Friday, August 17, 2012

Adventures in Homeschooling...

Elie *officially* started Kindergarten in July. We have had 18 days of school since then. I am going to be working two days a week in the fall, so I thought we would start doing school a few days a week in the summer to compensate. One thing is for sure, doing school consistently will be a LOT easier when it is rainy and cold outside. As it is, 18 days is not much to show for a months worth of time. =) I have learned SO much in that time period though. I am really excited to start "real" school this fall. I fully recognized that the first few weeks.. uh hem.. years might be a lot of trial and error and every day I learn something. Elie is doing WAY better than I anticipated her doing. She is such a smart kid and is so open to learning (properly presented material). I am learning a lot about how she learns and who she is. I did an online assessment for her math in order to know which curriculum to buy and she tested into first grade math. So far, we haven't hit anything that was really new to her. She is also doing such a great job reading!

We will be starting Classical Conversations in a few weeks. It is a Christian organization that provides supplemental material for homeschool families. Elie (and I) will be attending once a week for three hours. We will learn SO much. I am very anxious to get started. I am also praying that we will both make some good friends. It will be good for her to get some "classroom" experience and spend regular time getting instruction with someone other than me.

I have sort of ignored Lainey for the last few years. Not really ignored her, but with Elie I spent so much time doing songs and finger play and working with her on colors and shapes and all that. Lainey was/is so busy playing with Elie that I haven't really done any of that with her. Elie being in school has given me the opportunity to spend some pointed time with Lainey too. When Elie is doing copy work or a math worksheet, I am spending some one on one time with Lainey. I can also include Lainey in a lot of what I do with Elie; bible stories, memory verses, "circle time", etc. It has been really great and I am learning how unique she is.


Homeschooling also provides a whole new opportunity for me to grow as a person and put more confidence in myself. I (and I hope I am not alone in this) am constantly second guessing my choices and decisions in regards to my kids. I am so worried I am going to do something that will screw them up for life. Now, not only can I potentially emotional scar them, damage their bodies by feeding them sugar or non organic peanut butter, I have the potential to destroy their hopes and dreams of going to Harvard or Yale. I think we are doing pretty well and then I look on Pinterest and see these mom's whose homeschool rooms are cute and crafty and organized, where the kids are learning three languages and are reading Hemingway in Kindergarten AND having time for karate, soccer, swimming and arts and craft classes. The feelings of inadequacy can so easily start to drown me. I have to work every day to be comfortable in doing my best and showing that to my daughters. We all carry calculators everywhere anyway, right?