Education must have its roots in moral principles....

"Let us never lose sight of the fact that education is a preparation for life -- and that preparing for life is far more than knowing how to make a living or how to land on the moon. Preparing for life means building personal integrity, developing a sound sense of values, increasing the capacity and willingness to serve. Education must have its roots in moral principles. If we lose sight of that fact in our attempt to match our educational system against that of the materialists *, we shall have lost far more than we could possibly gain."
--Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 297


*Materialist=One who denies the existence of spiritual substances, and maintains that the soul of man is the result of a particular organization of matter in the body. Webster's 1828 Dictionary

It is a little daunting to be in complete charge of my children's education.  I think about education constantly: curriculum, methods, theories, etc.  It's what I read about, what I research, and what I spend my time doing every day.  I enjoy it thoroughly. 

However, I feel that I am missing something.  I want the spiritual and moral to be at the root of our education (OUR because I'm being educated right along with the kids) than the academic pursuit... which is easy to get caught up in.  How do I get there?  I think I need to rethink my goals for my kids and their education. 

I want more joy and delight in learning. 

I need to be a better person than I am; I need to work on my own testimony and character.

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We are at the end of Week 3 and it is going really well.  I feel that I have chosen some really great curriculum this year.  Our days are getting shorter as we are getting into the routine and habit of our lessons... which leaves more room for playing... or whatever we want to do.

Phonics Road is solid, as is Writing With Ease.  They don't take very long at all and they are teaching great skills.  Why do I want to ditch them both and follow a Charlotte Mason approach? 

At this age... a CM approach would include ONLY narration and copywork (when it comes to the language arts), and a gazillion good books.  Dictation and light grammar instruction wouldn't come until 4th grade or so, according to CM, WHICH, I believe, is a successful route as well.

PR and WWE are easy now with only two kids to work with.  How will it be when I have a 6th, 4th, 2nd, Ker, and preschooler (and possibly toddler, infant, and who knows how many more...)?  Will I regret my obsessing and fretting over academics while my children are young and wish I had been more relaxed about it and ENJOYED the journey more?

WHY let go of something solid that is working?  Is this just me changing my mind again or a prompting from the Spirit?

More to ponder, research, read about, think about, and pray about.  It truly never ends.