Kindergarten!

In talking with people, I've learned that there is a wide-variety of views and opinions of education....what it should look like and how it should be done.  I've also learned that, by and large, those opinions are fairly strong.  My disclaimer here is that this post is not an endorsement for or against homeschooling.

Shaun and I have spent quite a bit of time discussing and praying about the best school scenario for our children.  Our kids are quite different from each other so we're not even sure we're in a one-size-fits-all situation.  For this year, we have chosen to homeschool Avery.

She is familiar with it because her cousins have been doing it for years and she didn't really talk about school a whole lot because...well, she's five and its just not something that comes in conversation with her friends, apparently.  We went and bought new pencils, folders, crayons, etc and she got excited.

I'm approaching the year with low to no expectations.  I know people who are overwhelmed with having a part-time job.  I know people who are overwhelmed with having three small children.  I know people who are overwhelmed with starting up a new business.  Oh, and a husband, house and laundry.  Well, I have all those things going on and more and I love all of it and do occasionally get overwhelmed, so to commit to homeschooling...well, I just didn't want to start out huge and set myself up for failure.

My goal is one hour a day, four days a week.  We're having a great time so far!  It works well to do it in the morning while Aiden is eating breakfast and he and Amanda are watching Sesame Street.  Or, if he gets up earlier and is finished eating by 10 AM, I send the two little ones to play in the girls room.  They are used to playing by themselves and do well with it.  Seemingly better without Avery even.  Sometimes Shaun is even around and will take whoever.

So far we are using "over-the-counter" workbooks that we've gotten as birthday/Christmas gifts.  We are also firm believers that all the education a person could ever need can be gotten from the public library.  A friend gave me a workbook a while back that helps facilitate this philosophy.  It provides recommended readings of children's literature and then it breaks down lessons in most subjects based on that one book.  Its really enough material to last us to two weeks.  There are a million and one resources available, like some incredible blogs, so I'm looking forward to trying different things.

So....three weeks in, and its been a good experience.  Praying that God grants us wisdom for next year.

Here's a peek at what homeschooling looks like around here.....

Avery on her first day of school, the day after Labor Day (WHAT?!?  We have a school-aged child??  When did this happen?)

Sometimes we are in the living room, other times outside

or sitting ON the kitchen table

or at the dining room table.

Train a child in the way he should go, and 

when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6