Homeschool got off to a great start in 2009! I was a little apprehensive, since the kids had a two week break, and stayed up late and not on any sort of regular schedule (though I do still have them read a bit!), I thought there might be a bit of resistance to resuming our schooling.

Not only did we have a fantastic day of school, but the children, of their own volition, asked to extend their day by doing more work of their own choosing.

Today we had:

Oldest: Bible, penmanship, social studies, language arts

Middle child: Bible, math, and language arts (sight words & her new “Explode the Code” book we purchased over break (she loves it!), plus reading a chapter of one of the books she got over break)

Youngest: Bible, calendaring, seasons, basic language arts

My husband came home to eat lunch, and we had a family devotional.

All in all, a wonderful start to our homeschooling week!

Playing catch-up, as usual. My last post had us scrambling up and down the peninsula due to my mother’s ailing heath. She passed away in September, and it’s all been making straw and still producing our bricks.

My two youngest were in a local production of The Nutcracker this weekend (six performances (though we skipped one due to attending church services)). This after a week of three-hour rehearsals. And did I mention this was directly following the weekend with my oldest’s 10-hour Robotics competition?

We’ve also embarked upon a new service project for the year. We’ve done a few things through the church we attend, as it relates to the Christians in Zimbabwe & the deplorable conditions there. Since all three of the children knit, we’re also making blanket squares for a Native American reservation.

Our weekly Wednesday Spanish class is on hiatus, and our weekly Wednesday Homeschool Choir class met for its last time for the year, as we wind down for break.

I’m trying to get us back to our usual “semi-structured” schedule after our crazy start last week. Due to my Mom’s declining health and a couple of crises, we traveled 100 miles round trip every weekday last week. Thus, most of our “schooling” occured in the car (with the exception of our outside classes: Spanish, ballet, homeschool chorus).

Our homeschool philosophy is pretty ecclectic. Because of my own learning disability (ADD), and my background in Early Childhood Education, I do believe learning is life-long. Because many of my early experiences were negative due to the (undiagnosed) ADD, I want my kids to enjoy learning. I don’t believe learning just occurs between the hours of 9am – 3pm.

Thus, we do have some fairly structured time that tends to be “work-booky.” Many workplaces are very flexible and who knows how it will evolve. However, everyone needs some sort of self-discipline (not all of us will hold jobs where the jammies we now wear to “school” at the dining room table will be en vogue!).

However, having said that, I really do believe that kids having a bigger investment in learning when they help choose and guide what will be learnt. Because of that philosophy, my oldest is into Lego Robotics. Something he asked to learn.  My daughter is in ballet, and my youngest is in acrobatics…all because it was self-guided interest.

Our days are a big mix of “formal” instruction time, free play exploration and structured outside classes based on an interest the kids have. It works pretty well for us!

Today we began our day with our usual morning circle of prayer time, Bible drills, and going over songs for my youngest with days of the week, etc. We palyed a great game put out by DK, called, “Silly Sentences” that help teach the parts of speech, and in the case of my youngest, reading skills.

Then we headed up to see my Mom, who is still in very serious condition and faces ther third surgey in one week tomorrow. The two older children read in the car.

Then, another crazy, mad dash back down to our home to get Sissy to her ballet class.

Wedesday is Homeschool chorus day! Today was the first day of the new semester and joining his “veteran status” older borther and sister, was my five-year-old. He’s been so excited to join!

Wednesday is also Spanish class in the afternoon. The theme was “Rimas” (or rhymes).