Planning for next year

That silence was the sound of C.Z. and me finishing up the year and planning the next one.  But I thought I should post today because there will be another silence soon while we have visitors and then go visit family.  Despite the constant rain and cool temperatures, summer is almost here.

Here's what next year looks like so far.  It's C.Z.'s first year of high school:

Once a week outside classes:

Literature and writing class at a local tutoring place

Biology class at the same

Geometry using Jacobs, with a weekly enrichment session at our co-op

Saturday all-day music program with violin lesson, orchestra, chamber, theory and ear-training

Possible tutors:

Italian (with the rest of the family, because Bob wants one) or Latin (with one other girl)

Writing (We've been having the co-op math tutor, who is a published playwright, talk with C.Z. once per week about creative writing.)

At home:  

History, which may be a Teaching Company series, or just free reading, if she's motivated. Possibly some grammar brush up. The usual side interests in music, trips to museums, cooking, and other reading.

Other:  

This summer we're going to be doing some volunteering for Audubon that may extend into fall. We have recently attended a knitting circle that contributes to a local homeless shelter. And there may be other volunteer opportunities that may arise later in the year.

We'll probably buy into in our local support group's discount ski package again next winter.  C.Z. wants to ice skate, too.

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Now, you're likely to notice what I noticed when we were making this plan, and you may possibly even have the same reaction:  This isn't homeschooling!  It's private tutoring run amok!  What about unschooling?  What about the simple life?

Honestly, it's not what I would have chosen, either.  But it's what C.Z. chose when I allowed her to decide, with the possible exception of the foreign language. And after hearing her reasons, I saw maturity in them. She's at an age where it's important for her to feel competent. She's never liked textbook learning or formal writing, but she wants to make sure that she can at least do that. The implication is that once she goes through the paces, she can take off on her own.

I suspect that the music program has something to do with it, too. Once you enroll in one outside program, it tends to take priority, because it has its own deadlines. And she loves her orchestra and chamber programs. So she felt she needed something more formal in academics to make sure the other subjects got done.  

One of my friends whose daughter is doing a similar schedule said, "So, how does it feel to be an administrator this year?"  I knew that she was half-joking, and I laughed along with the joke, but the other half of me felt slightly deflated.  I don't think of myself as an administrator.  For one thing, I'm not very good at it!  But also, my reasons for homeschooling have a lot more to do with promoting freedom and intimacy than in making sure things get done.  

By outsourcing, are we losing those good qualities of freedom and intimacy?  I don't think so. For one thing, next year's schedule isn't really so different from this year's.  We're going to do fewer co-op classes, and it wasn't like Latin was going so well under my tutelage anyway.  In fact, it was something of a bone of contention.  

C.Z. is positively excited about the literature class.  I think she sees it as a chance to have something interesting to discuss with other homeschoolers her age.  

And besides, in the indomitable spirit of the long-time homeschooler, I can't help looking up a few interesting supplemental books and ordering them.  I'll be reading along, and discussing, because I just can't resist!  I can spend my time with C.Z. doing the fun stuff.  She can do the administration. I find that very appropriate.  C.Z needs to be responsible for some kind of outside work that she finds important, but both of us still want the intimacy of a strong family life.

Of course, knowing the way homeschooling goes, this may all change by Christmas, but for now, I'm going into the summer feeling hopeful about the coming year.  And one of the things I'm feeling hopeful about is that once she tries this "outside" sort of year, she'll feel more confident about working on her own at home as well.  And even if she continues this way, it will have been her choice.