Playing Catch Up: Year end wrap up Part 1 - curriculum

I promise we school each day, even though I don't blog each day.... I haven't been blogging over here, I think because I feel like I am in a kind of limbo. Sometimes, when I talk things out, I feel better about it, so I am going to try that out here.

We started the year using Konos (which covers our history, science, language arts, bible, etc), Hooked on Phonics, and Saxon Math. Now, the kids LOVE Konos, they just love it and so do I. But I find it to be so time intensive on my part. I really have to sink a whole lot of time into planning for it. Sometimes, I don't have that time, and then I feel overwhelmed. If I cut things, I feel like I am not getting things done.

My friend Brandy and I were talking about it, we were both talking about how obsessive Konos can become. It tugs on all my nerdy heartstrings and I just want to submerge myself in it and not come up. Its impossible for me to "just do the minimum".

So my problem is, it takes us forever to complete a unit. "Birds" was only supposed to last two weeks. It took us about 6 weeks to make it through. Now, I supposed I have to decide if I want to define that as a "problem". The kids know a ton about birds, and maybe its fine to just move at our own pace...

My biggest problem this past year was getting everything done around the house and with homeschooling. I have found it really hard to find a balance. In these younger grades, its not like I can just send them off to do their work, at least not yet. However we did add time for learning an online program This has allowed me to walk away while Emma does Math or phonics. We have run into a bit of a problem, even here. Emma has inherited my brain for Math, which is not good news.

All through school I struggled with Math. In college it all kicked in and I took a good bit of higher math just for fun. But basic math still escapes me. I can do calculus, but I have to count on my fingers to add. Its rather pathetic.

So I am in a bit of a limbo, wondering if what we have been doing is what we should continue doing.