Last week the three older children began attending classes. They will be attending a homeschool tutorial two days a week, the other three days they will do their assignments at home.
The curriculum is based on the classical model, relying heavily on great literature and Socratic discussion in class. All age levels will be studying the middle ages this year. It encompasses history, geography, literature, writing, science, Latin and scola (choir). They begin the day with Mass.
The program is a good fit for my children and the tutors are excellent, devout Catholics with a passion for the subject they are teaching. Because it is facilitated by a large homeschooling family, they have made it as family friendly as possible. Parents are encouraged to drop in often. There is a toddler/nursing room available. Every accommodation they can reasonably make for an individual student's needs is made.
Monica enjoyed every minute of it. Her class is quite girl heavy. When I was in her class observing on the first day, the tutor instructed the students to take out their colored pencils or crayons to do map work. There was a collective gasp of delight among all the girls at the chance to use their new coloring things.
Kevin and Alex are enjoying the subject matter and already have friends but they still think that wearing a button up shirt and dress pants is going to do them in. I have given them my personal guarantee that it won't kill them. (I'm not sure what the big deal is, they have always dressed up for Mass on Sundays.)
The hardest part for me is getting us all up, the animal chores done, and lunches made early enough to get out the door on time.
We'll all get the hang of it. What an exciting opportunity for the children! How grateful we are that they can have this type of education.