Another positive change

Is the massive increase in reading to my children I am doing this year. Having it laid out- and having the books actually HERE as opposed to searching the house or waiting at the library means this happens daily.

I'm so glad.

Another positive is hearing Sweet Pea explain that history is interesting now.

Wins abound!

Tea/snack time

I've read about this a lot of other homeschool blogs and certain forums. I'd like to share my concept of snack/tea time.

I like to make something that has a little bit of lag time from preparation to eating. Today the menu featured homemade blueberry, banana, chocolate chip muffins.

Preparing them is a good reinforcer of math- especially since we live at high altitude and every single recipes needs altering. Every one.

Waiting as the smell fills the house is a lesson in patience. It also gives us time to work together on picking up or a cleaning project- something that can be hard to work in for some families. For us, knowing that a delicious snack is coming is a powerful motivator!

Eating together at this time is a good chance for the kids to chat, both between themselves and with me. So often we're working one on one or I am busy, but table time is a wonderful time to focus JUST on them. It's also a good chance to do fun things like practice French or use Latin.

Those are my meager thoughts.

Homeschooling can be

Making muffins, playing outside, then drinking hot chocolate together while reading good books. And snuggling on the couch.

It can also be sitting around the table doing worksheets.

It can also be building a scale model of our universe (or at least the planets).

Best of all- it can be all of this, or none of this. Sometimes in the same day.

Homeschooling is being with your kids.

Happiness

Is a school running well and smoothly. One where the kids are excited and engaged.

This school is our school, now. I'm so thrilled with how this year is going.

Little Bird's reading is really taking off. Sweet Pea meets each day eager to learn.

Blessed.

We are blessed.

Grade skipping

I've been reading some really interesting discussions about the various merits of grade skipping advanced students.

I see the benefits both sides present.

We decided to skip Sweet Pea up a year in Sunday School. She's in with the 3rd/4th grade class this year.

I don't know what level we're going to put her in for other community activities.

Confession

We've throw the Well Trained Mind over completely. And I wish we'd done it sooner.

Far sooner.

When I think of all the trouble and issues we could have prevented...

Hindsight really is 20/20!

Weekly Report Week 1

And still no pics. If you are here for my unfancy photography, I apologize.

Otherwise, carry on.

We did 1/2 of Week 1 of Sonlight Core D&E.

Sweet Pea's favorite parts of the week were her readings from Om-Kas-Toe and listening to On the World's Rim.

Little Bird's favorite part of the week was coloring with mommy and reading a book about a rat.

Latin was also a high note. When we tried Prima Latina a few years ago it was too much. Now we should be able to clip through it.

All's well 'round here!

And that's a relief.

Scheduling

I notice this a lot at times like this- sick days.

My toddler is a needy cuddlebug and my ability to get things done is really compromised. What things?

Cleaning, school, quality time with all the kids in a row.

I'm contemplating various schedule aids I've seen around, not for homeschooling so much as for my life.

I feel like I want a better handle on where our time goes.

Any favorites?