First day of school

School is back in session at our house.  I'm not sure how long our summer was, but I always wonder if it's the "104 days of summer vacation" that Phineas and Ferb sing about.  If you don't have young kids, you probably aren't familiar with this cartoon, but feel free to ask Drew and Knox about it anytime.  They can tell you all about it.  :)

 

Ever since getting home from the FPEA Homeschool Convention in May I have been thinking about and planning for our upcoming year.  We have many changes taking place.  One of the biggest changes has to do with Ellis.  Last year Ellis was still taking a morning nap and we were able to get a lot of school done uninterrupted.  Davis was pretty good about entertaining himself, or working on a few preschool activities with us at the table.  This year will be different since Ellis doesn't nap until after lunch.  So while I will primarily be working with Drew and Knox, Ellis and Davis will also be with us.  This means there will be a few more "breaks" scheduled than in the past.  :)

 

The reason I am getting school started a little earlier this year is because I have created a schedule for Drew and Knox to follow.  I want to have an opportunity to try it out and make adjustments before our co-op begins next month.  Also, this will allow us to take some days off here and there when needed.  Our co-op plans several fun field trips we can participate it, but I am also learning that there are just times when we need a school holiday. :)

 

I try to make the beginning of school a special event so that the kids look forward to it.  I know many people who do year round school, and that is definitely something I would consider.  For now, I like the traditional schedule of taking the summer off.  But, doing that does create somewhat of a shock when it's time to get back on our school schedule again.

 

One of the things I like to do to add some excitement to our upcoming year is to allow the kids to look through their curriculum before starting school.  Our first official year homeschooling we used a curriculum called Sonlight, which is filled with fun and colorful books.  I remember when it arrived in a big box and the kids loved getting to look through and discover these new books.  So this year I divided up each of their school books and included some fun items I picked up at the convention, Target, and other random places.  Each child had a box filled with their specific school items and we allow time for them to discover what will be a part of their upcoming school year.  They love this and it helps to get them excited for the first day.  They think about which book they want to read, or what new manipulative they may get to use.  Drew and Knox both got new Lego accessories to create gladiators and Lego bible movies created by a homeschool dad and his sons.  Davis got several fun workbooks, stamps, and an Imaginets kit.  Ellis got some lip-gloss (that girl already loves make-up), sticker books, triangle shaped crayons, and a few other treats.

 

Included in our new school schedule is a reading time, so I took a little corner and put a bean bag and some baskets.  One basket is for the big boys, and one is for Davis and Ellis.  I am intending to change out a few books here and there each week to add to the excitement of looking in their baskets.  I bought several books at the homeschool convention so I'm going to try and release them a few at a time.  Also, I thought they could put a few of their library books in there to choose from.

 

 

The night before school we present the kids with a goody bag that is filled with some new school items like notebooks, pencils, scissors, etc.  Several years ago I found these really cute printables on line that we use to mark what year of school the kids are in.  It's what we use for their first day of school picture. :)

 

Here they are exploring their goody bags.

 

 

On the back of their school year sign Andy and I write a personal message to each of them about the upcoming school year.  Andy is usually the one to read it to each of them.  Even though Drew can read it himself, he said he wanted Andy to read it to him, which I thought was sweet. :)

 

Today was our official first day, and as you can see it's not unusual for us to school in our pj's.  ;)  I am trying a new system this year for the little ones where I am giving the older boys a "buddy" for the day.  I thought about making a permanent buddy, but I think it will be good for them to take turns having an opportunity to spend more time with both of the littles.  Today Knox was Ellis's buddy and he helped her do things like get toothpaste on her toothbrush, bring her juice to breakfast, and sharpen pencils (plural).  Today Ellis discovered our electric pencil sharpener.  :)  Drew helped Davis with several things, including a new counting bear activity book, which they worked on so that I could have some time to work one on one with Knox.  Hopefully this will be a way to allow the littles to have more interaction with us during school time, but also a way to allow me to have some teaching time with Drew and Knox.

 

I am so excited about this upcoming school year.  The Lord has been opening my eyes to some areas that I am hoping to work on.  One of them is to be more present with my kids.  In the past I have definitely allowed distractions to keep me from being "all there" with my kids.  I'm the first to admit that school days can be long, especially if you don't leave the house, but I am trying to minimize some of the things that were helping me to "escape" when the day got to be too long.  I've been praying and asking the Lord to reveal to me the things that I need to get rid of and to not just reveal them to me, but to take away the desire to spend my time on certain things.  Maybe I'll blog about that later.  :)  For now, I'm finding that He is answering those prayers and I am excited to see what this year has in store for us.  As I wrote on each of the kids school signs...."I am so happy that I get to be your teacher".  I really mean that.  It's a gift and a blessing that I don't want to take for granted. :)