Journey to Excellence

We pulled out of here on Friday as soon as Dawson got out of school to spend the weekend in Oklahoma. When we moved, I had promised that we would spend his 16th birthday weekend "back home" so he could spend time with his friends. So I am just now getting to my Weekly Wrap-up from last week. And we had a good week! Maybe it was because I planned out all of our lessons first thing last Saturday morning instead of last thing Sunday night. Maybe it was because I went back to having a fun unit study planned. Maybe it was a combination of both, but our week was the type of homeschooling week I love. Fire Safety. A highlight of our week was doing one of Eli's cub scout requirements. He drew a map of our house with an escape route in case of a fire. Then we practiced our escapes, including exiting out their bedroom window should that be necessary. We chose a meeting place outside and spent a lot of time discussing all of the "shoulds" and "should nots...

We just completed our first six weeks. On a 36 week schedule, that means we are already one-sixth of the way done with this school year. What? With six weeks under our belts, we are in a good schedule and have figured out what is and is not working for us. What's Working Starting our day between 10 and 11 a.m. each day is working well. The kids are up around 9:00 a.m. They get up and have plenty of time to play for a bit, have breakfast, get dressed and get ready for the day. Without rushing them along, I find that they are then ready to start schoolwork when I am ready. They usually end up playing the iPad anyway during this time, learning geography, history, math, or grammar. Starting our school time with Bible is the perfect way to start our day. The kids asked why we always start with Bible. I told them that God likes us to devote the first part of our day to Him each day. It just gets us in a good mood. They are loving our Bible curriculum, Stick Figuring Through t...

In my life this week ... This was what will probably be a typical week for us. I've gotten up each morning for my bike ride and walk after taking Dawson to school, and then come home for a full day of homeschooling with Eli and Brynne. Dawson went to a couple of high school volleyball games (which thrills me that he is getting involved in the social aspect of school) while Eli, Brynne and I enjoyed a quiet night at home. On Wednesday nights, the kids and I walk up to church with a potluck item for dinner before I have handbell choir practice. It is really great to see my little ones interact with the elderly members of our church. Then they get to hang out with my niece, Rylee, in childcare. We go for walks and see lots of family. It's busy, but nice and steady. In our homeschool this week ... This has been a yucky week. Tuesday was horrid. As I sit here I don't feel like we did anything! But then when I look at our display wall, I realize that we did lots of ...

Okay. Now we are back to normal, or the "normal" we are going to have this year. We successfully completed our first real full week of school. That means all subjects have been incorporated into our week. And, it was an excellent week! Let me start with Dawson. As you know, he decided to go back to public school now that we are in a small town. I knew he was ready and was excited for him to go to the same high school from where I graduated. The first couple of days were really hard, as they are for any new student at a new school. But this week has been much better. He has made some friends, knows kids in every class, is enjoying the majority of his classes, and is really getting into his schoolwork. He is feeling very confident academically, and I couldn't be happier with how seriously he is taking his work. I am very proud of him! (He did end up with a horrid cold at the end of the week, and had to come home from school at noon. He's been in bed ever since.) ...