I wrote this at the end of last year as a way to remember what homeschooling looked like for us. I know this new year will be different in some ways, and I'm looking forward to seeing it take shape...
Eva likes to start her school first thing in the morning. She wakes bursting with energy, singing songs at full volume, wanting the day.
Eva likes to start her school first thing in the morning. She wakes bursting with energy, singing songs at full volume, wanting the day.
Lately, Elijah helps her read the instructions for her phonics pages. He reads the sounds aloud, and she circles the corresponding pictures. She is so proud to be doing real schoolwork. Elijah has also started to really enjoy reading aloud to his sister, which has really impressed her. She LOVES school and has been begging me, "Teach me to read!"
It doesn't take long to do her preschool work, and she runs off to play with her little brothers. Eva loves to be a little mama to them. I captured a few moments of her taking care of her brothers while Elijah and I worked on his first grade work. She sat in the rocking chair and they climbed to join her. She read them a book on trucks while they shouted "Gaga!" (Truck!) at each page. Then she loaded them in their swings (by herself!) and pushed them for a while. Then they trucked in and watched Baby Signing Time together.
And this is how school has been working for us... I snuggle with Peter and Joseph and read them some books while Elijah helps Eva. Elijah plays with his brothers while I work with Eva. Eva plays with Peter and Joseph while I work with Elijah. The little boys nap in the afternoon and Elijah finishes his independent work. We do memory work in the car and listen to the history book as an audio book. Peter and Joseph sing the history sentences we memorize along with the big kids. You should hear their little voices chime in about the fall of Rome or the Anasazi ("SaaaZeeee!" They shout.)
The classical school we go to once a week has been a key piece to our homeschool. The structure, content and support it gives us has been so valuable. We also attended a science class every other week this year (Elijah's favorite subject. No surprise there!) We've managed to do lots of field trips, zoo trips, museum visits despite the general craziness of leaving the house with 2 toddlers. Ha!
It's worked. And though it's been hard, I've loved it, too. I loved being the one to teach Elijah to read and watching as this year it clicked for him, where now we have to tell him to turn out the light, stop reading and go to sleep. I love the time I have with them, and the bond they are developing with each other.
