I began this blog to create an on going yearbook of our homeschool chronicling our highs & lows with photo's and journaling. Through the past two years I have really enjoyed getting to know so many homeschool moms and their families. Being a Homeschoolblogger has been both fun and encouraging. Please make yourself comfortable and enjoy getting to know us and how we learn at home!
How is your summer going? Have you found some time to relax? get to that certain project? garden? read the book that's been at your bedside since February?
I'm enjoying all those things and especially love being able to spend more quality time with the kids (other than school work , ya know?!) For instance, yesterday was just a beautiful day here in NY and we spread a blanket under a shady tree in the backyard and had an impromptu picnic. Afterwards I read two chapters from "The Treasure Seekers" to the boys. Josh doesn't sit still that long but, hey, we were outside so he could wander around and poke with sticks while we were reading.
We had a wonderful time over the Fourth of July weekend. I'm sharing a few pictures of our annual picnic/campout with my sister and her family....
There were 5 tents in all.
That's Jordan and my nephew around the campfire. Burnt marshmallows abound.
Kayla with her "papa"
Jordan with his dad (and my awesome husband! )
Jesse with a cousin. They were so cute with their stuffed animals and little lanterns.
We have officially closed the grade book on yet another year of homeschooling. How time flies by!! Next week I will turn in our 4th quarter reports and call it "done" for the summer. What a year!
I am looking forward to two months off and some time to relax and enjoy the nice weather. I like waking up in the morning without the pressures of another school day ahead of us. The kids need a break too. They will not be asked to do anything in the way of school until after July 4th when I plan to begin reading The Fallacy Detective with Kayla and Jordan. (We will keep it short and only a few days a week!)
A list of school related things for me to get done over the summer:
- Mail in the 4th quarter reports to school district
- Clear off everyones book shelves and replace with next years
school work. (Find a place for all the old stuff I'll need to hang on to for the next child.)
- Shop for a few needed school supplies
- Write out some schedules/goals for each child for the new year.
- List some used curriculum for sale.
- Check my list of curriculum still needed and purchase.
- Keep up with our daily read-a-louds.
We are soaking up all the sunny Spring weather here in New York - its truly been wonderful! All our trees are budding this week and the new, young growth is so pretty and vibrant green. Jordan has been bringing me daffodils daily that he picks from the back yard. Our little cherry tree's are full of white blossoms and there are plant shoots popping up everywhere in the flower beds! The only down side of Spring is we all want to be outside instead of home schooling! (Can you relate?!)
Despite the sunshine, we have managed to get some school done ... I wish we were further along but there is only so much I can do! We are in the "home stretch" of our school year now - just the last 20 - 30 lessons in each book and we'll be done. Ahhh.... there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.
A few weeks ago I heard a home school mom speak at our co-op meeting. She has already graduated 2 children and has another graduate this year, that leaves 4 at home. She figured she will be 60 years old when the last one graduates! This prompted me to figure out my age at the end of schooling my family and it's 53! (Josh doesn't start for another 2 years) What am I going to do with myself at that point? Just think of all the time I'll have on my hands!! LOL. I'm sure I'll miss it though. I already dread having Kayla leave for college and it's still 3 years away!
So... how old will YOU be when your finished home schooling? And what do you see yourself doing?
The cold and dreary winter weather is matching my cold and dreary mood.
Homeschool has been very challenging lately (to put it nicely) and I'm struggling. Motivation is low and we all seemed to be on edge. The school work is taking sooooo long to finish each day and then the next day we do it all over again. It is Math and English/Lang. that consume the most time, not only working through the lesson but the amount of corrections that need to be done afterward.
Jesse is no problem, I teach him his lessons and he does his work in about hour then he usually reads for 20 min or so. The only thing he doesn't like is when he has to do writing assignments which are about twice per week.
The older two have much harder work. They are not A students (I'm not saying that to be mean, its just the truth) and they have to work hard to get good grades. We have tried many different curriculums to see if it would help but the fact is they just need to put in the time. Meanwhile, I am having fantasies of getting a job and sending them all to private school.
Saxon Algebra 2
Streams of Civilization I
Advanced Biology
CLE English 10
Perspectives of Life in Literature
Bible
Artistic Pursuits
Spanish I
Fallacy Detectives
Latina Christiana
Currently Reading:
Summerville Secrets Series
by Beverly Lewis
"Jordan" 7th Grade
Teaching Textbooks Math 7
MOH - Early Church History
Science - Botany
Winston Grammar
Creative Writing
Bible
Typing
Soccer
Latina Christiana
The Fallacy Detectives
Currently Reading:
Adam of the Road
"Jesse" 3rd Grade
Saxon Math 3
CLE Language Arts 3
MOH - Early Church History
Science - Botany
Abeka Health
Bible
BJU Readers
Piano
Soccer
Art (Co-op Class)
Currently Reading:
A to Z Mysteries
"Joshua" Age Three.
ABC's & 123's
Sharing
Manners
Using Scissors
Listening skills
puzzles
)
