We have one month of homeschool under our belts and I am already making changes, which isn’t surprising at all if you have been following us at all. After fighting the kids each and every day to get to lessons I have decided to pull out some of our old Funschool Journals and this has made our days so much better. I haven’t started with Benjamin yet, but we will next week.
One of the things that I need to work on is letting go. Letting go of the timetables and being ok with the kids doing their work on their own timetable. I have no problem with helping them find resources, but when it looks like they are “waisting time” it drives me crazy.
Co-Op Updates and Changes
If you remember last year we were part of a Charlotte Mason co-op that I helped to found. After spending much time in conversation with my husband we decided that for the health of our family it would be best for our family not to continue this co-op in the spring semester. I announced this decision recently at the park after co-op. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Tallahassee Homeschool Group has been amazing. All the kids love their classes and are learning so much and developing great friendships. Planning for the Spring semester has started, but with my own schooling and how busy I am I don’t think that I am going to teach any classes, but I may sign up to be a helper.
Planning
I have a bullet journal from Archer and Olive that I am using to document our homeschool and what we are doing as well as any changes that are being made. One thing I struggle with is being consistent but I am working on making that a priority. I think that it will make a wonderful keepsake.
Math Woes
Why is math such a problem? I don’t know about you but math is the one subject I have a hard time with each year. I still haven’t settled on a math for the kids yet. Ethan has been using Teaching Textbooks but I’m not sure how much he is actually retaining. I got Right Start Math to use but it is just so teacher intensive. I think we will continue with the games that are part of Right Start though. Rosalynn really enjoys playing Prodigy so I like to encourage that for her. I really think that we need a spiral approach to math and really would like to find one that has a video lesson component (which is why I like Teaching Textbooks).
Celebrating Fall
For the littles I am going to go through the computer and find all the Fall/October/Halloween enrichment printables that I have and really spend some one on one time with them so they aren’t just running around all day long. Some of the things we do have planned for October is Wild and Free hikes, a butterfly lesson at the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, a few different Cub Scout events as well.
All in all September has been a good month, we have had a great kick off to the new school year and I am excited about some of the changes I am making.
