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My ds just finished his 3rd week of Preparing. I am amazed at the growth I see in him in so many areas. He is becoming much more independent with things. Coming from public school he was used to having someone dictate his day. He is really coming into his own now with figuring out his own schedule. He now sits down each morning and reads thru the boxes for the day and puts numbers by each box in the order he plans to do them. If an activity involves copy work he then will schedule the boxes that require more oral work and less writing right after that box because he knows his hand muscles wear out quickly due to his Cerebral Palsy. He also is doing some of the boxes that are semi-independent more independently.

His written narration today was a huge improvement from last week. He no longer is just making short sentences and trying to get it done. He did 5 nice sentences today.

The other really wonderful thing I am seeing is his spiritual growth. After he did his quiet time this week he asked me if he could do a quiet time every day as part of the bible box because he thinks it will help him have a good attitude and focus for the rest of the day.

As a first time homeschooling mom with friends that homeschool using more the Well Trained Mind/Classical method I can start to worry that what we are doing isn't rigorous enough. Then God showed me all these wonderful things in my son this week and just reassured me that He led me to HOD and I need to stop worrying.

That is wonderful. I pulled my ds10 out of school after 3rd grade. Homeschooling - and particularly HOD has made a world of difference for him too. So glad you are seeing such improvements with your ds.

Rejoicing for you and your little man!

So happy for you, Lynn!

Oh Lynn, that's pretty exciting! It does my heart such good to hear dc growing not only academically, but also spiritually closer to the Lord. Teaching my dc from a young age to have a daily quiet time with God is one of my main goals as a mother. I always try to put the HOD Bible first in the day as much as possible (especially for the older dc), in the hopes that when they are older, they'll continue this important habit of starting their day with the Lord because it feels natural and because it fills their "cup" each day. Your little guy made that connection on his own already. When you described how your ds approaches the manual and organizes his day, you hit on another important skill I want our sons to have - and that is managing their day well. I think it's important to wake up each day and make a plan for what needs to be done. This gives purpose to the day and encourages being a good steward of time. I'm impressed about the wise way your ds approaches this task - I sense a good provider in the making. I'm celebrating these growths with you today, Lynn. They are big ones!

In Christ,
Julie

How wonderful! Keep your blinders on and move ahead with the way things are blessing you. I know from experience how it feel to think you need to do the full on classical thing and if you do not hit all the notes there is something missing. And I also know the peace you are feeling now. I think we are all just different and our children even perhaps called to different things. It is amazing to me at how much I really accomplish of what I thought I needed to accomplish but could not before just by allowing HOD to bless us, and it is simple. I began to realize how individual is the call of hsing and the blessing of hearing God and where He wants you is huge. I am so happy for you that you are being blessed. It is a wonderful feeling to see your children grow in the ways you long and actually feel blessed by what you are using. Praying you have a wonderful year and that you see your children grow in knowledge and love for Him!

Oh, I'm so happy for you! What a blessing when we see our precious children growing, especially spiritually. I am seeing that in my boys, too. I know what you mean about TWTM way. I've been all into that, too. This is our first year with HOD and I can testify that we are accomplishing way more than we ever have with anything else. HOD is solid. It gets mentioned on TWTM board a bit that as a more CM curriculum, HOD takes some getting used to because it's not as demanding and "academic." I do not understand that at all! My oldest son is producing written narrations with Carrie's lesson plans that he has never produced before. He is just producing more in every area. And, it's more with substance, it's things that really matter and that touch his heart. I love it. My youngest is full speed ahead with HOD and we are not looking back to the "more demanding" classical approach.

Lynn,

I'm so glad to hear your update on your son's progress! It sounds like he is really gaining, especially in the all important area of walking with the Lord. I, too, know the pull of a classical education, as I own and have read the WTM. However, in the overall scheme of honoring our Lord with our lives, "The WTM" (while being hundreds of pages in length) devotes only a scant 3-5 page to "Bible". This already puts me at odds with the overall philosophy.

I truly believe that a child's education can be interwined with God's word, yet fully prepare kiddos for further education, should that be the Lord's will for the child's life. We seek to do both.

Blessings,
Carrie