OVERWHELMED

I am completely overwhelmed to the point of being frozen at my desk.
I am teaching at a co-op which I absolutely adore. I am teaching my 4 children, 2 are sick at the moment. I am trying to write for my self. I have books that need to be read and books that I want to read. I told a friend that I would modify a Medieval History book in a cursive font for her daughter to use, but I haven’t done it yet. By the time I complete it, she’ll be finished with the school year. I am writing a grammar book for my 5th/6th grader to use. I have it 75 % done, but incomplete. I need to do the laundry, and I am just tired.

I know these aren’t big things but I could use a little help.

If anyone wants a free WRITE FROM MEDIEVAL HISTORY level 2 book in exchange for a quick edit, send me an email. (The level 2 book is about 400 pages and is really good, according to my eyes.)

My email is Kimberly @ writefromhistorydotcom

Remove the spaces and use a real period for the dot.

And how did I begin writing a grammar text, seeing as how grammar isn’t exactly my specialty? Honestly, I have an engineering degree not an English degree.

Well, since I assume someone is asking telepathically, I did it because I was searching and searching for grammar materials for my kids. And to be honest, I didn’t like what was out there for 5th and 6th grade.

My daughter is successfully using Analytical Grammar, with very little effort, but my son isn’t ready for it. He’s a young 5th grader and just thinks differently.

I didn’t like the Language Lessons books I found available for that age but I did come across two message boards discussing old grammar books from the public domain. Well I did a search of language lessons prior to 1923 and found Sheldon’s Primary Language Lessons and fell in love with it, but not for my older son, my middle son. So I spent a few months and modified it. I changed very little of the material, keeping most of it the same. Now that I’ve gone through it, I think there are a few things I would change, but overall I love the program.

After that, I continued looking for something for my 5th grader. In doing so, I still couldn’t find what I was looking for. So I started compiling books, cutting, splicing, and writing. It’s coming together, but I’ve hit the wall. So I’m working on that now.

Anyway, now that I’m completely off topic, in the process of studying grammar texts, I’ve learned a ton of grammar–more than I ever wanted to know. I dream about participles.

And what I’ve learned is this:
When you study a subject, it’s surprising how many errors you find in other material and suddenly how opinionated I’ve become about grammar.

Now this isn’t to say that I’m an expert. I’m not and I’ll be the first to admit it. I haven’t covered it all, and I am still learning tons. And it’s okay to make mistakes, even answer keys are occassionally wront. 🙂 I figure it’s good for students when they can spot them and it helps to build self-esteem.

Anyway, grammar’s my new hobby, but I’m aching to start writing–which is why I’m so stressed!   I need to be writing a story that no one will probably ever read. The writing isn’t for other people; it’s for me. But I have to find the time to do it. And with 4 kids and husband and co-op, I don’t see any time other than between 4 am and 7 am in the morning. That’s it and that’s kinda sorta depressing to me.  I’m all ready tired.

I think I’m gonna have to start drinking more than 1/2 cup of coffee per day.