School is Around the Corner…

The bugs are out, the heat and humidity has driven the kids indoors, this is my cue to start fine tuning our school schedule, give the finishing touches on organizing workbooks, and start pumping the kid’s up for the first day of school.

We start school when the kids are driven into the house during the day because of the humidity and bugs. Schooling in the morning gives us plenty of time to still be able to enjoy the beach, have picnics at the parks, and savor the last days of summers daylight. We begin school early for two reasons. First, starting school early allows us to take as much time off as we want or need to during the school year. It allows for sick days and and it allows for days when emotions are overflowing, these days it’s wise to call it a day and breathe. Second, we strive to be done any time between the end of March and the beginning of April.

The first couple of years I needed a schedule planned out for me, it’s partly why I loved My Father’s World. Over the last couple of years I have gained confidence to pull different pieces of our schooling from different companies. Using what works well for us and discarding what we don’t like. School for us looks like about two hours of sit down work for Maddie and about half an hour of sit down work for the twins. We have combined learning for science, history, geography, and bible. A friend introduced me to Math-U-See last year, we tried it with Maddie and it was the first year we didn’t have any tears at tackling math problems. For Language arts we are using Language Lessons for Today, I found this gem through My Father’s World. Five minute lessons that covers everything from sentence structure, to learning punctuation, writing a letter, as well as studying and analyzing paintings. I loved My Father’s World Kindergarten curriculum with Maddie and I am using it again with the twins.

This year we are using Cat and Dog Theology, Elementary Curriculum. I am thrilled about adding this to our year. We are packing our suit cases, buckling our seat belts, getting our passports and boarding the plane for Kenya, France, Germany, Philippines, Switzerland, and so many other places around the world. We will do this from the comfort of our living room, dining room, and kitchen. This year, like every year is a testament to God guiding me through what will excite and engage my kids for learning. Inspiring them to to take their learning into their own hands instead of having to drag them to the table, making them sit down, and write as tears flow from their eyes.

I always want our learning to be applicable, busy work drives me nuts, I don’t like it and my kid’s don’t like it. Looking to God for guidance in our day, guidance in our curriculum, and knowing he will continue to give me wisdom and guidance. Bring on the learning, we’re ready!