I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
We got a small taste last week of what homeschool can look like. It definitely does not look like traditional school. I still feel a little crazy to think I can be the kids' teacher, but I hope that with every successful day (defined very loosely of course), my confidence will grow.
On Monday, homeschool looked like wallowing in a new bucket of geometric shapes. The kids didn't come up for air for nearly an hour.
I wrote a nice "Why I want a clean house" mission statement (more like a prayer): Lord, bless all who enter my home, and fill them with your peace. Release me from chaos, so I can focus on the needs of others.
On Tuesday, homeschool looked like creating a new animal out of clay, and naming it. Adam had a tough job naming all the animals, you know! Miss Boo's creation received the title of doliphant (part dolphin, part elephant), although I see more resemblance to jet plane, hummingbird, and aardvark.
For my project, I cleaned out the fridge and freezer. Only took 15 minutes due to it having been cleaned three months ago. Love that!
On Wednesday, homeschool looked like building a musical instrument, to celebrate that music has been around almost since the beginning. Lots of hammering in the garage happened on this day. We also visited the library.
I started out trying to get my kitchen counters cleared off, but got mired in the details. We accidentally paid the mortgage twice, resulting in some administrative distractions including a lengthy visit to the bank.
On Thursday, homeschool looked like buildling a puzzle map of Africa while we made cards to send a girl we sponsor in Malawi, through World Vision. We also made beads for the baby to string, and baked cookies.
Also on Thursday, we did that egg-on-the-sidewalk thing you may have heard me talking about. What a fiasco! First it didn't cook as fast as I expected, even in 106 degree temps on a black asphalt street. But I couldn't wait around because it was dinner time. I carried the baby back inside, set her down--and slipped a disk in my back.
After crawling into the living room and laying on the floor for ten minutes, I finished making dinner and dragged myself to my writers' group meeting, forgetting all about the egg. By the time I checked it at 10pm, it had cooked after all.
Never did clean out the stove and microwave, but they were pretty neat so I'm still okay.
By Friday, my back hurt, my intentions were melted in the heat, and it was time for a pool party and some grocery shopping. We did zero school, and ended the week with a house in its usual state of slight disarray. Ah, well. It was a week, and I will count it as such. I met several new friends, both online and in person, that encourage me.
I have no idea what Friday's cleaning assignment was. Doesn't matter, I didn't do it. Weekends are for catching up, so that's why I built only 5 projects into each week. Unfortunately, we also spent the entire weekend getting out of the house, so my Monday morning is looking pretty scary already. Guess I'll just back up to day 3, on top of the neverending laundry mountain, and aim to finish goals 3-7 this week.
Not feeling especially victorious after one week, but not yet beaten down and discouraged, either. I suppose if you ask, "How's it going?" I would have to say, "About what I would expect after the first lap of 36. Anything can still happen!"
This week, we will work toward a getting-started routine that includes breakfast, getting dressed, and a little Bible time; then we will do math first, followed by our Mystery of History lessons. As time permits, we will set up a roly-poly observation station and start asking questions.
We will also be working in a visit to Discount Tire; a trip to the chiropractor for me; and 8-10 hours of writing time as I work on a workshop class, an interactive discipleship "party" for a half dozen pre-tweens, and a Bible study lesson.
What does your homeschool week look like?
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| This post is linked up with the Hip Homeschool Hop. Because I'm chill like that. |
It sounds like you had a great week! All those distractions and interruptions used to aggravate me, but now I realize they're all part of the learning experience that is homeschooling.
ReplyDeleteWe started math, reading, and language arts last week. We're still taking off on Tuesdays to finish out the Summer Movie Clubhouse (CHEAP movies) series we began in June.
I'm hoping to get everything together this week so that next week we can begin Adventures in My Father's World, which will get us up to a full schedule (science and social studies added in!). Over the next several weeks, we'll add AWANA and dance classes, so we'll really be hopping by mid-September.
Thanks for sharing your week. You inspire me! :)
Sounds like a great start! So much hands-on fun! And it sounds like you got much done even with the back.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't officially started school here in Texas. Good thing as we've been passing around a nasty stomach bug! :-
We do a workshop approach to homeschool. We do reading workshop in which the kiddos read a book at their level and do a reading response. We do Math U See combined with mathematics investigations during our math workshop time. Then it's time for our daily journal writing and word work. The afternoon is finished off with project time. This includes sharing what is learned through the creative arts. Our theme studies are incorporated throughout the day.
And of course there is breakfast, laundry, dirty dishes . . . the kiddos help with these also.
Stopping in from HHH.
It may not have followed the plan, but it seems like a pretty good beginning to me. And I loved the clay animals! Keep on keeping on.
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