One last Q and A and an apology!

Looking through my posts, I realized that this was still in draft form and never published...remember waaaaay back when, when I asked for questions to answer? Wasn't that in, like, February or something? LOL OK, here it is, and so sorry Willa! I thought I had answered everything.

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Last, but certainly not least - Willa's question:

...I'd also like to know how you keep your homeschooling record-keeping organized (if you've already written about it just a link will do : )) and what direction you see your homeschool going in -- I mean obviously it's tough to predict but what your "vision" is so to speak.

Ugh. Homeschooling record keeping! In my alternate reality universe (you know, the one where I do all the things I *should* be doing), things are all written down in a log book *after* we do it. In reality, *some* things are written down and others are long forgotten. For the most part I had given up on writing any sort of "before" plan, other than a mental checklist. This is during our more "relaxed" or unschoolish times. This year we are attempting to do Sonlight's Core 4 for the older two, with SL language arts - all of which come with lesson plans written out (as you know) so hopefully I will just "check off" when we are done with anything. Other subjects like math or science (this year, since we are using Apologia Astronomy) we pretty much just "do the next page" each day or so, and therefore at the end of the year I can just say "We finished Teaching Textbooks 6" or something like that. We do have to show regular and thorough instruction in about 7 different subjects, but showing a text book and a few loose papers can suffice for that if necessary. Someday I hope to be off "crisis mode" (please, God? I see the light at the end of the tunnel...) and I endeavor to be more organized and purposeful about it all.

Loose papers have been the bane of my existence and still are - I have yet to attack and organize last year's. I really don't want shelves full of notebooks around, because we don't have the space. Maybe we could *make* the space but the way things are now I don't want to (aren't I the spoiled brat? LOL). I'm still sitting in my alternate universe hoping for a bigger house. ;-P

Hmmmm...as to a "vision" for my homeschool... Right now I have two students at a very similar level (about 4th grade) in all things but math, and a rising K'er who is smart as a whip - we joke that she will catch up to the other two soon. :) I *hope* to continue with literature based learning in as many areas as possible, for as long as possible. I would like my older children to have time to explore many different career areas during their high school years - even if it's just observing from a corner for a week or two. (This is of course if they don't go to a brick and mortar school...which would not be MY dream but may be the reality). We have a pretty good community college nearby, so dual enrollment is something I will encourage during those last high school years...basically I guess I want to enfuse them with stories of the past and lessons learned from them, while at the same time gradually kicking them out of the nest encouraging them to spread their wings, and prepare them for adulthood over the next 10 years. I do see myself basically doing this twice, once for the older two (10 and 8) and again for the younger group (5,3, 9 months) - although I can see our 5 year old being way out ahead of her younger two siblings in all areas.

Wow, this is really rambly and unconnected, isn't it. I don't feel like I'm explaining my vision well either. I suffer from the righ brainers malady of having great visions in my head, but no words to explain/poor ability to bring it from mind out my hands into reality! Let me know if you have any other questions!