My daughter really is a very patient teacher’s assistant. She will sit quietly without ever saying a word and listen to her big brother as he sounds out the words to read the Bible story each night. It is quite precious.
And the other day I discovered that having her quiz him on flashcards is the perfect way to let her be involved in school. She happily sits and holds the cards up for him and will praise him when he gets the answers correct.
Last year when we decided to home school our son, we said that we would take it a year at a time, and evaluate our situation each year as we planned for the next. Well, the time has come for us to make plans for next fall and we have decided to continue home schooling using our tutorial for first grade. (or grammar I as the classical folks like to call it)
When I came out to the kitchen to make breakfast this morning, I felt a cold draft. I then noticed my son sitting in the sliding glass door.
He told me he was listening to the birds in the backyard. They were offering up a beautiful melody. One thing I love about life with small children is that they help you to stop and take notice of the everyday miracles in the world around you.
One of my favorite parts about home schooling has been the field trips. We have tutorial sessions on Mon and Wed. Tues we have school at home and typically it is a catch up day for me around the house. I try to keep Tuesdays open as I need that day to just be at home. Thursdays we have school at home, plus BSF in the morning, and often a play date over lunch.
Well, I am about one month into my homeschooling experience and thought I’d reflect on it.
I love it!
You know I waffled and prayed and struggled with the decision. It wasn’t like I knew from the minute I brought him home from the hospital that I’d be a home schooling mom. As I prepped our “classroom” I was still clinging to the fact that at any moment I could change my mind and enroll him at the local public school.
Its funny to me how many “old sayings” run through my head on any given day.
For example, “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” I must repeat that to myself at least twice a week… “Don’t cry over spilled milk… DON’T CRY over spilled milk… (and in my head I also add quite often, don’t make anyone else cry over spilled milk.”
So, I had to laugh when my son and I were doing science this afternoon and we were talking about the various states of water.