We started our first "on the books" year of homeschool in August. The kids were excited to get going as soon as they heard their friends buzzing about starting school. Logan is doing first grade this year, though she is aged to be in kindergarten. I'm thankful to have the opportunity to teach her on her level and allow her to go at this pace.
We had to join in on the picture taking fun:
We thought it would be fun to include what the kiddos want to be when they grow up yearly and see how it changes. This year, Logan wants to be a ballerina and Brody wants to be a Ninja Turtle.
Brody is doing K-3 this year. We are working on letter sounds now that he's got most of the letter recognition done. We are leaning heavily on the explode the code books (before explode the code is the series). We love it! He asks if he can do school almost every morning. It's fantastic.
This year we did another hodge podge of curriculum for Logan.
Reading: All About Reading Level 2
Math: Math U See Alpha
Science: Exploring Creation (still working through space)
Spelling: All About Spelling Level 2
Handwriting: A Reason For Handwriting
We've also started character education this year and are using the Konos curriculum to implement.
I get a lot of inquiries about what the boys do when Logan is doing school. We've gotten into a really nice rhythm and they play really well together (or independently next to each other). For the most part, they don't need distractions provided by mom, they entertain each other. We really only are doing school an hour and a half, sometimes two hours if we can just sit and get it all done. By the time 11am hits, we're usually calling it a day. So it's not too long for them to have to be independent.
Brody and I work on his school books typically in the beginning of the day while Logan is journaling or doing handwriting and then he heads off to do his own thing.
Lincoln likes to hang out under the table while we all work.
It's really fun to have everyone home and be able to hang out in our PJ's some days or scrap school and just play when we want to!
I can't let this post end giving people the impression that homeschooling is roses. We choose to homeschool because we feel it's where the Lord is leading our family. It is hard. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. This coming from someone who studied to be a teacher for four years, worked inner city schools and then taught in a new school that was working through many kinks during my first two years as a teacher. This is harder. I love my kids, I love the benefits of homeschooling and I love that we all get to learn together. But homeschooling is a sanctifying experience. The days are long sometimes. There's no break. You are mommy and teacher and it's hard for little ones to differentiate. It's 100% worth it, but I never want to paint the picture that we do this because it's easier. God has shown me so much about Himself through this whole process and I'm so thankful that He's teaching me while I teach them.
