Which curriculum?

I've been using 2 curriculums with my children this school year and it's been wearing me out.  I like stuff from one, and stuff from another.  They have different strengths and weaknesses so combined I thought it was great!  But a lot.  Then last week, we were talking about something we'd studied in history last semester and they kids didn't even remember it.  That's when I just decided, whatever.  I'm just going to pick one and use that.  They will pick things up as they get older, because they are going to forget everything anyway.  I guess that's why every school year there is more repetition, just building on what you learned the year before. 

I've been using Sonlight, sort of.  I had a hodge podge of different things I was doing, pulling stuff together, but consistently using their readers.  But not their language arts because I'd heard it was weak.  But then a friend says, "But isn't that why Sonlight's supposed to be good, is because they combine their language arts as a follow up to the readers the kids are reading?" 

So, while I've been using another grammar program, I decided to order the Language arts from Sonlight for both kids.  It arrived yesterday.  I had to have them start not quite half way into it, but where I felt they were.  Today was the first day, and it was great.  I've been doing soooo much, it was nice to say, this is your assignment.  When it was done, it was done.  I tend to think of more things for them to do. 

Rebecca was done quickly, and independently, which left me a long time to work with Jonathan.  He is really progressing in his reading and phonics, but writing has been hard.  I know that's pretty normal for boys.  The Language Arts is going to be more writing then I've been doing (which is not much at all) and it does go along with their readers, so it makes sense to them. 

So I'm going to embrace the whole Sonlight program for the last half of this year and see how it goes.  Right now, I'm thinking a load is going to be lifted off my back in stressing about what we're going to do and getting it all in.  This is freeing up time to play and be creative in a lot of other things.  AND I actually had time to be with Savannah, who is really starting to read! 

One thing I've noticed about me is that I need a balance of curriculum verses unschooling.  I think both definitely have their place.  I'd been getting frustrated because with all our "curriculum" we never had time to do anything else!  Today we were done fairly early and Jonathan asked if he could do something.  I said, "Well, we're done with school, so do whatever you want!"  To this he shockingly replied, "We're done with school?"  :)

I've heard people say, I really like the idea of Sonlight, but then it's hard for them to get it going.  I can say it's definitely been a work in progress as I've discovered more my teaching style and where my kids are at and what they like, and EMBRACED the program, doing what the Instructor's Guide tells me to, not my own agenda (which stressed everyone out).  I was not even utilizing half of the things they were saying to do with geography, time lines, vocabulary, etc.

I love that I can look at it as a guide though and taylor things to our needs.  For example, it is a very Christian approach, which I appreciate, and at the same time try not to make it too over the top.  By that I mean, we go to church every Sunday, Wednesday activities, have devotions every morning and family home evening once a week, not to mention reading our scriptures everyday.  Adding some of the books about geography and all the missions is great for some, but almost overkill for us, since we talk about stuff all the time.   But, I enjoy focusing on a country and learning about it, sometimes adding the mission part, sometimes leaving it out.  Depends on the mood of the day. 

But as a whole, I'm rejuvinated.  AND, I've been fitting in my hour long workouts on the elliptical with my hour long book read for the last 3 weeks!  Nice...for the whole family. 

 We recently wrapped our first year of homeschooling, so here's to a great 2nd! 

Here's to simplicity and less stress!