learning

We're still working on settling into a nice fall "school" routine.  

I can't say that everyone made it to 6:45am family scripture study every day this week.  Nor that we all practiced our instruments during our assigned half-hour time slot every morning.  Nor that I woke up early to exercise, as planned, before awaking the masses every day.  

But there was learning.

And that's my metric.

We're finishing up/reviewing last year's study of Ancient History and Old Testament as a family.  We're doing daily reading, writing, and arithmetic lessons.  We're making things...with paint, yarn, and fabric.  We're doing projects (yes, still in that basement, trying to make it functional and beautiful!).  We're working together.  And we're reading.  Lots.

Both big boys kicked off the school year last month with an online Study Skills Seminar through Williamsburg Academy (an online private high school which Taylor is attending this fall).  They studied speed-reading, book/essay annotation, note-taking, etc.  I loved that they read and discussed these two essays.  Just the titles inspire me to want to read and study more.  Especially Invitation to the Pain of Learning.  I'm so glad my boys know that scholarly learning should be painful and that it takes work.  Thinking hard can hurt!   

One son is studying Civil War History.  He and I are reading Uncle Tom's Cabin.  Such a powerful book.  It's my second time through it, and I've shed even more tears this time.  Oh how I love that kind, generous, strong Uncle Tom.  And dear little angelic Evangeline.  And that brave mother, Eliza, with her smart and noble George.  I love what they teach me about gratitude and goodness; about faith and freedom.  How they lift my thoughts to a higher plane.  How they strengthen my convictions.  Fictional as they are, they are my heroes...as are all the real men and women who suffered gravely at the hands of unmerciful masters, under unmerciful laws, through the woes of slavery or other earthly oppression, while trusting in God for a greater life hereafter.

Another son is studying The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and creating power point slides with his "epiphanies."  He gave the whole family a presentation for our Family Home Evening this week, and I was bubbling over as he described paradigm shifts, and used our family relationships as examples.  He is also reading a book called Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln for a Public Speaking class.  And he just finished As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, and has started The Count of Monte Cristo again.  

The youngest boy is exploring his way through his brothers' fantasy collection, one first chapter at a time.  Maybe he'll dive in and finish one of them soon!!  But probably not until the weather turns too cold to stay outside with the animals all day...

The little girls are sounding out words like champs, and the oldest daughter is reading through the Narnia Series on her own, and has a running list of all of the books she wants to read this school year.  

Learning is happening.  And after years of worry and wondering, I'm learning to see it.  It doesn't always manifest itself in test scores or homework assignments.  Or even in completed written work.  But it shows.  I see it in art projects and drawings.  I hear it in conversations and vocabulary.  It shows in character and attitudes and behavior.  I find it in the back seat of the car, as a son and a friend trade opinions on why the founding fathers didn't put an end to slavery if they were such great leaders.  I find it in the basement, as the laptop shows three boys conferencing on Skype, practicing debates on a variety of subjects from guns to ipods.  Or when I hear a son delivering a speech to his online classmates and mentor, who listen and give feedback from Alaska and California and Maine.  I see it in wee hours of the morning, when the oldest has awoken (on his own), showered (without being begged asked), and is reading the scriptures, all ready for early morning Seminary at a local charter school.  And when I see him studying long hours each day, trying to finish assignments and preparing for classes.  

Learning.  It's part of our family culture.  It's something we love.  And live.  I'm seeing it take form in our children.  And I hope its great fire blazes inside of each of their souls, so as to be forever unquenchable.