Hm. Must try not to repeat that particular brand of stupidness. In my (slim) defence, it was a CM book i’d been looking forward to getting as its being discussed on one of my lists at the moment and i was dipping into it as i had lunch. But it did strike me as perhaps not quite the point to be yelling at the kids while i read it. Ho hum.
The more i gradually slip into my natural HE style, the more i am convinced that it is the CM/Classical thing that draws me. I love the idea of my children growing up with a good supply of books suited to their level, stretching them, opening up new worlds to them, supplying fodder for imagination and creativity. I like the idea of an education that is free to be moulded by them and by me, that doesn’t limit them with busywork or dogma but that does actually give them the framework (oh lord, my mum used to say that) of good habits, good know-how and good knowledge to build on. Its important to me that they can write stories that aren’t criticised but that they learn good punctuation, spelling, handwriting and so on, in brief, to the point, accurate lessons than we don’t dwell on endlessly but that remain in their minds as pointers and guides in the future. My childhood CM schooling had the old-fashioned equipment of handwriting practise, narration, dictation, recitation, short lessons but it did work, largely anyway, and i don’t recall disliking it. I like it that if i need to, i can produce well spelled, well punctuated, flowing written work. I want them to have that skill equally if not better. I don’t believe the National Curriculum would supply it; i don’t believe it has to be laboured to get it either. (And no i haven’t proof-read this, blogging is not writing! ;~)) Its really important to me that my girls get to explore the world, its really important to me that i feel good about what i put on the table for them to use as starting points. For the last 7-8 months, i’ve really felt good about that. Everyone seems to be thriving on it.
My Lazy Bugger Credits are pretty low to start with i know, but i’ll just clear my account of any lurking ones by admitting to the copy of “1st language Lessons for The Well Trained Mind” that arrived today. There, i’ve said it. I’d never have bought it had i not read Eats, Shoots and Leaves. That was the final straw. My children HAVE to have most uses of the comma down pat. So there. I quite like what i’ve looked at anyway, so we shall see. The same parcel also had the 1st 3 Getty Dubay books in it which look like they will suit us absolutely down to the ground.
Anyway, apart from the dodgy start, today could have been worse. Trying not to think about the fact that its only a temporary filling (which i have to remember not to bite with!) so i’ll have to go through all that again but hey. At least i didn’t try to bleed to death. I really hate the fact that i’m stuck with flashbacks and stress over that sort of thing for the rest of my life. Its not fair. (STOMP) Amelie hasn’t been sick again anyway so that was okay. Button has PMT and is confined to barracks after eating one of Max’s car books and a wicker basket. Maddy never made it to nursery.
What was good? Oh, well i got everything done on todays schedule, discovered that the tax office won’t fine me as i don’t actually owe tax (they’d be cheeky to anyway as they have STILL failed to send me a form), the girls can now do creditable laps on Mario Kart. I did make them turn it off though and they have spent a happy day playing in their room, watching Joly Phonics videos and doing their boxes. Fran has nearly finished the Flying Boot set of books now, her writing seems to have come on a lot (although things seem to be progressively more backwards, its spreading into letters now as well as numbers), she did really well with maths and the reading for the maths today though.
Maddy is almost through her maths book, not that she is really proficient at any of it, in that format, but she enjoys whipping through it! She won’t do the sheets that Fran did though, as she says they are Fran’s, so i am hoping the Exeter stuff will appeal. She really likes doing it. Today is was basic multiplication – she was grouping objects and creating the sums flawlessly. She is on to JP2 now. I don’t think her reading is more than memory/guesswork really but at least she likes doing it. The change in her since we started this is amazing.
Finished up tonight with Canute and the Waves. I must get back to narration, shall see if i can fit it in tomorrow; i can’t see knitting occupying much time this week, i nearly stabbed Fran after 5 minutes today. I think there is a reason people get taught by their Granny, a generation gap is clearly required.
