Our First Day of School 2016-2017

 

 

Here we go!  Off to another year of school!  We are so excited about the curriculum that we have chosen for this year and think it will be a really good fit for our family.  I almost am ready to just say "First Day of School" on the kids school signs because grade levels are becoming so fluid for us, but the grades below are pretty much where they are/should be for this coming year!

 

Ryan -

 

Age:  6 1/2 years old 

Grade:  1st Grade

Favorite Subject: Reading / Phonics

Future Occupation:  Librarian at the Public Library and Union Pacific Train Engineer

 

 

Connor -

Age:  4 1/2 years old
Grade: Kindergarten
Favorite Subject: "Learning about Money" - Math
Future Occupation:  "Medical Person"
 

 

Luke -

Age:  3 years old
Grade: Preschool
Favorite Subject: Reading Stories
Future Occupation: Priest and a "Train Man"
 

Peter -

Age:  9 months old
Grade:  Nursery School
Favorite Subject:  Story time and Cuddling
Future Occupation:  ??
 

 

Each year we like to measure the kids in August to see how much they have grown in the past year!  It is amazing to see how much they have grown in only one year. Luke (3 years old) has grown the most in the past year, almost 5 1/2 inches (and is now in the 98% for height for his age!!)!  Wow!

 

 

Often times people ask why we are homeschooling or how we came to this decision.  We have lots of different reasons why it is working best for our family right now and I think our first day exemplified so many of those.  I got up for morning prayers and an outdoor run at 5:45am and came back home around 6:45 to find my husband awake with our 4 year old.  As I was unloading the dishwasher and tending to morning chores our 4 year old asked if he could do his school. 

 

"Of course", I said.

 

He was done with his individual book work by 7:30am (free to play and explore the rest of the day) and I was able to focus and give him attention when his brothers were still sleeping.  It wasn't what was on my schedule, but I have quickly learned that although it is good to plan it is even better to learn when and how to throw those plans out the window to do what works best for our family!

 

My husband worked all weekend (as an Emergency room physician he has constantly variable shifts) so he had our first day of school off work.  We were able to have a family breakfast after our oldest son woke up around 8am (I often think how I would need to be waking him up if he was in traditional school and I love that he can get sleep when he needs it when he is young and growing). 

 

 

We then went to morning mass and a lovely women who often attends the same morning mass as we do, came over to give our little ones some special "ice cream money" for a little treat for their first day!  I love the community and support that we have.

 

We got home around 10am, and I had done my meal planning over the weekend and ordered groceries on-line (best idea EVER) so they were being delivered just about the time we walked in.  It is such a treat not to have to take extra time out of my schedule with all of the kids with to get groceries!

 

Our oldest son wanted to do his book work at that time so he did as the middle kids played outside and then had story time and our baby took a short morning nap!

After that was lunch and then some extra learning all together!  We were all finished for the day around 1:30pm and they have plenty of time for play.  Also, since my husband was off work for the day he was able to take our oldest son out to play golf  and to a special trip to the local library for a while and the little ones went down for afternoon nap and I played a riveting game of Candy Land with our 4 year old! 

 

 

 

The best part of homeschooling for us is that we are all able to be together as a family.  We are able to attend daily mass together so we can all prioritize our faith together.  Our kids certainly fight and bicker, but they truly are the best of friends and could not imagine being separated from each other during the day.  I also love how nicely homeschooling fits in with my husband's variable work schedule so we can prioritize family time when he is home and off work.  I hope that as our children grow they always know and remember that faith and family comes first!

 

 

 

I also love how individualized homeschooling can be.  I look at the four faces of our little ones and realize what gifts they are from God.  I realize that through homeschooling I am blessed with a very unique opportunity to teach them what they are interested in, in a way that they can best gain new information.  I hope that God continues to grant me to be patient, understanding and open to teaching our children with grace.  As it says in one of my favorite homeschooling books Teaching From Rest:  A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie, "We may sit at His feet; we may begin our day with prayer, Bible reading, and supplication, but its our teaching and mothering transformed by it?  Do we really trust Him?  Do we live each day from a state of rest?"

 

We are excited for a great year!  These are the years I am going to remember, these are the years that I am going to hang onto.  I am so thankful to be with our children to watch them grow, learn and explore during these precious years.