It’s just now June. I know. But I’m already looking ahead.
Traditionally, we start back to school sometime in July, maybe as late as the beginning of August. As I’ve noted before, with the temperatures here soaring during the summer months, we prefer to utilize that time for more indoor learning, and sprinkle our breaks in more temperate weather. This year won’t be any different. In fact, I’m already knee-deep in preparation for the year ahead.
I’ve already written our Morning Basket Plans for the year. I’m very excited about them. I’ll be sharing more about them in the future, but I want to say this: if you’re someone who has looked back on her own education and realized the narrow focus you were given to study, homeschooling can absolutely help you redeem that loss. Through compiling each week’s art study, musician compositions, poetry, and hymns, I was able to give a more rounded, deeper look into the past of our nation than I was ever offered from a textbook. Quick spoilers: the first man killed during the Boston Massacre was of both African and Native American descent, and one of the most popular American composers in the late 1800s was a woman.
I’ve also been compiling book lists. American history, though short when held up to the span of African or European history, has so many fabulous stories told in so many compelling ways. I started a list of titles we’ve enjoyed in years past for just the first six weeks of our CC curriculum and, well… I reached 69 books (affiliate link). Now for the painful task of winnowing them down. With such a lovely spread of abilities and interests, I’m still going to be able to hit quite a few. But yes, 69 is overkill even for me.
I haven’t started looking for activities to add in yet. And I’m still formulating John Mark’s transition from elementary- to middle school-level work. There are other loose ends, too: binders need to be re-set for the upcoming year for each child, and I’m mulling what certain subjects look like for certain kids. So no… I’m not ready. But I’m getting there. And the work, which I so enjoy, always feels like far more joy than burden despite the relative level of commitment it requires.
I feel like this year is the perfect year in which to be studying the history of our country. So much discussion has swirled around our Constitution, our rights, how laws are made, and our responsibilities as citizens. What better time to look backwards than during a season where what we have may be greatly altered going forward?