Planning for 2011

the.boys.on.elson's.birthday.outing

***
"Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the "ancient paths". When you find them, walk that way and you will find rest for your souls". Jeremiah 6:16
***

I've been going over my plans for our homeschool next year. I started out most systematically - laying out all the books to cover next year then breaking down the work into months then weeks. Looming overhead was the thought that we're hitting our Primary 3 year and we "need" to be gearing ourselves towards the PSLE. A "gan-cheong" spirit crept in.

At the same time, I finally got down to reading "I Saw the Angel in the Marble" by Chris and Ellyn Davis. The book is a collection of essays of their own homeschooling journey.

The first few chapters which includes an exhortation to find the "ancient paths" in God's purpose for Jared's education has calmed mummy's soul. I am reminded that I'm staying home and spending all this time to be God's instrument to turn my child's heart. I am reminded that I'm there to show that relationships come first - our relationship with God, with our self, with others and with created things. Skills come second - relational skills, thinking skills, God's giftings, academic skills. Information is last priority. As Jared grows the right relationship with His maker and his fellow created beings, as he develops the life skills he needs - he will also have the right motivation to pick up the "information" he needs for his God-given purpose. :) I like that.

Looking back on the year, the Lord has been faithful in our "homeschool". We have had plenty of opportunities to build our relationships with family time, being able to be at BSF, having the luxury of meditating on our devotionals in the morning and spending time with friends. Daddy has made a concerted effort to be available as much as possible in our post-Vancouver lifestyle. The topping on this "cake" definitely has to be Elson coming to stay with us. The experience has taught Jared much in relating to someone he doesn't (yet) love/like and I dare say will continue to challenge him in that area next year.

An intentional learning of "life skills" has been a little lacking this year. I have to look into that more for the next year. I think it's time to take another step back and increase his responsibility for managing his own time and resources.

There have been no lack of opportunities to gain "information" as well - our History group, learning to sail, violin lessons,field trips, a huge stack of great books read. Praise be to God!

All in all, next year looks set to be a full year. Hehe , the books have been laid out; the pages marked; the Chinese still has to be done but even as I end this post, the boys are outside spending the heavenliest afternoon playing on the xbox with Daddy - with peals of laughter all round!

The Battle of Agincourt - as told by Daddy

The English led by King Henry V

The French - at first confident of winning this battle.

The guest story-teller

The enthralled son.

The enthralled son.

Our history co-op had a guest storyteller last week. We had gotten to the chapter in "The Story of the World" that touched on the Battle of Agincourt and Joan of Arc. It was my turn to take the session and I knew next to nothing of the battle. In an "aha" moment, it occurred to me that I lived with someone who knew loads about it (and many other events in history)! Haven't I always wished my husband to be more involved in Jared's education? Here was the perfect opportunity.

At first, he agreed to write a page about the battle for me to read aloud at group. You can imagine my delight when the night before group, he volunteered to take off work early and come tell the story himself. He is a GREAT storyteller....

So I got a bunch of other things prepared as I imagined he would take about half an hour to tell how the English fought the French at Agincourt. Well, I never got to any of those other activities as he took the entire HOUR and a half for his battle tale. Let's just say, it was the most attentive I've ever seen this bunch of kids! Now all that remains is to persuade Daddy that his REPEATED involvement at history will be much appreciated.

oh, grandma came along because she wanted to listen to Daddy's story too!

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carol

Reading this poem was fun for Jared - he concluded it was "cheeky".

A Rhema

Yesterday, Jared and I were learning during our devotion that God speaks a specific word, or rhema, into our lives when we ask of Him or tune in closely to what He says. As is our practice, we spent a couple of minutes in quiet meditation. Most times, we're just practicing our "being quiet" so that the still voice of the Holy Spirit can speak. Well, the verse that I seemed to get was Mark 12:30-32 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."


I shared it with Jared. I also shared that I thought God was reminding me that I need to find ways to show love and reach out to our new neighbours. Chatting to one of them in the lift, I've discovered they are a bunch of students from India who are attending Republic Polytechnic nearby. So far, I've just been irritated by the music and loud movie sounds they constantly have blaring day and night. I suspect they are also the ones who have been leaving their trash outside the chute instead of bagging it and throwing it down the chute. Sigh...

Well, as it turns out, there was a surprise in store for us as we settle down to copywork for the day a couple of minutes later. Our CM copywork passage for the day was just this very verse! Jared was impressed that God was definitely saying something. He looked up with a grin, "now, that's what I call double confirmation!". Right, now there's no worming my way out of this one. Something will have to be done about our neighbours....

:) And trust my God to make sure I get his point, I've just realised that our sermon topic at church this coming Sunday is "Transforming our Community".

Back Among Friends

We've been back almost 2 months. I'm still missing Vancouver and our life there - it is spring for friends there. BUT I'm also glad to be back among friends and fellow homeschoolers - a glimpse of Japan's history complete with sushi!