9.07.2011

Back to School-Homeschool Style

This year we decided to not only homeschool all the kids, but to start early. We are in our seventh week. We started in July since it was so hot and since we had a two week trip planned while everyone else would just be starting their school year.



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The first couple of weeks were a little rough trying to get the boys acclimated to our already established school routine, but they are starting to get the hang of it. Heath LOVES getting his phonics out and having me work with him, but is still known to give me a run for my money at times. Some days are fun and others I want to pull my hair out. Of course that is the case in everyday life anyways so nothing too new to me. Laney either plays alone upstairs or comes down to color, play with her kitchen or watch "Dora". She has also enjoyed trying her hand at Phonics too. We are mostly working on letter recognition for her, but she is like a little parrot and repeats the lessons we recite. Maybe she'll be our early reader! *fingers crossed*

We start the morning with breakfast, reading scriptures together, family prayer and personal scripture reading. Then move onto Lang. Arts, Math, 15 min. break, History and Science. We then have lunch. The younger two are done while the older two work on computer skills. Then every Friday we have quizzes to see that they have retained most of the info. we have learned and have either an Art or Religious History lesson. We are usually done by noon and earlier on Fridays, but can be flexible if need be. Sometimes I just HAVE to start that laundry right then or else I will go insane or our break needs to be a little bit longer. :)

In History we learned about the Roman Empire, its fall and the rise of the Byzantine Empire, the India, Chinese, and Japanese Empires and are now studying about Australia in the middle ages. Its great for me because I am always learning new things right along with them.

We even had the kids write their own laws for their "Empires". Heath said to "Obey mommy ALL the time and daddy sometimes." :) Have I ever said how much I LOVE that kid? :) Don't wory I did tell him that isn't really how things should go, we need to listen to daddy too, but I relished in it while I could. Cause we all know mommy isn't listened to and feared as much as daddy. At least not in this house. My kids, for some reason, assume I am always teasing or joking with them. I think I need to rethink my parenting style.

Then we made a typical Roman Soldier dinner. We put cubed potatoes, sliced carrots and onions in over a small patty of ground beef inside some foil. Then added salt and butter. We weren't supposed to add  the butter because that isn't something they would have had on them during their travels as soldiers, but I can't live without butter on my veggies. :) You put it in the oven on 350 for about 20-30 minutes then, voila, you have a meal that wasn't too much fuss and it was really good! Kind of like foil camping dinners. We also had to eat with our hands...Chad and I lasted about 2 minutes, if that.

So far the year is going fairly well with a few bumps in the road here and there, but it is nice to be together during the days. I am fully aware of what they are learning and know where they need the most help. That has been nice. I can also cater their learning towards their strengths while trying to improve upon their weaker subjects. It is also nice to plan field trips just to have a change of scenery. I consider having that kind of control and insight into their education a blessing and am grateful my heart was softened towards this alternative of schooling for them. It has been a learning experience for all of us. One that is too precious for us not to have tried. Of course I hope to remember this when my patience is worn thin and I am ready to lock myself in my bedroom with a half gallon of ice cream, but even then this will still ring true. I just may not want to admit it at that point. :)

7 comments:

Quincy Sorensen said...

It is fun to know what you are doing! :)

Glorious Sunrise Academy said...

You are AMAZING!! I always wonder how you can do it! I love that you home school!

snbjork said...

Awesome post. And good for you! I have very similar feelings about us homeschooling. I have to ask, how on earth do you break up the time between all your kids? Whenever I am trying to work with Alton, Evy always wants to watch and then she's distracting and vice versa. Any tips are welcome! =) Thanks, Sharon and good luck!

Amy said...

WOW, I am so amazed. How do you do it - do it well, I mean?? It seems like you've got it all under control. Impressive!! What are your plans for when Ansley comes (love the name btw)?

Dawn, said...

I so agree... I actually love how much I am 're-learning' too. Our average school days are done by noon (sometimes, older kids take a tad longer), and it is such a joy to then have so much of the day left to spend outside, inventing, and playing. We had lost the oh so important 'play' for so many years during the public schoolyear.... a real blessing to have it back in our lives! We don't actually start till the 13th, we get to run away with Shawn to a Dental convention in Destin, so we are enjoying our end of summer hurrah, and then we will get started. It is nice to take vacays whenever we need to as a family. Homeschooling is the hardest and best thing we have done. So glad it is going so well for you too!

kellibattraw said...

I'm glad you're sharing... it gives me ideas and hope for our future. :)

hope said...

You are an amazing mother!! I feel for those who have been steered in this direction due to poor experiences in public school. That is sad. But I am still a huge advocate of it!!! What a great thing!! I know you will ALL thrive on this.

And what amazing photography skills. I am going to have the hardest time with my next unit of school.... Portraiture. I love macro and landscape and even architecture. But portraiture scares me.... I just don't know how to interact with people to set up the picture. At least in nature and the city your subjects are already set up for you!!! LOL Speaking of which, I may need some test subjects throughout my unit. So if you don't mind me calling on your precious babes to set for my camera for a bit once in a while...

Anyway, great catching up!! You are an amazing mom!!!

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