Catching a few minutes here to check in with you from the heartland.
I have this picture that I snapped last night before Adoration at St. Boniface… isn't it beautiful?
My main visual impression, though, from my drives through Indiana and Illinois and back is that of CORN.
So. Much. Corn.
Before I left, a young member of our homeschooling group emailed us with a question that reminds me so much of what we talk about here on the blog. In fact, the whole reason that I felt a pressing need to start blogging was just this sort of question — because it's hard to know where to start when someone asks with deceptive simplicity…
What does your homeschool schedule look like during the day? Prayer time?
As I was entering full “There Is No Way To Answer That Question Without Writing A Book” mode (with the utmost sympathy, mind you, for the urge to ask it — I mean, we've all been there, just wondering how the heck we will actually do this thing), another email popped up from my dear friend Therese.
If you read the acknowledgements in my book, you will find her there, and she is also the subject of this post, wherein I “visit a friend.”
So I thought I'd share her answer with you, since we are talking curriculum at the moment and as I think it basically (miraculously) sums up quite a bit of wisdom in one little email. Therese wrote:
Some quick thoughts. For prayer time, check out Leila Lawler's book, The Little Oratory, A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home. [I was super surprised and of course, gratified that she said this. Seems self-serving of me to post it here, but honestly, as the publisher remarked upon returning from a conference, “how could it be that there wasn't already a book like this?” It's the book I wish I had had, 35 years ago! It's the book that represents a corporate work — of David, Deirdre, me, and all of you!]
Second: Don't get too busy outside the home. Keep your mornings without interruptions and afternoons open for fun, family, friend time.
Third: No two children are the same. They learn eventually to read. I had one reading at 5 another reading at 9.
Leave some experiences for the kids to discover. They need not play every instrument or every sport activity or visit every museum.
Fourth: Sit down, take a deep breath and ask Mother Mary to take over for five minutes and just enjoy seeing what she does with them. You need to do this at least twice a day if not more. It is a great way to realizing that you are not doing this alone. :o)
Fifth: All teachers in the classroom have bad days. You will too, but none of them spend as much time individually a day with any one child as you will.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you, Therese!
Beth F says
Thank you for the beautiful picture, I was married at that church and two of my five children were baptized there.
Jamie says
Being the daughter of a midwest farmer, I’m familiar with the sight of corn! Hope you enjoyed the visit and got a chance to get out of the car and maybe even have a bit of some farmer’s sweet corn.
Thank you for the little tidbits of homeschool wisdom, they are always encouraging.
Leila says
Jamie, I did enjoy my visit so much — especially the sight of all that corn! What a fertile land we live in!
And although I didn’t get out of the car until I reached my destination, I did have some yummy sweet corn at my host’s, so that was delicious.
Barbara says
That’s a beautiful church. Prayers to St. Christopher for safe travels.
I second no. 5. Even after 11 years of homeschooling I often panic about whether or not I’m doing it “right.” And then I remember that I know my children better than any teacher ever could. And no. 4 is delightful. What a beautiful image.
Emily says
Succinct and awfully helpful, too. Thanks!
Elizabeth says
So enjoyed and appreciated your words of wisdom last night! Thanks for coming to share with us!
My oldest went from the Bob Books to Tom Sawyer the year he turned eight. Now I struggle to get him to do anything BUT read. My six-year-old is desperate to learn, but can’t seem to retain the connection between the letter shape and the sound. I’m not panicking; I know he’ll get it eventually!
Mrs. B. says
Every now and then I go back to read the post about your friend’s house – it’s inspiring and motivating in a peaceful way, not in an anxiety-generating way…
No two kids are alike… so true, but that’s also what makes schooling them at the same time so difficult, in my experience. I cannot imagine being a successful teacher of a whole classroom – so daunting!
Number 4 is so intriguing!! I love the practical-ness of it, combined with the faith and trust one has to have to desire something like this and make it happen -thank you, Therese!
Hafsa says
The advice is so simple but covers what I have been wondering about homeschool and curriculum. I really like the fourth piece of advice: how is it that I have not stopped and asked Our Lady to take over for me before? Best piece of advice ever and one I’ll be using frequently throughout the day. And it’s also a nice reminder that all kids develop differently. My three year old is picking up on things all the time whereas I’m constantly repeating instructions to my four year old who is easily distracted. Thanks for this post Leila. Also wanted to add that my friends and I have started a Little Oratory book club and your book is fantastic!
A.R. Danziger says
Once while driving through Illinois, I pulled my car over to the side of the road and took a photo of what it looks like inside a corn field. 🙂