We are in full swing with our new schooling adventure with Parker. We have left the comforts of an all-day... five-day a week school to only going to school 2 1/2 days a week while we homeschool the other 2.
Side note... I was not the mom at kindergarten drop crying. I was the mom high five-ing everyone and giggling ecstatically followed by a little happy dance because I had ME time. Well...maybe not high five-ing anyone but I could have!
This type of school has NEVER crossed my mind.
Ever.
It. Is. So. Much. Work.
The night of the parent orientation meeting, a friend of mine leaned over and asked all giddy-ish if I was excited. She was grinning ear to ear with excited.
I NEARLY burst into tears.
I sheepishly smiled and said "I don't know yet!"
I thought...What in the world am I doing?!?!
There's NO WAY I can do this.
The teacher was saying things like "Make your kids unload their own Taxi's when the get home and reload them. Initial all papers or they don't get a grade. Their grade depends on you. Check how they are coding words and letters. (How the heck do you code letters?? What does that even mean?) Your kids CANNOT be late. It affects them poorly if they are late. Even 5 minutes late."
It was overwhelming.
My heart raced the rest of the night.
Now 6 weeks in...
and...
I am in love with it.
It is one of my most favorite things I have done.
It wasn't even my idea. God is mean and is making me do it. But I am loving it. And I am thankful he told me to do this.
Sure it is hard. We definitely have our hard days! Days where we have to call dad and get firm correction and redirection. Days where I burry my face in my hands and plead with God to teach Parker for me. There are days where 2 pots of coffee are not sufficient enough to get me through but God's grace is. He called me to this and He carries me through each of our days at home. We are both (Parker and I) learning this new way of learning. We are growing together and learning a lot.
I mean am probably one of the least structured persons I know. And the least organized. But I want to be different. This adventure has definitely stretched me in this area.
Definitely.
Our normal homeschool day usually looks a little like this:
8:30am- up and eating breakfast.
9:00am- Littles go outside and jump on the trampoline in their underwear. Parker (in his underwear) sits at his little desk and I bring him his work. I let him choose the first subject we will work on and what will be next. He likes to have some control and ownership. Usually math is his first pick. I set the timer for 5 minutes per worksheet.
9:05am- Emme comes in crying. Her feelings are hurt. She has a good "dee-ya" (idea) and Beckham refuses to listen. I deal with it and we all move on.
9:07am- Emme's feelings are hurt again. Aye-yi-yi.
9:45am- We are moving on to Phonics. Emme and Beckham are now inside playing "Honey & Babe" (their version of house...Beckham is Babe (Phillip) and Emme is Honey (Me) Its so funny.
10:15am- Handwriting. We pray over Colosains 3:23. Parker hates handwriting. He tends to rush and get sloppy.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
10:45am- Review Deck Cards (kinda like intense flash cards)
11:00am- Review the poem Parker is to learn.
11:05am- Shake our silly's out and eat a snack while I plan lunch. He gets free time now!! Whoohoo!
After lunch I let him play.
1:30pm- gymnastics
2:30pm- NAP!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
After that the day is sort of a free for all!
We do family reading with dad or before dinner or sometimes at nap time. He loves, loves, loves to read so fitting that in is easy.
Though...listening to a first grader read and sound out every word is like listening to someone scratch on a chalkboard willingly for and hour. It's painful. But I just smile and laugh inside at some of the sounds he comes up with. ;)
I am currently trying to figure out a little curriculum I can do with Beckham and Emme while Parker does his work.
Though jumping on the trampoline in your undies and playing Honey and Babe for hours is a BLAST. They do get bored. Go figure.
Emme is obsessed with school. She would love it.
Beckham... I am not sure. He tends to spend most of his days in his own little world fighting imaginary bad guys and evil ninjas. I will look over and he is kicking the air fiercely and body slamming the floor. Clearly he conquers all of his opponents. I love that boy.
These days are precious. Though most days I am chasing down the Alieve and Advil to relieve my massive migraine I have at the end of the day. They are precious days. I will cherish these days. I know they will pass all too soon and I will wish them back. They are the most intentionally present days of my life and I am grateful for them.
Side note... I was not the mom at kindergarten drop crying. I was the mom high five-ing everyone and giggling ecstatically followed by a little happy dance because I had ME time. Well...maybe not high five-ing anyone but I could have!
This type of school has NEVER crossed my mind.
Ever.
It. Is. So. Much. Work.
The night of the parent orientation meeting, a friend of mine leaned over and asked all giddy-ish if I was excited. She was grinning ear to ear with excited.
I NEARLY burst into tears.
I sheepishly smiled and said "I don't know yet!"
I thought...What in the world am I doing?!?!
There's NO WAY I can do this.
The teacher was saying things like "Make your kids unload their own Taxi's when the get home and reload them. Initial all papers or they don't get a grade. Their grade depends on you. Check how they are coding words and letters. (How the heck do you code letters?? What does that even mean?) Your kids CANNOT be late. It affects them poorly if they are late. Even 5 minutes late."
It was overwhelming.
My heart raced the rest of the night.
Now 6 weeks in...
and...
I am in love with it.
It is one of my most favorite things I have done.
It wasn't even my idea. God is mean and is making me do it. But I am loving it. And I am thankful he told me to do this.
Sure it is hard. We definitely have our hard days! Days where we have to call dad and get firm correction and redirection. Days where I burry my face in my hands and plead with God to teach Parker for me. There are days where 2 pots of coffee are not sufficient enough to get me through but God's grace is. He called me to this and He carries me through each of our days at home. We are both (Parker and I) learning this new way of learning. We are growing together and learning a lot.
I mean am probably one of the least structured persons I know. And the least organized. But I want to be different. This adventure has definitely stretched me in this area.
Definitely.
Our normal homeschool day usually looks a little like this:
8:30am- up and eating breakfast.
9:00am- Littles go outside and jump on the trampoline in their underwear. Parker (in his underwear) sits at his little desk and I bring him his work. I let him choose the first subject we will work on and what will be next. He likes to have some control and ownership. Usually math is his first pick. I set the timer for 5 minutes per worksheet.
9:05am- Emme comes in crying. Her feelings are hurt. She has a good "dee-ya" (idea) and Beckham refuses to listen. I deal with it and we all move on.
9:07am- Emme's feelings are hurt again. Aye-yi-yi.
9:45am- We are moving on to Phonics. Emme and Beckham are now inside playing "Honey & Babe" (their version of house...Beckham is Babe (Phillip) and Emme is Honey (Me) Its so funny.
10:15am- Handwriting. We pray over Colosains 3:23. Parker hates handwriting. He tends to rush and get sloppy.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
10:45am- Review Deck Cards (kinda like intense flash cards)
11:00am- Review the poem Parker is to learn.
11:05am- Shake our silly's out and eat a snack while I plan lunch. He gets free time now!! Whoohoo!
After lunch I let him play.
1:30pm- gymnastics
2:30pm- NAP!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
After that the day is sort of a free for all!
We do family reading with dad or before dinner or sometimes at nap time. He loves, loves, loves to read so fitting that in is easy.
Though...listening to a first grader read and sound out every word is like listening to someone scratch on a chalkboard willingly for and hour. It's painful. But I just smile and laugh inside at some of the sounds he comes up with. ;)
I am currently trying to figure out a little curriculum I can do with Beckham and Emme while Parker does his work.
Though jumping on the trampoline in your undies and playing Honey and Babe for hours is a BLAST. They do get bored. Go figure.
Emme is obsessed with school. She would love it.
Beckham... I am not sure. He tends to spend most of his days in his own little world fighting imaginary bad guys and evil ninjas. I will look over and he is kicking the air fiercely and body slamming the floor. Clearly he conquers all of his opponents. I love that boy.
These days are precious. Though most days I am chasing down the Alieve and Advil to relieve my massive migraine I have at the end of the day. They are precious days. I will cherish these days. I know they will pass all too soon and I will wish them back. They are the most intentionally present days of my life and I am grateful for them.
Homeschool on vacation...not bad...we sat out side under the patio of our little house by the ocean while it rained.
Sometimes we do school work together.
I love his chubby little fingers. and kid handwriting is the BEST!!
