Update on goals

I think I should have written out these goals a long time ago. We're on day 3 of school since Christmas break and it has gone amazingly well. I've implemented a few changes besides my attitude change and it has been so enjoyable! The kids have a better attitude and we're getting our school work done in record time. We've been starting first thing in the morning after breakfast and I think I'm capturing their best work time.


We have changed the math curriculum and I have reminded myself that this is our school. I am not just the teacher but the parent, principal (or maybe assistant principal), school board and superintendent! So if I don't like something or if I feel something isn't working, I can change it. And I should! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with that responsibility but I need to embrace it. That is a huge benefit to homeschooling. If something isn't working, for whatever reason, I don't have to put up with it.

We have been doing Sonlight this year and while there are many things I love about it, the math curriculum I chose was not one of them. After much deliberation, I ordered Math-U-See, which I had been using before. Sonlight did not carry it so that was why I switched. Brendan also had a negative attitude about math last year but I learned that it was not related to the curriculum. Or at least, not entirely. :) That is just something we will work on. But in the meantime, I am happier teaching math using this curriculum and I know it will work much better for Tori's learning style. We'll work on Brendan's attitude towards multiple digit subtraction problems and then see if it's a good fit for him, too. If not, we can always change!

I feel like once again I am homeschooling because I want to and not just because I think it's best. I didn't realize how much impact my negative attitude had. And yes, I do know where Brendan gets it from. In junior high, my dad gave me 8 books to read and offered to pay me $1o per book if I read it and then could answer his questions. They were all about, you guessed it, having a positive attitude. I read them and passed his quiz and promptly went to Wal-Mart and spent the whole thing. :) He should have put a finance book in there. I'm still learning. But hopefully there has been progress between now and then.