In Session

First, I have to say thank you for all of your encouraging comments on the post I wrote Sunday.  They really mean so much to me.  You guys are awesome.  I hope to share the new direction in the next week or so.

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Well, we started school on Monday and it went pretty well.  Better than I expected with a 7 1/2, 4 1/2 and 1 year old.  "Better than expected" still includes "I'm bored" and "I hate school".  Just so you know.  Does that deter me?  No way!! 

I've been impressed with all the materials so far and blown away by a couple books in particular.  I'll tell you more about my favorites a bit later.

This year, Sam (a young 3rd grader) is doing Sonlight's Core 1+2 (World History) with Advanced Readers (this includes History, Geography, Language Arts, Bible, Art and Music), Saxon Home Math Third Grade, Exploring Creation's Swimming Creatures, A Reason for Handwriting, and Spelling Wisdom.

Sadie (pre-K) is doing My Father's World Kindergarten (modified) and, when she's ready, The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading.  She also listens in and participates as best she can on Sam's History, Bible, Science, Geography, Art, etc.).

Miriam (a new walker and overall cutie pie) has devoted herself completely to wooden magnets with pictures on them.  She carries them from dishwasher (where they stick) to the wooden book they belong in which she keeps at the opposite end of the house.  She's also working on her big kid talk, saying "yeah" instead of yes and "here-you-go", all one word said fast.

We've decided to keep a four day schedule again this year which gives us some flexibility- it's the same materials, just compressed into fewer days.  This way, when illnesses or weekends away come up, we can adjust with minimal effort and stay on course.

Here are some peeks about our {school} house.  Below are collages Sam has made for each year he's done school so far.  They were hanging in our school/play room, but needed to be moved to make space for a new bulletin board and a map.  Here they are in our stairwell instead.  I'm pretty sure with three kids and many grades ahead of us, I'm going to need to downsize these collages.  Just a hunch I have.

Our school room.  Yes, the lamp is crooked.  It still works, so it's still there:-).

School shelves.

Little people.

I love using these silverware baskets for their supplies.  They each have their own, with everything handy, so there is no fighting over who has the red marker.  The clothes pins are used to clip papers/art to the strings I have strung.  There isn't a lot of wall space in a school room where there are four (!) doors/doorways, three windows and two large book cases.

So, there you have it.  Sometime later this week or next, I'll share our loose school schedule (how the days unfold) as well as our lunch and dinner menu for the next five weeks.  Before you think I'm insane, let me say that it's the SAME menu for the next five weeks.  I'll explain.  I promise.