• the voices of children spontaneously singing hymns in praise of God.
• finding children curled up in comfy spots around the house reading alone or to a sibling.
• children anxiously waiting for Daddy to read the nightly devotional.
• a proud little boy running from the bathroom shouting excitedly, “I went poo poo!”.
• the sight of siblings choosing to play together and hearing them call themselves ‘Best Friends’.
• hearing siblings encourage one another.
• a bubbly toddler filling the room with giggles.
• hearing the heartbeat of a new little life for the first time.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for these five precious gifts.

We currently have four children, a 7 year old 2nd grader, a 5 1/2 year old K student, a 3 1/2 year old preschooler, and an on the move 18 month old who wants to do everything the older ones do.  Homeschooling our four precious children can sometimes feel like a circus – Yes, you might even call it a 4 ring circus!

It is difficult to admit this, but I am hoping that it will encourage someone else…  I have experienced a very trying and tiring first month as I tried very hard to fit everything in that I wanted to do with the kids.  It created too long of days and too little down time for both our kids and for mom!  I was a few weeks into the start of the year and I was already feeling burned out – Definitely, NOT a good way to start.  I felt that I was daily performing in a circus act in which I was dropping all of the spinning plates!

I am still adjusting things and trying to make our weekdays more manageable.  Here are some things I have done, so far…
- cut down on the number of days we planned to do certain subjects (specifically grammar, structured writing, and science)
-moved the much wanted weekly nature walks to an ‘as the opportunity arises’ basis
-simplified spelling (I actually did away with the separate workbook and am now using words from what she is already learning in her ETC phonics book plus a couple sight words each week.)
-said ‘no’ to additional things outside the home that sounded beneficial and good, but would have added stress to our week
-worked on developing a good ‘flow’ to our day (We are finally starting to get into a good routine!  We are not on a timed schedule, but we have our flow from one activity to the next.)

Our Day Wall Schedule

As a note, ‘workboxes’ take a large portion of our mornings as it involves the older girls doing independent language arts and math as I rotate meeting with them (for reading, spelling, etc.) and their younger brother for preschool.  Once they finish their workboxes, they are free to play as they wait for the others.  We do MFW Bible, History, and Science all together.  Art and music, is generally, just with our 2nd and K children with the younger two coloring and/or listening in.

To someone walking in, our days may still seem to be somewhat disorderly, but it IS organized, thought out, AND the kids are learning.

So, without further ado, here are the stars of our show…

In Ring 1, we have our 2nd grader!
Here she is working on some independent language arts or math from her daily workbox…

reading and writing in her Bible notebook…

and reading aloud to mommy (and our toddler, if she can sit still long enough).

Ring 2:  Our kindergartner!
Our K child doing some independent work as well…

She loves to read and share books with her younger siblings!

Ring 3:  Our preschooler!
He can be found doing hands on educational activities or playing as his big sisters work with mom…

Ring 4:  Our toddler!
She can often be found in her dress up shoes and pushing different items around in her big brother’s dump truck…

or learning to color (scribble) and enjoying every minute of it!

I am also discovering that I need a large dose of grace for each day – both for myself and to pour out onto my kids.   There will always be diaper changes, discipline issues, a little extra loving from mom needing to be bestowed on our toddler, and occasionally asking an older sibling to play or read to the littlest one – things that sometimes just don’t seem to fit when we are in the ’school’ mode.  I need to remind myself frequently that we are, first of all, a family that happens to school at home.  I can’t let the curriculum and academics take precedence over love of family and relationship building within the home.  It truly does ALL go together and, no, it is not really a circus here.  Hopefully, on most days, it could be called a well coordinated balancing act.

Since, as homeschoolers, we don’t have the typical first day back to school requirements of needing to learn where things are, learning the names of all the kids in our class and playing getting to know you games, going through procedures for the cafeteria, rules for walking in the hallway, etc., we decided to have a fun filled first day to build excitement for the year!

Our ‘fun start Friday’ took place on July 3. What made this day extra special was that Daddy was home to enjoy it with us!

We began our day with a special number 1 (for Day 1) breakfast.  The kids had scrambled eggs spread out to form a numeral one, a strip of bacon, pancakes shaped as a numeral one, and tiger tail donuts that are long and skinny like a numeral one.  I know, I know.  It wasn’t very healthy, but it was something different and fun!  Each child had a sign on the back of their chair to indicate their ‘new’ grade level (2nd, Kindergarten, and 3’s Preschool) . Our oldest even decided that our toddler needed one for her chair, so she handwrote a sign saying ‘First day of toddler school’ and taped it to the back of the highchair!  They even had a new patriotic pencil waiting for them.  (It’s often the little things that can spark their excitement!)

Next, we took our first day of school photos.  It took awhile to get all four of our ’students’ to look in the same direction.

My husband and I then assisted the kids in filling out their ‘favorite things’ sheet.  We have not done this in the past and we thought it would be interesting to see how their favorite things and what interests them change from year to year.

Next, the girls excitedly received their binders for our MFW History curriculum and used  stickers, ribbons, and crayons to decorate the covers.  These binders will hold all of their drawings, writings, words to patriotic songs, state information sheets, etc. as we learn about the United States this year.

The three oldest kids made a festive fourth of July craft. 

Next, the older girls enjoyed their free choice reading time as the younger two got some read aloud time with Daddy.

Then, while at the swimming pool with Daddy, the oldest three practiced some things they had learned from their recent swim lessons.

We ate some homemade fourth of July fruit pops and then all of us took a field trip to go cherry picking for the first time!

That was our first day and the kids had a blast!   Next week, as part of the Not Back to School Hop, you will get a glimpse of what a more structured, typical, school day looks like for us. 

Hop on over to see other homeschool families on their first day!

This is week two of the NOT Back to School Blog Hop.  Last week, we had a ‘curriculum’ hop.  This week is a ‘school room‘ hop! I’m also submitting this post for The Homeschool Lounge 2009 Open House.

So, where do we actually do our ’school’?  As you can see from the photos below (mostly taken from last year) – just about anywhere and everywhere in our home!

Our kitchen island is a perfect spot for doing messy crafts, baking, science experiments, and any other tasks which need to be completed without precious toddler hands reaching for our work.

The kitchen table is good for coloring, writing, workbook work, hearing Bible stories during breakfast, etc.

In the living room, you might find us reading, watching a video, or playing a game to reinforce learning when the little one is napping.

Our office provides a comfy place to read next to lots of book choices!  Our oldest might also be working on typing up a story or putting her spelling words in ABC order.

In our basement, we have a large room divided by a partial half wall. The larger side is dedicated to a ‘playroom’ while the smaller side is a living room with space for schoolish type things.  On the ’school side’ of the playroom, the kids can be working at the table on independent work, having one one one teaching with mom, reading on the couch, listening to a book on tape, doing calendar, participating in hands on literacy and math games (tucked inside the closet), or using the magnets and wipe board for word work.

We’ve even done school up in the bedrooms – finishing up on history read alouds during the younger kids’ rest times.

I feel that we truly utilize the space in our home that God has blessed us with.

Next week, join us for a peek at our first day of school!

Bible and Devotions (with the oldest 3 kids)

1. Bible Notebook  – The older two girls read a section and then draw and write about it.  I read aloud to the younger two children and talk briefly about what was read.
2. Hymns for a Kids Heart: Volume 1 – We hope to learn and sing one new hymn a month.
3. Leading Little Ones to God

History / Geography

Adventures in My Father’s World from My Father’s World Curriculum is our choice for this school year.  It includes a Bible study of the names of Jesus, science (which we are modifying slightly since we did most of the experiments last year), history of the exploration and founding of the United States, a state by state study,  hands on projects, integrated narration and copywork, read alouds, and music which includes learning to sing patriotic songs as well as to appreciate the music of Tchaikovsky.

Science

1. Sonlight Discover and Do Level 1 Science (experiments with light, water, and magnets)
2. Nature Study – I finally have a copy of the Handbook of Nature Study by Ann Comstock and am going to TRY to incorporate a weekly nature walk.

Art

1. Art Appreciation – We are continuing to use the Come Look With Me series.  This year we plan to use Come Look With Me: Art in Early America and Come Look With Me: Exploring Landscape Art with Children.
2. How to Teach Art to Children (from Evan Moor)
3. Draw Write Now – I’ve coordinated some of the lessons in books 2, 3, and 5 with the MFW learnings.  Our K student will only be doing the drawing portions, but her older 2nd grade sister will be expected to do the writing portion as well.

Reading / Language Arts /Math

our 2nd grader…

1. Readers:  Abeka 2nd grade readers, Sonlight 2nd grade intermediate readers and then the 2A readers when she is ready, free choice reading on her own
2. Explode the Code books 5 and 6 for phonics
3. Building Spelling Skills -  I plan to just choose 10 of the words they have listed each week.  She also needs more practice with spelling sight words.
4. A Reason for Handwriting Book T – We plan to use half of this book for 2nd grade and the second half for 3rd.  This series has the child practice writing a few letters and words each day that pertain to a certain Bible verse.  Then, on the last day, the child copies the full verse neatly.
5. Grammar: Daily Language Review and Grammar and Punctuation (both from Evan Moor)
6. Write On Target for Grades 1&2
7. Horizons Math (completing Level 1 and heading into 2)
8. Flashcards
9. Hands on Math games from Right Start

our Kindergartner…

1. Readers: Abeka 1st grade readers, Sonlight readers (She is reading the first grade already and even the 2R and 2I levels on her own, so I will probably just let her pick each day what she wants to read to me.), free choice reading on own
2. Explode the Code books 1-3 for phonics
3. Hands on sight word spelling
4. A Reason for Handwriting Book A
5. Can You Find Me? (k-1)
6. Horizons Math Level K (continuing from last year)
7. Hands on Math games from Right Start

our preschooler…

1. Bible and Rhyme for 3’s (not the full curriculum)
2. Playdough mats, learning puzzles, hands on games and manipulatives
3. Can You Find Me? (preschool)
4. potty training  =)

our toddler…

1. play, play, play =)
2. books with mommy and siblings

Lifeskills and Extracurricular Activities

1. The Quiet Art Series Lessons in Responsibility for Girls Level 1 for ages 6-8 (from Pearables)
2. Playing the Recorder – Our 2nd grader is using My First Hymnal and is doing it at home with Daddy.
3. Gymnastics (oldest two girls)
4. AWANA – We have two Sparks and a Cubbie now!
5. Some homeschool outings/ field trips with other families in our church.

Okay, that sure looks like a LOT all written out!  We began mid July and trying to fit everything in each week has been a challenge.   I think I’ve concluded that the curriculum we have chosen is appropriate, but the implementation of it needs to be adjusted (For example, how many days a week we try to do grammar or how the readers are scheduled may be changed a bit to make it more manageable.)  So, we may be tweaking here and there as our school year gets into full swing =)

Hop on over to see what other homeschoolers are planning for their children or share what you have decided!  I hope to participate in the other weeks of the Not Back to School Blog Hop.  Next week, it’s a school room hop!  Take a peek at where we ’school’.

“faithful mothering requires faithful sowing” 

Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

Lord Jesus, help me to press on and to be faithful in training and teaching our little ones for Your glory.

Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin

He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

(Chorus)
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn

(Chorus)

All I hope is in You
All I hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

(Chorus)

Blessed Redeemer, we celebrate and give praise to You this Easter morning!

Homeschooling is NOT…
- all about the academics (although it is important and I was trained that way).
- a daily checklist of things we must do (although I am wired that way).

Homeschooling IS…
3) freedom and flexibility.
We have freedom and flexibility in our daily schedule, freedom to choose and/or create curriculum that fits the learning styles and needs of our children, freedom from assigned homework, flexibility to pace instruction to each child’s level, and freedom to work with the strengths and weaknesses of each child in order to develop their God given talents and calling.

2) family.
We have an increased opportunity to work on nurturing sibling relationships, encourage respect, show compassion to one another, model forgiveness, and learn to be others focused as we work together, day by day, as a family.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4

1) discipleship.
We get the privilege and high calling to lead our little ones to the One and Only Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are able to treasure Christ with our children through songs, Bible reading, Scripture memory, and heart training.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19

… just because I need to be reminded from time to time as we press on during this journey.

So, you would have thought that my husband and I would have been thinking ahead to what our plans would be for when those first teeth finally did decide to come out – but no.  The morning after her first tooth fell out, I was scrambling, searching online in an attempt to find an alternative to the Tooth Fairy.  Yes, I realize that we are bucking tradition and that just about every child in America has or will be visited by the well loved, albeit mysterious Tooth Fairy.  Just like in our discussions of the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, we have decided to be truthful about what we convey to our children regarding the Tooth Fairy.

So, here is our family’s new tradition as our children lose their first baby teeth…

1) Read aloud books about losing teeth and traditions around the world regarding what happens when children lose their teeth.  Here are two great books…
Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Traditions From Around the World by Selby Beeler (Not every culture has a Tooth Fairy!  In many places around the world, children are visited by mice who take their teeth in exchange for a small coin or gift.  Others throw their tooth on the roof, bury it in the ground, or feed it to animals.  Ask them which they think is the funniest, strangest, or most similar to our family’s tradition.  Read a few entries at a time, locating the countries on a map or globe.)
Little Rabbit’s Loose Tooth by Lucy Bate (This is a sweet story about a rabbit that loses her first tooth and can’t decide if she wants to believe in the tooth fairy, hinting that her mommy and daddy are the real tooth fairies.)

2) Have the child place their tooth in a pocket pillow and hang it outside their door.  (They know the Tooth Fairy is mommy and daddy! Our oldest decided it was best to hang the pillow outside the door so that the “Tooth Mommy” wouldn’t accidentally wake her up in the middle of the night =) )

3) For the very first tooth, they get a special bead charm with 20 beads to represent their 20 baby teeth. They will get to move one bead each time a tooth falls out.  We will also scrapbook this rite of passage with a photo, date, and explanation for how and where their tooth came out.
(The tooth pillow and tooth counting chain were both found at The Silver Penny.)

4) For the other teeth that fall out, they will get either a gold foiled chocolate coin OR a coin from a foreign country to begin an around the world coin collection.  Hopefully, we decide that before the next tooth falls out!

So, there you have it!  Since, our oldest wasn’t too keen on trying to throw her tooth on the roof and hop around our house on one foot while we all laughed, we now have ‘The Tooth Mommy’ and a new family tradition!

Our one year old has really taken to eating table food, much quicker than our other three did.  Often we can barely get it on her tray before she is already going to town on dinner. 

Being a one year old, she doesn’t get everything to her mouth and we have some really nice pocket bibs that catch the food.  When we take the tray off, she squeals a little as she finds the remains that didn’t make it to her mouth and gets another portion.  I have coined this as ‘Happiness in a Bib.’

Tonight we had pizza casserole and she really liked it.  I couldn’t get a bite before her tray was empty and was signing for more.  When we took the tray off this time, the pocket was pretty full and her big brother said, “That’s Happiness!”