It feels like I've finally settled into a curriculum that fits our family and covers all the bases. The McRuffy Math and Phonics and Reading have been great - the boys look forward to their math lessons and Joel is beginning to read. With Science and History, I have been improvising each day but hope to find some time to lay out a long-range plan and get all my materials together, that way I won't have to scramble for ideas every day; although in science, whatever we learn about goes into our nature journals, whether it's animal pics cut out of a magazine or drawings with crayon.

When I started out the school year I didn't know what language arts really was and I had a few different ideas; now I've decided to scratch the term "language arts" and replace it with Penmanship, Spelling (Elijah) and Phonics/Reading (Joel). My main goal for penmanship is to teach them the correct formation for each letter, so I am zeroing in on their "problem letters", concentrating on one until they grasp it before moving to the next. We are use the whiteboard often to make giant strokes, practice letters and play "teacher" (they seem to retain it better when they have to teach it); we make crafts for the particularly tough letters and it helps them grasp how the letter is made and each day (well, beginning this week) they trace a sheet full of the letter we're working on. They trace a vocabulary word (our new one is "holy - belonging to the Lord") as well as their name (four to a page).

We made mailboxes with 3675 on them (I'll post pics later) to help them learn our address - plus it was a fun craft and it's always great to get special notes and pictures!

P.E. is definitely a work in progress now that Izaac is no longer content to sit and watch yet unable to walk yet (soon, though). We go outside and I find ways to help them use up some of their energy.

More later on how I am keeping track of finished work, books, papers, lesson plans, etc.

Field Trip to the Conservation and First Week of School

Hummingbird Celebration was at the Conservation Department this Saturday so Paul and I loaded up the kids for some more education on the world's smallest bird. Not only did we learn more about the little buzzing creatures but we also had a fun family day (I love those!).

The first week of school went wonderfully and what an education I'm *cough*... the kids are getting! While they're learning about kindergarten things, I'm learning how to organize, schedule, teach; be consistent, flexible and relaxed. I realized very quickly (the second day of science) that learning about one animal a week wasn't going to cut it, so we're learning about a new animal each "class" along with review of the old ones. Science and history (which I also had to change - we are now learning about indians, per the boys request). The boys are excited about the new things they're are learning and all the crafts and discoveries they're making. Today we discovered Freshwater Flat Clams in the pond! Paul broke one open and pretended to eat it - I thought the boys were going to turn white - and when we came home we learned all about them (even how to cook them haha).

I think one of the funniest/"poor baby" moments this week happened after we had made our "iPhones" out of construction paper and foam squares. Joel asked me,

"Mom, when are we gonna make the covers for these things?"

"What covers, honey?"

"The covers - you know - that make the phones work like yours."

It nearly broke my heart (and made me laugh, simultaneously) to tell him that his phone was pretend. His head fell, his shoulders slumped and his phone dropped to the floor - talk about a let down! Can you imagine, a fake phone?! Who would ever want one of those! But, he's better about it now and will be practicing his phone number on it tomorrow.

So many wonderful things have happened in school this week and I'll share more soon in another post. One more thing, I just have to say homeschooling is a blast!

First day of school

Today was so, so, so much fun!! After breakfast we spent time with God, then did math (the boys didn't want to quit), went outside to play soccer for p.e. (the weather couldn't have been any more perfect); snack, language arts and science came next. We learned about the Ostrich - the world's largest bird - and then discovered the cassowary - the world's deadliest bird!

It was such a blast spending quality time with the kids today; I didn't realize how distracted I'd been until I was able to forget about all my other responsibilites and put my entire focus on the boys - doing projects with them, teaching them, learning and laughing along with them. At one point this morning tears came to my eyes as I was resting in the grass and Elijah gathered me in a one-sided huddle, with his face close to mine he began whispering his next soccer strategy and I realized, "wow, I would have missed this moment...". I have no doubt Paul and I made the right choice for our family. And even though it's only the first day, I have a feeling that even through the rough times, many more beautiful memories will be made to treasure for a life-time.

What a wonderful first day of kindergarten - good job Joel and Elijah!

Izaac - pulling up and first tooth

Curriculum and Organization

This is so much fun! I've been working on writing lesson plans, getting curriculum together and organizing for school to start tomorrow. The boys and I went "school shopping" last week and had all sorts of fun supply ideas for "homeschool" - it was really crazy but really, really fun (next time I won't take the baby and I definitely will not choose the shopping cart with the big plastic monstrosity of a child-restrainer attached to the front). My first step in getting all these supplies organized was to find a place to store them out of sight. I cleaned out my two linen closets, condensed our blankets - storing the ones we rarely use upstairs - and combined towels, sheets and a few of our favorite blankets into one closet; the other closet is now used entirely for school supplies and cubbies for the boys.

I purchased Sterilite containers to hold everything needed for each subject (i.e. everything needed for math - workbooks, teachers manuals, games, cards, supplies - in one container; all phonics materials in another and so on) as well as a container for craft supplies and another for computer/notebook paper. I also purchased two crates in the colors the boys chose for their cubbies, which will hold their "learning notebooks", Nature journals, school boxes, math manipulatives. Underneath their cubbies is a two-drawer plastic thing - it's holding supplies in one drawer and educational books in another.

For their workspace, I wanted to have something other than the kitchen table so I purchased two little folding tables from wal-mart and put them in a nook in our living room (away from the kitchen and away from the food!); they're sturdy but also light and will be easily folded up and stowed away on the weekends and whenever we're not having school. The boys like having their own "homeschool place" to work.

My favorite new supply is the laminating machine. I guarantee that from now on if it can be laminated it will be laminated.

Math

For math I have both boys in McRuffy Math Kindergarten - it looks fabulous and I can hardly wait to teach it!

Language arts

I purchased McRuffy's phonics and reading for Joel and it too looks amazing - I can hardly wait to begin!

The boys will also trace one word and it's meaning each week for language arts; these words will be ones that define what it means to be a godly man; we will also use words from the Bible such as "revelation", "knowledge", "understanding". Along with that, they will practice writing their letters correctly and Elijah will use sight cards to write entries in his journal each day while Joel and I work on phonics.

Here is a toy made by Leap Frog that helps kids learn how to write their letters correctly; the boys absolutely love it and play with it throughout the day.

Science

Make Nature Journals. Learn about one animal each week. Record what we learn in our journal. Go exploring. Read about God's creation. Make crafts and do projects.

We already made our nature journals - it was too fun! We took a walk and collected leaves, small branches and flowers. We then painted two pieces of cardstock (one for the front cover and one for the back), used painted leaves as stamps and glued branches to our artwork. After everything dried, we laminated them then took them to Staples to have each notebook spiral bound with 30 sheets of plain white paper. By the end of the year we'll have journals filled with interesting facts and pictures of 3o different types of animals, along with anything else we discover along the way.

Top left: Joel's journal

Top right: Elijah's

History

In this subject, they are going to learn their address and phone number; they're also going to learn about the American flag and then two states a week - we'll learn fun facts about each state and what God says about them - especially Missouri, the "Psalm 24" "Show Me Your Glory" state! I plan to use a few workbooks, readers and maps I picked up in different places, as well as printouts and crafts.

Here are a few laminated sheets I created to help our homeschooling days go as smooth as possible - I threw the bathroom one in while I was thinking of it - and I plan to use velcro on the wall so that when and if I need to change out rules or schedules it won't require reconstruction of the house.

Tomorrow our new adventure begins!

Books I'd like to Read

Just a quick note to say I saw this book in Barnes and Noble, it's about how to be an organized teacher (it includes practical organizing ideas for school supplies, curriculum, filing, charts, incentives) and I am hoping to find it at the library, or if I can't find it there, to buy it. It looks inspiring!

Here is another one I found online that looked interesting :

Daily lesson plans

Today I am working on creating daily lesson plans for Language Arts, History and Science for 30 weeks of school. It might sound overwhelming but to me it's fun! Of course, I'm not going to sit the kids down and say "boys, here are the 450 homeschool lessons - not including math - you'll be doing this year... let's hear a big Yay!" but at least I'll have a well laid-out plan hidden away in my teacher notebook that will help me stay focused and on-task throughout the year. I've already mapped out the general plan for each week so all I need to do now is make it specific for each day... I'll post it on here, along with the daily routine when I'm finished.

Our homeschool why

Many times throughout the day on a recurring basis Elijah gathers his journal and a few markers and says, "I'm going to spend time with Jesus now and draw the pictures He gives me." He will spend anywhere from ten minutes to an hour during these times; sometimes I'll see him grab his Bible and begin highlighting; and now Joel is beginning to follow his pattern. This is something the Lord is doing in him and the Lord desires that it continue. This work that God is doing is supernatural and for a purpose; Paul and I both know that if we were to send him to school it would interrupt what God is doing in his heart. We know what we're supposed to do, and are willing and excited to continue to provide an atmosphere that encourages and supports "time with God" multiple times throughout the day. We're certainly not anti-school or anti-social; neither do we look down on others who send their children to school or think homeschooling is better; all we want is to follow the leading of the Lord concerning our kids. Eddie James said it best the other Sunday (when we were in FL) when he prophesied that the Lord has placed a prophetic mantle on our (meaning the people of God's) children; they have been born for more than a good education; they've been called as prophetic messengers! This is our why. If it wasn't for the Lord speaking so clearly to our hearts Elijah would be trotting off to school on Monday and that would be okay with us. But honestly I'm thrilled to be schooling them at home; ecstatic that God's purpose for our family will be done; and I'm pumped because I know we are totally going to have a blast!

Books ordered! Kindergarten Math and Phonics

After reading extensive reviews on different math curriculums, I decided on the McRuffy Kindergarten Color Math Curriculum for the boys. Since they're both on the same level mathematically I ordered one curriculum for both and added an extra workbook and set of manipulatives. This curriculum incorporates games and other hands-on techniques for learning math - I'll post pictures when it comes in the mail. I can hardly wait to get it, organize it and start teaching it! The plan is to keep math as upbeat as possible and not drag the sessions out too long.

I also ordered from McRuffy Press The new Kindergarten Special Edition (SE) Phonics and Reading program for Joel; Elijah is already reading on a fourth grade level so this year I will stick to having him (more like letting him!) read aloud for his phonics and reading time.

Although we will have a daily schedule, lesson plans and "class" rules, I want, this school year, for my kids to be able to be creative kids and enjoy learning. We're going to collect bugs, press flowers, make projects, learn about (read, draw, make craft, touch/see in real life) one animal a week, play math games, as well as practice writing, sitting still, listening to instruction and focusing on completing assignments.

I'm looking forward to this exciting new adventure!