I have decided I need to set some real goals... not ones like 'make it through the entire book' type goals, but real learning objective goals.

By the end of next year, I plan to have helped my children:
*to be more confident in their writing - so we will be practicing effective writing skills throughout the year to include writing emails and discovery papers to their Dad and Grandma (my Mom)

*to pick out authors and genres of literature that they enjoy reading - so I am making up a reading list for each of them to pick from throughout the year, and we will be making regular trips to the library for book selection as well as research.

*to be more critical and active in their reading - so I picked up a couple of resources for Austin and Nate to help guide them in just that.

*to use technology for communication, presentations, research, enjoyment, etc. The iMac will be PERFECT to do this - and they will be giving presentations online to my mom via the iChat (with webcam and microphone!) about what they are learning and excited about. Austin will be learning to compose music using GarageBand - and sharing via podcasts. Nathan will be learning iPhoto and sharing his photo art via the internet.

*to attack and solve new types of math problems and be confident that they CAN do it, and it can actually be fun! - so I am getting some more math games and real life stories to use often

*to figure out scientific concepts and build confidence in them that they can understand scientific concepts through experimentation - so they will be keeping notebooks that will detail the science discoveries they make throughout the year as we do experiments in physical science (and probably life science for Adam and Lauren)

*to become active parts of their community, both Army and the larger community - so we will be volunteering at our church's food distribution and outreach, and we will continue volunteering our time and efforts to our Army FRG.

This is helping me pick out what I want to use as 'curriculum' next year. It helps to see what is important for us as a family. This next year is mostly going to be about reconnecting and making our ties even stronger. DH will be home for R&R in October, and then back from Iraq in March. Family is our main focus. Everything else will be done as a side of strengthening our familial bond.

That's an awesome plan! I like those goals.

Those are amazing goals! DH and I have been talking about cutting back on (mostly my) neurotic must learn list to get down to the basics too: strong math, effective communication and life-skills. I love that you are focusing on family and community.

Those are amazing goals! DH and I have been talking about cutting back on (mostly my) neurotic must learn list to get down to the basics too: strong math, effective communication and life-skills. I love that you are focusing on family and community.

Thanks. ;)

family and Community are the things that really matter in life. Those connections will serve them much better than me stressing over whether or not they can diagram a sentence correctly.

family and Community are the things that really matter in life. Those connections will serve them much better than me stressing over whether or not they can diagram a sentence correctly.

:agreed: And thank you for reminding me. Sometimes I forget what I believe and go crazy thinking about the things they "need" to be learning.

:agreed: And thank you for reminding me. Sometimes I forget what I believe and go crazy thinking about the things they "need" to be learning.

I think we all do. :) This little break from homeschooling (ok, still one at home, but it's a lot more calm than all 4!) is really showing me that again. I needed the break.

Very, very nice. Really a good combination of pulling into the center of importance while still having interesting, creative expressions of that center. Brava!