Finding Something That Worked Better...

As I was searching for lessons, lesson plans, topics, videos, hands-on activities: ANYTHING that would keep him not only engaged in the lesson but also retain the knowledge I was working so hard to present to him; I stumbled across a lot of homeschool curriculum. Curriculums published not by major publishers, but by ordinary homeschool moms like myself. Textbooks, and workbooks created and put out that were in line with how I wished to teach.

I am a history buff- I love all things history- but haven't always. When I was in school, middle school, I distinctly remember hating, no loathing, history studies. Like everyone else, I thought they were so dry and boring. Date after date; useless name after useless name; locale after locale. None of it ever felt relevant to anything in my world. History was boring. Until I was in college. History was brought alive by professors that would incorporate psychology and literature into the history lesson. 

I am a collector of information. I am also a collector of context. I love to know how things, events, people are interconnected, related and intertwine. History was alive. And in my bumbling across all of the elements I incorporated, I bumbled across something beautiful, a classical education.  

I don't remember the details of how I found this methodology- but it was love at first explanation. It was exactly the kind of education that I wish I had gotten as a middle school student- especially where history was concerned. So I bought the curriculums and I was excited for the next year. 

Now it was just a matter of expressing the interest and desire to continue homeschooling. Once I did, everyone else was soon board. Apparently, my stumbling through seemed to be paying off, and he was actually making progress that was beyond my ability to see.

At that point, every subject was classically based- with the exception of math and language arts though. I had finally gotten the green light (and really had just needed it from myself and first hand experience), to purchase the curriculum I had dreamed of using for so many years.

For those you who may be wondering; what about what works for him?

See, that's the thing... in my stumbling through that first year- our adventures in homeschooling had shown me that he and I are SO MUCH ALIKE in our preferences where learning is concerned- nearly identical in fact. I knew that this would be a good fit for him too. And who knows, may be my yearning for knowledge and information would be satisfied too. 

Until next time.