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Well, this blog may be a little different than most - as I want to share with you a little about our day to day life!
I originally started this blog to document my journey in motherhood, parenting, homeschooling and life in general. More for me than you - but it has been so rewarding to share and get to know those who struggle with the same things!
So, this being a new school year - and almost a year since I began writing - I thought an update was needed.
The biggest change in our lives will be the addition of our 4th little blessing during the first week of October. We are beyond thrilled!
****But, seriously? YIKES! FOUR KIDS!****
(ha ha ha ha - Oh Lord - please pour out Your Blessings, Grace and please please dear husband buy me more wine!)
In addition to this amazing little miracle, this past spring and summer has been a bit crazy with dear Daddy deployed for most of it. He has come and gone (we are so grateful for the days and weeks he was able to be home!) but it was most challenging being pregnant and on my own with three littles this summer. But, God is good - and provides strength and endurance when ours runs out.
Our homeschool year ended a bit abruptly last spring - early May - when dear mommy quit. lol No really. I quit. We had finished some of our subjects early and the rest we realized we needed a new curriculum for - a new, fresh approach, because clearly this one wasn't working. I was miserable!
We continued reading, doing projects and going on field trips throughout the summer but took time off from hard core studies. It was a challenging first year of homeschooling for me. I tried to hard to mimic the incredible Christian school my son had previously attended. I tried SO hard to give my daughter the same foundation he had. I failed - so so miserably! Or at least I thought so!
Problem was - we stopped having fun. We never had time for field trips, projects, crafts, playing!!!
Good grief - what was I homeshcooling for then?! When the joy is sapped out of something, anything - marriage and parenting included - then you tend to doubt your purpose.
So, THIS year - things are different! After I spent a few days in the fetal position wondering how on earth I would homeschool a 3rd grader, 2nd year Kindergarten'er and all while taking care of a 2 year old and a newborn - I scraped myself off the floor and got to work.
I spent most of the spring and summer questioning other moms, researching different curricula, thinking - writing and re-writing schedules until I came up this this years "plan"! Here it is:
I have employed the KISS method.
Keep. It. Simple. Stupid.
Yep. Simplify. When in doubt -simplify your life! Kids hungry when they get home from school? Feed them dinner at 3:30! Why not?
Then homework, play, shower - snack and bed! Cha-ching.
Daddy deployed or working late for a while and evenings are quite possibly the most evil time of the day? Shower and bathe kids early, mornings even, then feed them dinner at lunch time and do pb&j for a quick snack before bed - swap the schedule around! Make it easy, make it simple.
So - instead of cramming 10 subjects down my 3rd grader's throat - here is what I "teach" him:
Math
Grammar
Reading
Spelling
Done. (oh - but we're not, just breathe all you doubters! Just breathe!)
Here is what I "teach" my K5'er:
Reading
Grammar
Math
Done. ;)
I should also note, we begin each day with Bible - its a fun, family time that has SO enriched our lives. Really cool way to start your day - just sayin'!
So I have a set amount of individual time with each child a couple times a day for new lessons, reviews, tests, etc in each of these subjects. Its our very sacred one-on-one time. We all look forward to it. During those times the toddler has her activity boxes, Curious George, music, and sibling to play with.
This greatly reduced the stress on me. Whereas last year I had 6 or 7 subjects I was requiring myself to teach, individually, to each child. Um, yeah - okay no wonder I withered and died a horrible death. No wonder we had zero time for joy or fun, or anything else.
This year we have implemented "Independent Work" as well. Each child has a set of work boxes and folders. They each have a clip board with a printed, laminated check list for each day. Every morning I take 20-30 min and we go over their IW for the day.
This includes (for the third grader):
Spelling words
Cursive
Reading Comprehension
Silent Reading
Copy work
Math Practice
Vocabulary
And anything else I may feel like adding that day!
My K5'er would have
Copy work
Math Practice
Silent Reading
Coloring
Art work of some kind
Lego building
..........etc.
Not every subject, every day - but usually 3-5 activities that they are responsible to complete before the school day is done.
The Independent Work is to be done while I am teaching the other child, working with the toddler or baby to be, doing dishes, blogging ;) etc!
This is a great system that encourages independence, responsibility and pride in accomplishment.
So far - its working great!
The other change we have implemented this year is our 4 week cycle. We will school in 4 weeks.
The first three weeks are Academic Weeks, the 4th week is our Enrichment Week.
Enrichment Weeks are a much needed step back from the hard core academics and instead focus on enrichment activities!
Our week includes science lessons and experiments, history lessons, historical biography reading, amazing field trips, art projects, crafts, Little Passport Lessons and just fun activities.
So, this is a little glimpse into our (always being tweaked!) schedule this fall. I can not tell you how excited I am for this year. I am very happy with the skills the kids have maintained over their summer break, their enthusiasm for our new year and the way most days flow right now.
So far so good - but remember, no day is perfect for ANY mom! Most are FAAAAAR from it!
I still turn into "CRAAAAAZZZZY MOMMY" by 5pm! There are some days (and its only week 2!) that I want to send them all back where they came from, and other days where my hormones, exhaustion and stress land me back in that familiar fetal position!
But, I get to wake up each morning to a fresh start, a new day and His abundant forgiveness, amazing blessings and infinite GRACE!
I get to enjoy my cup of coffee and watch my littles grow, learn, play, laugh and become amazing people before my eyes! Life is about to get a little crazier - but I think its going to be ok!
((however, I will keep you posted!))
Will post pictures of the work boxes, clip boards (individually decorated of course!) and websites I love and visit on our facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/blessingsgraceandwine?ref=hl
Hope your school year is off to an amazing start - and don't forget - its really all about Blessings, Grace and of course the occasional glass (or bottle?!) of wine!
