Adventure in homeschooling

When we started having kids I thought people who homeschool were crazy. Clearly not. In my kids early years we were blessed by a school that Levi and many of his family members attended. My boys loved it (still do) they were good, strong, and sweet ladies. But as they got older (Boston in-particular) we were more hesitant on sending them. Our main reasons at the time was Levi being gone so much. He would barely see them. The one year Boston did attended public school, he was so 'busy' with extra work after being in school all day, eating supper and playing a sport, he maybe spent an accumulative 1 hour a week with Levi. Their schedules were opposite. Boston was off weekends and Levi was off weekdays. It was a mess.

I have now been doing this for 2 1/2 years. We started with K12 which was recommended to me by Amie Powell. It was really what we needed at the time. It has great structure, teachers, plus it was free. They sent it all to me. The first year we maybe did work for 4 hours a day. (Mind you, I was going through chemo too) Then last year it jumped to about 5 to 6 hours of work a day. This year however it jumped 10 notches at least. Boston was doing great, but the work would take him 12 hours at least, sometimes more if he was having a hard time with something. They were literally on one subject for 2 days and then moved on. It was more about drilling instead of the joy of learning. I could see him deteriorating. Emotionally it was draining him. He would cry and be so sad. We would spend so much time arguing because he was 'taking so long' but there was just so much to do. Plus he's 9! His attention span for that and being a boy, I was asking too much of him. It was ridiculous. Mentally he was tearing himself down and I was feeling like a failure too. We spent all that time daily as were still behind in school and in home since I was so busy with that. Something had to change. I was worried someone would come after me... For what, I wasn't sure since he was my kid and frankly I can do what I want. But still, I was nervous.

I spoke with several friends and acquaintances  coming with the conclusion we could leave anytime we wanted and start something new. 

I had heard about many great programs. I still needed something that had great structure because I am already overwhelmed with so much, finding every day work was just something I couldn't add to my plate.

I looked into CC- Classical Conversations. My sisters use that as well as some friends. But again, I don't have time to expand the way it needs to be done. But I was quickly introduced to Easy Peasy, All-in-one homeschooling. 

I pulled him out and he took a few days off and now is following this. 

The first day, he was upbeat and smiling. He took 2 1/2 hours for the day-Math, Reading, Writing, Vocab, Science, Social Studies and History. Plus I think he did Music that day too. One of the cool things that it also has a bible study built into the studies. When he was done he was able to tell me how the heart functions. The HEART people!!! Do you think he loves it? Yeah, he does. 

I have also added a some more math called, Life of Fred. It's a book about a kid who 'teaches' at a University and goes through math problems. Very cool book. Boston loves that too, so far. It goes from Elementary - College. 

I can't take all this credit, because without my friend Erin who is an endless 

source of knowledge, I may not have found these recent discoveries.

I may add a bit more writing but he knows a good bit. I may just have him continue a daily journal or do a daily gram? Who knows. I will revisit.

Since Rosington will just be 5 in a couple of weeks, I still have to decide if this is the way to go with him seeing that each child is so different and mine are night and day from one another. But I recommend these so far. 

Now, while homeschooling, we are free to travel with Levi on occasion. Last month we went to Charleston for the Southern Ground Music and Food Festival (I only teach M-Th) and then Nashville. By the way, downtown Nashville has an amazingly beautiful library off Church Street. We spent the day there doing work and exploring their books and meeting new friends. 

I love all the time I have with my little pip squeaks. We have a good time.