the public, but a comfort and a blessing to my husband. So, why bother with homemaking? Because God call us to be virtuous wives and He tells us that virtuous wives live in well-ordered homes.

Ouch.

I wish could tell you that after that visit and that conversation with my husband, I reformed my ways, cleaned my house, and became the virtuous wife of Sirach. I didn't. I tried harder, but I still thought I could hang on to some of the bad habits that had gotten me--and my home--into this mess. I allowed myself to become distracted by internet "crises." And then, an honest friend told me that there are no internet crises. Nothing that happens on the internet is a crisis. There are urgent prayer concerns, but they don't require my presence in front of a screen. She was right; I could not really think of anything that could happen online that truly, truly needed me to rob time and attention from my family. In Sirach, God calls us to "governed speech." Whether on the phone or online, much of what we women engage in isn't governed speech at all, but idle, distracting chatter. We go in search of wisdom and inspiration or to offer encouragement and education and the devil has a field day with the mismanagement of our time.

I prayed hard about what God was saying and how gracious He had been to allow honest women of virtue to speak so frankly to me. I began to see how order and routine and constant, diligent care of our home would bless us all. And I began to see how homemaking called for my full time and attention. I've often heard it said that there are two kinds of large families: very organized ones and very disorganized ones. There is no middle ground. I believe that. I've lived in both. I much prefer the former.

I remember when the message board was founded. I showed my husband the beautiful pages and he was amazed. He did say one thing, though, that I'd nearly forgotten. He said it looked like it had the potential to take a lot of time. I promised him I'd never write there unless the laundry was caught up. And then I promptly forgot the promise. For three years:-).

Now, I understand how important that promise is to keep, even if it means I rarely get to post to online conversations. What I'm doing here in my home is too important. Order precedes beauty. Radiance is the goal. Our housekeeping routines are crucial to the smooth functioning of our days, our weeks. Life in a well-ordered home does shine. Radiance streams into our lives like the grace of God. Ordering a home isn't something you do once and it stays that way. Instead, it's a continual commitment. Nutritious meals served predictably and eaten together at a well set table lend a graciousness and civility to everyday life. It's nice to open a drawer and find clothing folded and ready regardless of the day of the week. It's a blessing to go to a closet, see freshly pressed shirts and inhale the sweet smell of herbal ironing spray. It's nice to settle to work at the learning room table and know where all the books are. My family deserves nothing less. Making it so requires all of me.

The Flylady talks about CHAOS--the "Can't Have Anybody Over Syndrome." Certainly, it would be a shame to not be able to have anybody over. But a greater shame, I think, is to neglect the people who actually live in a house by being a poor steward of both time and treasure. A greater shame, is for a hard working man to have to pick his way around the mess as he makes his way to a disheveled bedroom. A greater shame is to throw a meal at the kids and run to work on an outside project while they eat.

So why bother with all of this? Because a worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life. And her life, too, is full of peace and joy.

Letting go of Clutter

Tonight I am going to the College to teach a class for Nettie, for the second time.
I really enjoyed it the first time!
Nettie has a great slide show put together so all I have to do is share the slides. There are only eight students and it's a fun class to teach.
I'll post more about it later.

Googled Again!

I have heard about the most amazing new program!
Google has a VERY cool application for building presentations. It's just like Powerpoint. It's in Google "Documents" and it's called...drumroll...."Presentations". Great name huh?
The best thing about it is that it's FREE!!

I am working on a class that I will be helping out with in June. I started building my slide show and I am just having so much fun! I told John about it and he grabbed his camera, took a bunch of pictures, and put together his own slide show in about 10 minutes! He has used Powerpoint, but he loves having his own place to work in his documents.

The one I am doing is about organizing your homeschool, so the slide backgrounds are these cute little chalkboards. I can add pictures and lots of other nifty little gadgets.
The only thing I am concerned about is whether it's going to work with the college as far as getting the handouts printed.

I tell you Google just gets better and better.

To Time

Laura gave me a great blog entry idea.

She is starting a new blog to discuss things that make life easier. I had to think for a minute, but a couple of the things that I use pretty much constantly are my planner, and my Google Calendar.

The planner is great because it goes where I go and I can put in all my appointments as I make them, see what I already have, and keep notes about events. I put in phone numbers, keep stamps and address labels, always a pencil, and sticky notes. I never use pen to enter anything in the planner because everything changes so often in my family! I use Amy Knapp's Family Planner.

I transfer everything to my Google calendar, which has the added benefit of enabling me to set up separate calendars that can be clicked on and off. I can see everything that is going on all at once, or I can just look at just Scouts, or organizing appointments, or my personal calendar.
I made up a calendar just for birthdays. At the beginning of the month I look at the calendar and remind myself to send cards or gifts to the people on the list for that month. I plan to put the Saint's days for my family and Godchildren on it too.
You can check it out at: Google.com
Go to the page. At the top you can look for the heading "more" and then click it and go down the drop menu to "calendar".

Time management is so important to being well organized. I go a little crazy when I can't keep track of where to be and when. I have learned that EVERYTHING goes on the calendar, and I don't trust anything to my memory.

One of these days I have to post another of my favorite record keeping devices. My dear old "Homeschool Tracker".