Thoughts on Finishing Our First Term
We’ve finished our first term! (3 children out of 4). 
Most of our distractions have come in the form of company, but company is a fact of life around here. This is our first year to use Ambleside Online and my kids are truly learning to be more accountable. In the past we did a lot of things together. This year everyone is working pretty much independently. Thanks to Lindafay and her 12 week checklist, they can see what they need to do everyday for 12 weeks.
I did have a problem earlier on with a couple of my boys dawdling. One Both of them are still needing improvement in this area but one is starting to apply himself more because I began having them stay up as late as necessary to finish their work for the day. This is hard for me to do sometimes as I like to see them go to bed when they’re so tired BUT I think it has made a difference!
As my son has seen that, when he applies himself, he can complete his lessons, he’s getting that satisfying feeling you get from a job well done. One thing Miss Mason wrote that I’ve quoted frequently to my children is that "Education is hard work."
So many times we worry if things are not completely enjoyable to them but the fact of the matter is however they approach school is probably a good indication of how they approach their work. We’re teaching them character when we teach them to apply themselves.
There have been very few books that were required reading for their subjects that they didn’t like. Ambleside Online has done very well at picking out living books.
My only hesitation is this – AO has so many books for each grade level that there is almost too much for a child to do in one day in my opinion. I’m the type to try and fit it all in and that’s where I run into problems. I need to learn to pare down the amount of things they have to do in a day.
I’m prepared to approach Term 2 with gusto!
Persevero needs to be is my motto.
4 Comments
OHFarmwife
Happy Belated Birthday!! Your children are so sweet to do so much for you. 🙂
Yes, we are still doing the jt400. We have found all of the secret websites and are up-to-date. I noticed this morning that there is another clue, so we'll work on that tonight. After weeks of looking for the ESW's, we found them all in a few hours one Saturday morning. It was a relief to be caught up!
The link to the Christian radio station is: http://www.oldchristianradio.com I like to have that going on the laptop while we do our kitchen chores every day. It's so nice to hear uplifting music!
Wow, I can't bellieve you're going to Jamestown!! I know it will be so nice for your family. Are you going as part of Vision Forum's group, or as an independant family trip? My daughter, who I'm doing the jt400 with, would love to go there. I don't think we wll as we're moving this fall and all of our extra money needs to go to that.
~Karen
lindafay
So glad you are having a good school year. I have been rereading CM vol 6 and just yesterday she reminded me that the books were many that a child was expected to read in a morning. She said that in order to fit it all in they should not be doing much extra work but just simple, quick narration or else the work couldn't be done. I always like hearing this. It encourages me that I don't need to be doing fancy projects and writing assignments. Less is actually more.
have a blessed day
Anonymous
Thanks for reading my blog. I've been trying to incorporate more of a CM style into our school lately and plan on doing more with Ambleside.
Dana, http://www.alexml.blogspot.com
foxvalleyfamily
How do you like A.O.?
I have browsed the website and it looks fascinating.
I think that my daughter would especially like a curriculum like that, but my son loves workbooks. He just wants to 'get it over and be done with it'. ( He's 7 and he has SO much energy!) My daughter loves to read, but she's a dawdler, too!
Maybe I will have to spend some more time looking at A.O. for her.
Blessings,
Michelle