Back to School!

We are currently in our second year of homeschooling and the kids are rocking it out! 

Lucy Mills and I had a great first year getting our feet wet in this homeschooling journey.  I will always treasure that year where we had that one on one time.  This year looks slightly different - I decided to keep McClain home from 4k preschool this year so that we could all be on the same schedule.  I was a little anxious about how homeschooling two children would be, with one reading and one not even interested, but it has been great.  

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday both children do school at home with me.  We are usually finished around 11:30.  Then we enjoy a picnic and park with friends, attend a gymnastics class, get to a piano lesson, or plan a field trip.  

Also new to our schedule is Tuesdays at Excelsior Academy.  The kids attend a school for homeschooling from 10-3pm where they have classes in Literature, History, Spanish, Art, Music, Theater, and Science.  I love that they get a day in the classroom with peers and teachers who are experts in their field yet maintain a sweet, Christian environment.  (And added bonus - mom gets a day to run errands in peace!) 

So far Lucy Mills and McClain have been all smiles at pick up time.  I'm so thankful for this sweet school. 

On Thursdays we have stayed with the Classical Conversations program.  I stay on campus this day and alternate being in Lucy Mills or McClain's class.  We have an encouraging group of friends at this community and I am amazed at how much the kids learn.  The main part of our homeschool during the week revolves around the CC program.  

Each Thursday the classes do a science experiment, discuss and do either Art or Music, Geography, History, Latin, Math, and English Grammar.  

McClain's class is taught by the wonderful Mrs. Sara who has the patience of Jesus.  She teaches the 4/5's class and all of the information she gives them always points back tot God and His design. 

She teaches them catchy tunes to go along with the memory work.

McClain loves when the "Gertie Goose" puppet comes to teach Geography. 

Lucy Mills'  class is all girls and taught by my dearest friend Mrs. Mary Catherine!  

Here is Mrs. Mary Catherine putting on something silly out of the costume box for every answer the girls get correct! 

Lucy Mills brought be the picture she learned how to draw in CC Art.  We learned that you can make a picture by using a straight line, a curved line or a dot.  And here is her owl! 

Homeschooling has been a blessing to our family.  Some weeks are extremely challenging and I fight feelings of being overwhelmed.  But most weeks I adore the time learning alongside my children.  I love the quote from Sarah McKenzie's book Teaching From Rest: 
"Can we live and teach from a state of rest? My prayer is that we will.  But we must approach the Holy Spirit every single day, asking Him to lead us and quiet our anxious souls so that we can really bless our children - not with shiny curriculum or perfect lesson plans, but rather with purposeful, restful spirits." 

Homeschooling So Far...

"So how's homeschooling going?" is the question I get more often than not.  And the God's honest truth is I can't believe we've almost made it through our first year!! It has been such a blessing.  Some days are hard and some run smoothly, but overall I am thankful that I have had this time to be with Lucy Mills and pour into her.  

The fall was great.  When fall started we dropped McClain off at preschool and then headed home for some one-on-one time to plow through that day's assignments.  I am astounded by what the mind of a five year old is capable of learning (and remembering!!)  She absorbs information like a sponge and pushes herself without much prompting from me.  This semester she has really taken off reading and I love seeing her desire for learning increase. 

We usually hit up our local library a few times a week.  We love books.  

On Thursdays we are a part of our community's Classical Conversations.  What a gift this group of like-minded families has been for us.  Lucy Mills has really responded well to the classical model of education, and after much prayer we have decided to stick with this path again next year. 

Her tutor (it's her teacher at CC, but we refer to them as tutors because parents are the teachers at home) could not be anymore amazing.  Mrs. Fudge makes school fun for these kiddos and she is so gentle with these 5 and 6 year olds.

Every week at CC each student has to get in front of the class to do a presentation on a different subject.  The assigned topics vary from choosing a favorite Bible story, Bible verse, dressing up and acting like a favorite person from history. A few times she has done a demonstration of an activity.  This week she is giving some interesting facts about a president.  Lucy Mills chose James Madison - our fourth president.  (I'm enjoying getting my education all over again with her!) 

Another homeschooling perk (other than attending class in your undies!) is that we are free to spend time talking about character qualities, what the Bible has to say about certain things, and teaching them to pray for our day and for others.  

We are blessed with sweet friends to do life alongside this path.  

When I asked Lucy Mills what her favorite subject has been this year she said Latin.  She does not get this from me...like I said I'm learning right alongside her. 

Since we finish our schoolwork right before lunchtime, we head to pick up McClain from preschool, then meet up with other homeschooling friends at the park on pretty days.  I pack picnic lunches for the kids and they have a few hours to run around, play with friends, and enjoy childhood.  

Our schedules have allowed time to do new activities.  Both children have started gymnastics and both love it.  

Lucy Mills has started piano lessons with the sweetest teacher, Ms. Emily. We've been told Lucy Mills has a great listening ear for hearing music.  

Both kids are playing on a soccer team this spring.  Their best bud William is playing, and his dad is the coach.  McClain is a little young this year but we wanted to include him.  Lucy Mills on the other hand dominates the ball and runs those boys up and down the field.  

She also loves tennis.  We took a little break from practice over the winter months but now she's back out on the courts.  She says this sport is her favorite. 

Homeschooling is a mixed bag.  Somedays I am beyond thankful that I have the opportunity to be with my child and be her teacher.  Other days I question myself and wonder what in the world have I gotten myself into?  Being mother and teacher is a lot to tackle sometimes.  But I truly feel like God has laid this calling on my heart and I want to see it through until He gives me a peace to switch paths.  And my little student is thriving.  She loves to learn, she loves that boost of confidence from seeing herself succeed, and she loves being with me.  Our relationship has grown much tighter and much sweeter over the course of this year.  She is growing into a little girl who I geniunly enjoy spending time with, having conversations with, and just being around.  Life seems to be passing by faster and faster, but I will always be thankful for this time I've had with my sweet girl.  Time I can't get back. 

Skytop

Our homeschool group does a fantastic job organizing fun field trips for our kiddos.  We tagged along to go apple picking at SkyTop apple orchard during October.  It was a beautiful fall day in the mountains and now when I ask McClain where apples come from he doesn't say Publix. 

Schooling with the best of 'em

As summer draws to a close, our family is embarking on a new chapter that has been years in the making.  Lucy Mills completed 4k at preschool last spring and Travis and I have prayerfully made the decision to homeschool her this year.  Sooooo much research, reading, observing schools, observing homeschool classes offered, devouring curriculum options, talking with trusted friends who have journeyed this route, wrestling with my own concerns -  all of it has played a role in where we stand today.  

Homeschooling is something I NEVER imagined doing.  I've had to examine the crevices of my heart as to why I feel lead in this direction.  Travis and I both had wonderful experiences with private schools growing up.  We live within a mile of a fantastic public school - one of the best in the state in fact.  One reason we are keeping our daughter home this year is because she has a late August birthday and would have still been four when school began, and the youngest in her class.  But something much larger than that won my heart for this path.  

When Lucy Mills was only two weeks old I was blessed to be a part of a dear friend's bible study where I was a part of the most wonderful group of mothers.  Women who encouraged me and helped me as a new {sleep-deprived!} mom.  We studied a book titled The Mission of Motherhood where the author opened my eyes that I have the power to influence my child's heart for eternal purposes.  At this young and impressionable age, I want to be able to help develop her character, I want to process life together, and to be a part of the "light-bulb moments" as she learns new things.  In the end, I want the time with my daughter.  

I don't think this is a "forever" path for us {goodness we may be enrolled in school by January!!}  But I know that now is the time to give it a shot.  To put our hands to the plow and Lord willing, reap a harvest.  And let me make it known that this child will not be unsocialized. 

She will have plenty of time away from mama and with friends and other adults.  We are excited to start science class at the zoo, tennis camp, AWANA, and Classical Conversation {a school for homeschooling students that meets one day a week} And of course plenty of time for field trips and adventures with fiends. 

I decided to get our feet wet with some structure to our school day the last week of July.  Basically it just gets too hot to be active outdoors this time of year, and I wanted time to see how things would look before adding in the extra activities this fall.  We love school!  Every morning {and I mean every!} Lucy Mills heads to the school room after breakfast and asks to do school work.  I am learning that her love language is quality time - so this is working out beautifully.  

She is learning to read, learning U.S geography, some math, and handwriting.  Once she begins her class on Thursdays she will add in more math, latin, science, history, Bible and music/art.  Whew! It's a lot for me much less a {soon to be} five year old! But she absolutely loves it.  Almost everyday in the middle of our school work she stops what she is doing and looks at me and says "you're just the best mommy ever." I'm thankful that God has inclined her heart to enjoy this journey so far.  I can only imagine how regretful I'd feel if it were a struggle to get our work completed and our attitudes in check.  

And where is Mr. McClain during all of our school shenanigans?  Right beside us...sometimes involved, but mostly playing or occupying himself with books or dinosaurs or something.  He starts preschool back after Labor Day and I think we all will be right where we belong for this season of life. 

Wish us luck!