1 month down

Our classroom is ever evolving. I am able to knock out math and core subjects quickly so we have time for the other subjects - Spanish, critical thinking, life skills, health, and RECESS! The boys made vision boards. We also are planning to write a book so several times each week we spend time brainstorming and planning. I feel so much peace in the classroom. I am able to zip past the items that my boys have mastered and spend more time on the things that are more difficult for them. I taught the boys how to tell time and I taught Harrison how to finally understand subtracting with carrying (not the easiest thing to teach!) I also love the dedicated 1 on 1 time that I get to spend with them. I feel so rewarded and zen. I can only hope that they will continue to choose this for their education.

Several people think homeschooling must be very stressful. I have actually found its the opposite in my case! There are so many difficult things that were a part of my life that instantly vanished when I made the decision to homeschool.

1) I don't miss waking up at 6 am to rush around making breakfast, lunch, snacks, waters, make sure backpacks are ready and zip them off to 2 different schools. It usually involves me ending up yelling because of the length of time it takes to make this all happen. Instead we wake up when we wake up. Instead of just frozen waffles, I have time to make them something more substantial. We go to the classroom after that, but no rush. Our schedule is based on our needs, not someone else's.

2) No more emails from teachers, parent council, the school district, I could go on but everyone knows what I am talking about. The different themed outfits for each day of a week are a favorite - ha! Its endless. And a lot of times its pointless. I need a planner just to keep up with all the things I am required to do for my kids to go to school.

3) The boys were typically grouchy and exhausted when I picked them up for our ride home. Its a long day for a kid. Not an ideal time to have quality time.

4) Vacations! No more planning vacations around specific dates that are always overpriced! We can go whenever we want! (and make it a learning experience too)

5) I don't miss the constant worry...Did my kid pay attention today? Did that kid steal his pokemon cards today? Is he actually learning? What is he learning? (because he won't tell me). Why doesn't the science teacher know how to communicate with parents? Also why is she a jerk? Why do my kids have to do this project that doesn't make any sense? Is the campus safe enough? What are their emergency procedures? I could literally write a book but this is what goes on in a mother's head (or some version of it) every day.

6) Sickness. So many sicks kids at school. I don't have that yucky thought of snot getting on my child anymore.

So yes, this sounds like its all about ME, ME, ME. Well Mom's happiness is pretty important but the kids have less stress too. More importantly I am able to teach them twice the curriculum than what they can learn at school simply because its 1 on 3 (sometimes 1 on 1) instead of 1 on 24. My boys will each complete 2 grades this school year. No transitions. No busy work. Its amazing how much can be taught when all that other stuff is removed. I feel so calm these days because our lives are just more...efficient.

Do they miss hanging out with their friends at school? Harrison misses a special few but the twins could care less. They all still get to see their friends. Its just at different times than school. Between our upcoming coding class, soccer, football, and playdates, socialization is not an issue. They get more free time now and that makes them very happy.

I know its not for everybody but I am very glad that we found what works for us! You just don't know until you try!

Welcome to Home School!

Our first week of homeschooling had its share of challenges. I had strep throat. I had to figure out how to balance 2 different levels of curriculum. After teaching each day and making lesson plans for the next, I had to quickly switch gears to do my other "job" which is the charity. Its a lot to cram in one day. But by the end of the week I had figured out how to be more efficient with our time and we settled in really well.

Over our last vacation I went back and forth over which curriculum to use. I finally went with Calvert, which has been around for over a century. Calvert is secular and follows common core and seemed to be the closest curriculum to most other schools. It also teaches Singapore Math. If/when the kids go back to regular school, I wanted to at least know that I was getting the basics in so the transition back would be seamless. There are a lot of text books, something my kids haven't really experienced yet, but they seem to like it.

One immediate advantage of homeschooling is that I get to learn more about the boys' strengths and weaknesses, as well as finding the best way that they learn. I can tell in one week that I am going to learn even more than I expected. The twins are in 1st grade and reading chapter books. However, the curriculum has them sounding out words like c-a-t. These parts I really zip through or skip. Harrison is starting 4th grade but I wanted to review the 3rd grade curriculum first. Since he was in private school, I wanted to make sure that he didn't miss anything (since private school curriculum can vary from common core). Other than his hesitancy with writing, he is zipping through too. Because of this, we are going to attempt to double up the lessons so that we can finish this grade by the halfway mark. And then start the next grade (so 2 grades in 1 year). That might seem unnecessary but I want them to be challenged. The twins are old for their grade since I held them back due to their summer birthday so it really just catches them up.

I have learned that one of the biggest upsides of homeschooling is more TIME! I can get through the core subjects with Harrison in about 2 hours. Then another 2 hours with the twins. Of course in addition to math and other core subjects, I am working in Spanish, critical thinking, health, and life skills. But these aren't long classes and we make them fun.

We start the day around 8:30 after breakfast. Sometimes we are in pajamas. My calendar helper for the week tells us the time, day of week, season, weather, month and day in English and Spanish with a wall calendar. Then one of the boys draws any picture he wants on the dry erase board. Then all the boys write 5 sentences about it. This has been great for improving handwriting, placement of capital letters, and punctuation. They love when its their turn to draw. After that, Henry and Charlie each grab a book from the bookshelf and they read silently for 30 minutes. They can lay on the rug, the bean bags or however they are comfortable. While they do that, Harrison and I do his math lesson and his core subjects. After the twins read for 30 minutes, they have free time. Its wonderful because I get quiet 1 on 1 time with Harrison and he learns very well this way. Then we either have recess or PE. (Recess is making them go outside). PE can be exercises in our little exercise room, swimming, rock climbing at main event, running outside, hiking, etc etc. So many choices! We do PE 2-3/week. Then we have lunch (no more rushing around making 3 lunches and 3 snacks every morning at 6:30 am!). Harrison is then turned loose for free time while I work through the core subjects with the twins. Then we reconvene and do our extra subjects - 1 or 2/day. These don't take long. The days will be quicker and quicker as we get in a rhythm.

We plan to take one little field trip each week. Last Thursday we went to deliver clothing to a neighbor who was on her way to help her friends in Houston. Then we shopped for Austin Pets Alive and delivered those supplies. It was surreal to see all of those dogs being frantically ushered in. Hurricane Harvey offered many teaching moments.

Since Adam is not working for Labor Day, he is going to observe us at school and participate a little. I absolutely love my little classroom. Its hard to imagine it ever not being a classroom!

Wish us luck next week!