Homeschool Thoughts

I haven't seemed to do many homeschool posts lately...thankfully, this past week has been the best yet and we seem to be getting into a normal routine. The schedule has worked quite well and although there are subjects when I feel pressed for time, mostly we have a bit of a buffer to work with.
Another thing that has worked great is manipulating my curriculum. I can't think of any curriculum, perhaps except handwriting, that I follow the way I am "supposed to." To me, curriculum is a bad master, but a good servant. I know my kids and I know the time I have available so I alter things as best fits our needs. I think if you try to follow every jot and tittle in all subjects, you will feel overwhelmed. In some instances, I have probably lost out on a wonderful aspect of a curriculum because I do this, but overall, it's worked well.
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed trying to fit in everything your school books say you should, I encourage you to step back and think of what is really needed. Yes, you may well have smarter kids if you do it all, but I think it is better to have a lower-key attitude and keep the primary goals in view. Each year I've homeschooled, I've seen that the more pleasant and less frazzled mom is, the better school goes..

I love these beautiful wood things (their name escapes me at the moment).
Anyways, Josh has had fun creating with them during our read-a-loud time.