Taking Breaks

Something that I learned (not only from the SOW teachers manual, but through SOW users via the yahoo group.) is that breaks are vital to SOWing. I really understand why, but I have had trouble sticking to the plans I've made. We certainly took a lot longer than I really expected. For our home (and just for Year 1) I expected us to be slow and really slower than average. I still expect that, but I'm trying to learn how to anticipate when our breaks should be. By making goals I feel like I am better on track when I can actually accomplish them. :o)

So, I am expecting that 1 week should take roughly 3 weeks for us. Then, we'll probably take a week off. (And, by "taking it off" I don't mean no school, I mean do something different for school.) For instance, this week we had finished 1A4, but life happens. I had loaned out my SOW notebook to someone looking into homeschooling, so I don't have it to look at. Which means I'm not feeling confident moving on. We also have had a lot going on this week & it's been busy. But, it just so happens I have a lot of dinosaur resources, including a mini unit study. So, we've been looking through those things & kind of doing a "catch-up" or more in depth study of sorts. What I'm trying to say is even though we are breaking from SOW, we are still on track. It helps to give us a little breather from the more "heavy" schooling, if that makes any sense.

It's always said that the curriculum is not your master, but that you have to make it your own. That's how I feel about it. As I've mentioned we are slower, but it's because we take time to soak it all in. We're in this for the long-haul. The kids will learn exactly what they need. I figure Superkid will get to go through it one time thoroughly and then we'll do an apprenticeship of some kind in high school along with a individualized education to whatever he's interested in. My other two (especially little bear) I figure she'll be able to go through it two times & by then I'll have the whole thing down! ;o) All of this depends, of course, if Jesus still hasn't come &/or if the Lord wills. My job is just to try to plan & be open to be led.

Anyway, I just thought I'd mention the importance of breaks.
...stay tuned. I'm going to try to post some pictures here again soon.