Time To Jump In

I have always used textbooks for my oldest daughter. Bob Jones University Press has been our choice. We use HomeSat. She has always done well with this method. She is an independent learner and very much an over-achiever. Actually, that is the way she was born - by the book, a "textbook" delivery. New she is in high school - 9th grade. That is scary enough for any homeschool mom. Transcripts scare me. I started the year with all her textbooks, just like years past. But something happened this year to make me take another look. I can't put my finger on it, but it was something almost wild. I took a look at the textbooks and thought that I've always wanted to do what some other homeschool moms do and pack up those textbooks and use something different. Something like "living books." Something like other publishers. BJU Press has been wonderful and I wouldn't take anything for the past 10 years using them. She has learned so much - and not just academically but spiritually as well. When you've used one kind of curriculum for 10 years, there is safety and predictability in that. But I think we are ready for something else. And the exhilerating part is I have begun the process. I've packed up the science and ordered Apologia. I packed up the math and ordered Teaching Textbooks. Now I'm on to English and History. That's where I would like the "living books" to come into play. She is an avid reader and a literature/history lover. I'm considering Exploring American History published by Notgrass. I'm excited and scared at the same time. But I think it's definately time to jump in and shake things up a bit. We need more freedom, more enjoyment in our homeschool day. I may regret it and come running back but even if I do, I can honestly say that I gave into the wild side. Time to get out the packing tape!