Living Without School: Homeschooling as Housework

Last night we talked about our unschooling, how we mostly just have an atmosphere of learning yet we still do some formal work in parts, and our bits and pieces of formal work.

Thomas has been reading, in an ad hoc fashion, a Chemistry textbook. I had talked with him earlier, about exposure to these topics and ideas, and to "textbook use".

The book is as dry as stale toast. Truthfully.

We have been doing occasional experiments, to enhance the concepts presented. And last night I ordered a kitchen lab manual, with things that Thomas said sound like fun. From Castle Heights Press.

Anthony has been weaving his way through parts of a Prince Caspian unit study. We talked about some geography study in May, study Anthony's way ( What?!), choosing countries to rabbit trail, using ideas from this blog post ~Around the World with Our Lady.

Alexander is working on his Italian at uni, and then trying to find time to do some maths, some Latin, some Physics. some religion reading. Well. the others try to squash in maths, French, religion, Latin, and writing their novels, too!.

I like how we have our life, how we read and learn and talk all the time and how we supplement this with formal work - and how any formal work gets squeezed into life - not the other way around. Formal work doesn't run our life, it is just a thing to push in here and shove in there - a bit like housework really!

Everything gets done, just at odd moments and odd times. I may mop the floor at 11.00 pm, as I did last night, and the kids may do some Maths and religion reading in the car, on the way to ice skating...

Or not!

Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.

5 comments:

Shangrilewis said...: Somehow I came upon your blog...I was googling Classical Unschooling and hoping, praying that there were other s out there who enjoy Classical lessons, but don't see the need to follow everything so to the key.; 9:51 am
Leonie said...: Hi~ I've had a few posts on classical unschooling. I like some of the ideas of The Latin Centred Curriculum. Wanna join our near circle?; 11:35 pm
Ladybug Mommy Maria said...: This sounds alot like our home!; 2:23 pm
Sara said...: Amen! Oh, to be able to live life as fully as possible! We are all so blessed; good post!; 11:53 am
Leonie said...: I like that - living life as fully as possible....; 8:15 pm

Living Without School

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Homeschooling as Housework

5 comments:

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