Dear Mom, Thank you for an excellent question. In my opinion the best approach would be to purchase curriculum for their next grade level. Since you are taking the children out of school late in the year, I feel that your time spent from this moment on until school formally opens in the fall could be best spent reviewing the materials and allowing the children to explore the curriculum as well. It is important that the children feel totally involved with the whole process. Many times when we take our dear children from the public school experience we need an amount of time to detox, as it were, their brains from the public experience. We need this time as well. It will be important to set up a classroom, schedules that meet your needs and the simple pleasures of organization through binders etc. before you begin teaching. You might like to do research on line to determine how you will flesh out the homeschooling experience through the beauty of field trips etc. that compliment your curriculum. Research the area for support networks etc. You will find the CHC curriculum is organized to the degree that you will be able to 'jump in' and take off teaching after you have familiarized yourself with the particulars of the curriculum. However there is enough flexibility to allow for the creative inspirations that we homeschooling moms are so fond of. The curriculum is balanced solidly Catholic in a peaceful and nurturing way. Good for you. Above all know that there is nothing wasted in the wholesome and holy material that children are presented with through Catholic homeschooling. All your efforts towards providing a holy environment that teaches through modeling holy behavior is always going to good. Pray for guidance. I admire your resolve and sense in your letter that you were at a crossroads and now you have selected the path through the Lord's guidance and are at peace for the first time in a long time. Wonderful. Go forward into the Lord's will for you and your family. Let us pray our prayers this morning for all those families that find they have reached a crossroads in their life. Let the good Jesus guide them and allow that they remain docile and willing to hear His call. Amen. Sending out a prayer, Rita Munn |
