The Accidental Pastor's Wife

I have moments of homeschool schizophrenia too. I think its important not to put too much energy into conforming to a label. It can make you crazy. You have to ask yourself "how do I love to homeschool?" and "what realistically works, based on the dynamics of my family?" And then, based on your answers, pick and choose the best parts of those methods. I find that the more I read about any one philosophy, the more I get overwhelmed and dislike it. There is an "all or nothing" mentality to many of the methods that just doesn't work for me. And I think the homeschooling mom re-invents herself often. We learn and grow, and are constantly refining our ways (or rather, God is refining US!), not to mention that our children are constantly growing and changing. So don't be hard on yourself if you find that you are always on the search for a better way...its normal! God bless!

Hello fellow pastor's wife! I can't believe I found this site. I typed in Pastor's wife blogs in my yahoo search engine and there you were! Hmph! We have a lot in common. I'm a youth pastor's wife. . .not sure how that happened. I was also homeschooled - and hated it! I, too, want to write a book. Ummmm. . .. and my ears are too small for my iPod. Ha! Visit me sometime.

Thanks Shawna! What have you found that you like??

Welcome Samantha! Thanks for posting a comment. I look forward to "getting to know you" online! I'd love to know why you hated your homeschooling experience...I'm really a reluctant homeschooler and want to find a way for this to work so that none of us have any regrets, you know??

Now that I'm working again, I have zero time to check up on all my blogging buddies like I'd like to. You should check out Mrs. Darling's blog (Dishpan Dribble). She is a homeschooling guru, and uses a wide variety of material (which she keeps a list of in her sidebar). Don't know what the rules are for sending you there without permission, but oh well :)

OK Julie (is it Julie??), because you asked, here's what methods I love. You can read it here: www.shawnatwoplustwo.blogspot.com.

Have a great day!

Julie, I use My Father's World, and I absolutely, totally love it. It's the best of a unit study, without the wig-making debacles. Their activities are meaningful but not time consuming.

IMO, it's the absolute best curriculum out there. :) And you don't know research until you've seen me obsess about an issue.

Anyway, feel free to e-mail me if you've got any questions, or anytime!!

myhandsfull at earthlink dot net

I am a very un-creative homeschool mom. I can not plan lessons. So...I use ACE- Accelerated Christian Education (School of Tomoroow). They're workbooks. Your children start on the first page of each subject and move on through the years until graduation. Of course, if you have a Kinder, you sit down with them to do the lessons, but again, there is no planning you start on the first page, the book tells you what you need, and word-for-word what to do. For First grade, there is an 11-week reading program, and they do some math. When they are done, they "graduate" into first grade and start their workbooks. If your child is older, you can do some simple testing that will tell them the level they need to start. They have their own diagnostic testing programs. Your job is to supervise their work. Look at it, you might like it.