The year that Rocky was in Kindergarten was a huge bump for us, homeschooling-wise.  I had been teaching one child for two years and we had developed a nice flowing schedule that worked very well for us.  Now, we had to tear that schedule apart and squeeze in another person and it was a bit tricky.  That was hard for me to handle.  I mean, it was just one more child, how come I was having so many probems trying to fit in his learning time?  How hard could teaching two children be?  There are many people who are homeschooling 6 children at a time, why was teaching two such a stumbling block for me?

    The answer for me was probably the same as it would be for that mom teaching six children:  you just need time.   You need time to find out what works and brainstorm for the things that don't.  It is a time of transition.  A time of trial and error.  A time of patience and perseverance.

     I started out having both Rocky and Mia at the table together for their seat work.  This didn't work out very well as Rocky needed me to stand right beside him to help him with his writing.  Mia, even though she could write and read very well, still needed me as a security blanket.  She wasn't ready to give up my presence as she was doing her work.  I found myself going back and forth from the ends of the table like a ping pong ball.  It was too hard for me.  After a few false starts,  we found the way that worked for us.  We would get together for Bible, circle and read aloud then we went our own way.  Usually Mia would stay with me first and we would do her work  while Rocky did his own thing (which was usually play with Missy.)  Then we would switch and Rocky would have his turn with me. 

     Last year, things changed even more as Mia has become a bit more independent in her skill subjects.  There were still things that I had to do with Mia but when it came time to the independent things, then I would start Rocky off on his work while Mia was finishing up hers.   This worked very well.  It took a full year to find the right rhythm, but we finally found it and it was all good.  

     This year will be another year of trial and error, patience and perseverance  as Missy starts her Kindergarten year.  This time, though,  I am a bit wiser.  I know that there are going to be kinks as we try to include her into our learning time.  I also know that I need to be patient and let things play out by themselves.  Eventually, it will all work out and we will find a rhythm that works for us.  This kIndergarten year will also be different as I am using, for the first time ever, a prepared curriculum.  So this will put a varying flavour into our day. Also, I am going to use this year to instill even more independence in Mia, so that I will have more time to spend on the two youngest.  I am very excited about this year.  I am excited about having all three children learning together.  This is what homeschooling is all about.

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