The children are back happy and healthy, meaning this week we really 'were' able to start school.

.

We covered most subjects this week;  didn't get to music appreciation, and I only completed one lesson of science with the little ones instead of the three planned, but, we're off to quite a good start.

.

I'm really impressed with our new history programme (The ABCs of Christian Culture), and thus far, it has been well received by the older children.  The younger children will be studying about Australia - we're pretty much writing the program as we go;  it will be in the same format as 'Australia, the Wide Brown Land for Me', but it will focus more on geography, landforms, animals and birds, etc.   We made a good start this week, working out the introductory lesson.

.

And, we also returned to Little Athletics and tennis.  All were a little 'sluggish' after the holiday - but aren't we all??

.

Oh, and the idea of having the older ones take care of their own checklists is working beautifully!  Each day, they phsically need to 'tick' off each lesson as they complete it;  and then tick again to say their books have been put away.  I'm already seeing that this is making them feel more responsible for their own lessons, and not once did I have 'oh, I forgot to do science...  or maths... or English....'  because it's all there, to be checked at the end of the day;  and they simply KNOW if it has not been done.

.

So, we're off to a great start!

.