It started here…
It was an article entitled “Studying Geography via the Great Commission” by Amanda Bennett (you know, the unit study lady) in the 2011, Issue 2 edition of Home Educating Family.
For some reason, that article jumped out at me, and I ripped it out of the magazine before getting rid of it in a hotel room in Washington, D.C. (we knew we were going to be overweight with our checked bag, so everything I could think of was hitting the trash!)
I read it through once, passed it onto my husband, and continued to hang on to it to reference later.
A few weeks went by, and while looking through old bookmarks on my computer, I ran across this…
Ann Dunagan was offering her mission-minded curriculum absolutely FREE online. Something about it kept drawing me to it. I saved it in Pocket and found myself pulling it up on my iPad every so often…just to see what was included in it.
Then there were the YWAM biographies my children so adore, and my daughter’s love of languages and other countries that seemed to be begging me to take them into account. And I couldn’t get rid of the voice of a friend from years back asking me what I thought of an entire homeschool year centered around missionary books…
Lord, what are you trying to tell me?
So, while this is not at all what I had in mind for the upcoming school year, I am praying and listening. At this point, I’m still planning to finish Tapestry of Grace Year 2 before diving into something new, but honestly, if God says NOW is the time to switch, that’s what I will do. I thoroughly enjoy TOG, but there might be a need to take a year and focus on missions. God may not tell me WHY that need is there right now, but I cannot ignore all the signs that are pointing to this change of focus for our homeschool.
It’s scary for control-freak homeschool moms to allow God to change plans. We like things to be smooth and calm; no waves, no craziness. It’s already crazy here, Lord! Please don’t add to it! But, we have to let go of that need for control. We have to jump out of the box and trust.
So, that’s what I’m doing…
How about you? Is God changing your plans for the upcoming year? I’d love to hear what He’s doing in your homeschool!
(affiliate links included in post)
Laurel @Let's Go on a Picnic! says
I’m actually thinking of incorporating some Montessori methods into our homeschool next year. It’s all about customizing the curriculum for our children’s needs.
Mrs. White says
This is an amazing idea! Thank you for sharing this. I looked it up and it is looks great. I printed out one of the chapters and will be working on it this week. Thank you so much!!
blessings
Mrs. White
The Legacy of Home
Amy says
It’s difficult for me to wrap my brain around, but I am very excited about it! Enjoy!
Mrs. Mom of 6 says
Amy,
We too had the Lord change our standard homeschool script this year! Instead of going through TOG Year 1 in our standard way (this will be our second run through), the Lord had me put the brakes on, and split the year into two years. So next year we will tackle units 1 and 2, and then the following year units 3 and 4. This will allow my youngest children to linger in the teachings of the Old Testament, and allow my oldest Dialectic student (whose actually only 10), to mature into the dialectic stage at a slightly slower pace, since he will be taking a huge load of classes, being in 7th grade, and all the classes are at a higher level of understanding and workload… I am a little nervous, because it is my natural bent to rush the kids through everything…
I hope that this goes smoothly!
God bless!
Amy says
I have that natural bent too, but I’m pretty sure its because I have so many things I want to do with them that I know if I don’t rush, we’ll never get it all in! (ahem, Amy…you’re not going to get it all in anyway…slow down) 😉
Jillian says
Wow!! thanks for sharing this. I had never heard of any of them before. Except TOG which I really like also. This year we’re doing the paces for english and literature. I love how they need to memorize a Scripture verse for each pace. I find that there really isn’t any busy work. I was really looking forward to ordering them again for this school year, but my husband found out that Ron Paul just came out with his own curriculum and wants us to switch to that. Ive looked it over and it seems pretty good, I love the emphasis on liberty and that students work at their own pace, but I,m worried about having to learn the ins and outs about it. I was getting so use to the paces. :/
Amy says
Hmmm…now that’s news to me! Very neat!
Chey says
God and a judge will be deciding my homeschooling plans for the upcoming year TOMMOROW.
After nine months of agonizing limbo and a very painful amount of money spent on an attorney it will all come down to an hour in the judges chambers to decide the direction two of my childrens lives will take.
(sigh)
Parent against parent cases usually favor public school, so if we manage to win it would be an amazing testomony and praise report.
Please pray for us.
Tracy @ hall of fame moms says
Praying for you, Chey!
Jillian says
I’m so sorry. Praying for you now.
Lisa @CreativLEI says
I’m so sorry that these are the crossroad you stand before. Praying that His sovereign will be done.
Laurie says
Just prayed for you, Chey, that the judge will rule in your favor and that your homeschooling rights will be protected.
Amy says
Definitely praying, Chey!
Melissa N says
Chey will keep you in prayers!
Chey says
Thank you for your prayers everyone! We will know the outcome of the case in approximately a week!
Amy says
Please keep us posted!
Ellie says
Great post on being led by The Lord in homeschooling, thanks! You might want to check out My Father’s World Exploring Countries and Cultures as it really focuses on missionaries while learning about geography. Not that you need a whole new curriculum but it might give you some ideas to glean from- especially the book list 🙂
Amy says
I’m very familiar with MFW actually! Thank you for the recommendation!
Melissa Webb says
Changes? Yep! I’m stepping out of my comfort zone to do Five in a Row with my 9 year old. We’ll add work as he’s older than “recommended” but he needs that special time with me. This will be our avenue. I’m also trying out some new methods for my older two. I’ve always kind of skipped over the projects that go with the lessons and am committed to TRY and make time for them. My daughter in particular needs more anchors in learning. Things just don’t seem to stick. I’m excited, but apprehensive knowing my tendencies. On a side note, we discovered the YWAM books this year. I bought the special 10 for $50 at my local convention last month. Reading about Abe Lincoln together to get us started! Loving it!
Nicole says
Five in a Row is an excellent program! We have (and again are) loved it!
Amy says
Sounds like a wonderful change for your family! I’ll be praying for stick-to-it-iveness. 🙂
Tracy @ hall of fame moms says
Yes, things are changing here. After years of hearing about Classical Conversations from my friends who direct and tutor in it my heart has changed about whether or not to get involved. I would have to tutor to be able to justify paying for it, but I feel like where we are now in our homeschooling, CC would be a great fit and a logical next step for my boys (7 & almost 9). Lots of new stuff coming up for me 8~ { But I’m looking forward to it too.
Amy says
Yes, these sorts of things are exciting and scary at the same time!
Hannah Corner says
Thank you so much for sharing this! My family will be joining yours in this study this coming school year…actually, we might start this summer. 🙂 Our family is making preparations to go out on the foreign mission field in the coming years, and we have a heart for missions here in the U.S. as well! This curriculum will be perfect to aid in teaching our children the importance of spreading the gospel to every creature!
Thanks again!
Hannah
Amy says
Wonderful!
Josi says
By God’s graciousness He’s changing some things to reflect how they should have been all along. My kids are growing fast and I can’t go back but the Lord is allowing us a chance to implement some aspects to our homeschooling and life that have been missing.
Many of the homeschool kids in our area attend Running Start in high school. It’s a dual credit program through the state where the kids earn high school credit and attend community college to earn college credits. We have opted to try College Plus next year instead, which will allow more time for our son to be at home and in the mix with his sisters. My husband and I have God’s peace about this decision, and I’m thankful for the extra time I’ll have him around and for the Christ-centered focus of the plan.
BTW, when it comes to the YWAM books I am super spoiled because their warehouse/bookstore is just a few blocks up the street from me. The family that runs YWAM Publishing are dear friends of ours. They truly love Jesus and missions!
Lisa @CreativLEI says
Well, interestingly enough… He is changing our direction this year! I really felt Him prompting my heart the weekend of 2:1 that I needed to get out of the ‘box’ and start really doing what I told Him I would when we brought the children home for school. We’re stepping away from chronological history for a season and where I *think* we’re heading is geography and social studies using the locations of our churches missionary families. I’m nervous and excited at the same time. Where He leads is sure to be an adventure, I just hope it doesn’t become a terrifying journey. 😉
Amy says
Honestly, it is the chronology thing that has me the most scared/intimidated/lost. I have always kept studies historically based and IN ORDER. This is a HUGE step outside my comfort zone. I would love to keep in contact with you about how this goes for you!
Lisa @CreativLEI says
I’ll keep you posted. This is definitely an unexpected twist for me because one of the draws to teaching my own children was to present history in chronological order, which was not the way it was taught to me. But honestly, I’m a little tired of ancients and I want to teach them from a perspective that they can relate to and the best way I know to do that is to use the places we live near (VA, DC, PA), places we visit, or the missionaries they are familiar with. Of course, this is very new thinking for me and in the very raw stages. We shall see! 🙂
Thaisha says
I so could have written this post! Minus the fact that GOD is leading us into something different than missions info…. even down to the crossed out control freak mom comment 🙂 I often ask “Why?” to GOD. He never lets my life get close to boring.
Laura says
I was actually blogging about this very thing when I took a FB break and saw your post. I will be posting what God is doing for us this week. 🙂
Amy says
Ooo Fun! Can’t wait to see!
Tracy Young says
Many changes in our homes-school. We will be going to a sabbath homeschool schedule. Cant wait to try that out. We changed some curriculum around and will be having the younest join us this coming year. We will also graduate the oldest in the next year. So great so see where God leads us.
Bonny says
I love that you have a moldable heart for what God wants to do with your homeschool! These books intrigue me; we are already planning on doing a “continents study” for next year, incorporating animals of the world and highlighting selected countries. I wonder if I should look into some missions/religion facts to go with it.. my children are young (will be K and 2nd) but not too young to learn about the world’s need for Him. 🙂 I’ll be praying for you as you make your decisions. Also, excited about the Nashville TTD… I’m attending, too. 🙂
Amy says
Yay! Please come find me. 🙂
Christina says
Your blog has been such a blessing to me! I have been struggling with curriculum decisions for next year and then an update from you came through my feed about this missions minded curriculum and I felt such a sense of peace wash over me! It has been placed so heavily on my heart to make our Lord the center of our studies. I had some plans, but they weren’t setting quite right. Thank you so much for your post! XOXOXOXO
Amy says
You are so welcome!
hsmominmo says
Sometimes a homeschool mom’s gotta do what a homeschool mom’s gotta do.
Good for you! listening to that wee small voice and being willing to take that out-of-the-box faith step. Sounds like some wonderful and exciting things coming up for your family.
We are wrapping up our school year this week and will do summer school after a short break. I haven’t really done this with my younger set. What does a mom do when she doesn’t get that clear and distinct vision about where we go from here? Search, pray, wait. That’s what I’ll be doing as we work on establishing better habits and routine around here.
Thanks for sharing, Amy. Always an encouragement!
Marie says
My experience is much the same as yours. We had a missions month at church, attended a few functions where missionaries were present and I came across the same Ann Dunagan’s unit study as you did. It’s amazing when God leads your home school plans. It was not what I planned for the year either, but I put those plans aside for now. It’s easy to follow as each day is basically set out for you. It’s great for building our children’s personal relationship with Jesus. Really enjoying the study so far.
Amy says
Great to know!
Brooke says
Well, I wasn’t until you posted this! LOL!
Actually, I read a blog post a couple of months ago on how a family implemented The Robinson Curriculum into their day and I have really just been praying and feel really good about this decision. We are going to be trying it out along with schooling year round this year with long breaks here and there. Thanks for the post!
annette @ A Net In Time says
That was a good post to read. I’d heard of this curriculum before and had planned to use it, but then forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Liz says
This is so me right now. I feel God calling me to do something different, something more about Him and less about the other stuff. It’s scary to to make changes, especially when stuff is working. It’s also scary not knowing what it should look like.
Natalie says
As a future homeschooling missionary mama, this is really exciting to hear! Maybe God wants to start planting seeds to a future calling in one of your older children!
Rebecca says
We also had a big change this year. I started our homeschool with Abeka and myself and the children cried our way through it. Then I felt the Lord leading me to do CLE Learning to Read, L.A and Reading which was wonderful, my girls loved it and so did I. Last year I assumed that I was supposed to do everything CLE and went with L.A, Reading, Bible and Math and I did Abeka Health, Safety and Manners and Discovering Gods World. (I am a workbook lady). However this year left us all feeling unsatisfied and I was wondering what was going on. I looked up almost every curriculum I could think of but the Lord was showing me I need to spend more time with the children, reading with them and discussing things etc… I went to our conference with no idea what I was doing and then our speaker changed our whole perspective (Well God had already started that but our speaker finished it lol) and I realized curriculum was ruling us, scores, grades, what they do and do not know; when the most important thing is them growing up with a Biblical worldview.
My husband and I had a new excitement by the time we go to the vendor hall and we picked all the curriculum (except Math) and it was only when we got home I realized everything had a Charlotte Mason approach, nothing had a specific grade level it’s all based on their abilities and spending time doing what they love… Reading with them. I am so excited about this new school year Gods willing I see us on the couch doing some real learning and having some serious discussion. Yes they have workbooks but I believe this year they will actually enjoy doing them. I even picked up a reader for them and one of my daughters has picked it up and started learning all about ants and she cannot wait to have reading time every day so she can pick up the book again, let me just say this has NEVER happened before! lol I imagine that there may be some ups and downs as we discover this whole new concept but when my girls saw what they would be doing they jumped for joy. My hubby is happy, I’m happy and I know with the changes we will have to make for this new year the Lord will be happy.
Sorry about the very long post but it’s the excitement of just KNOWING you have finally gotten it right because thats where God wants you. He may change our plans again but for now this is our journey and I hope you enjoy yours too! My two older girls want to be missionaries so who knows we may eventually follow your footsteps 🙂
Heidi says
I’m thinking of using “Teaching with God’s Heart for the World” this year. Have you begun using it with your children and is it working well?
Amy says
Hello Heidi! After working through some of it this summer, I decided we would still focus on missions, but we would use missions books (many suggested in that particular curriculum) and not do the actual curriculum.
Reggie says
It is scary, isn’t it? But ooohhhh, so worth it!