Planning, Planning

I have read a LOT of homeschooling blogs lately! Some just for fun and some to really learn from. Most veteran homeschoolers will tell you that when starting a new year, take...it...sllloooow! As in: Don't plan to do to much, too soon. It's, sort of, a "duh" but as a new homeschooler, the words are welcomed. Because you're teaching your family, it's hard to stop yourself from doing anything and everything! 

Right now I'm planning. Not necessarily scheduling, but planning so that I'm not sitting around Sunday evening (usually the only night John and I have quiet time together) thinking of what to do the following week. I've made it to December with a general idea of what I want to do for the month and a few "musts" for some days (i.e. birthdays, co-op day, holidays, community oriented days, ect). 

I'm really excited, now. I really believe I'm making the right decision for my family, at this time. I'm excited to see what the next year will hold for us and ready to get started!

2011-2012 Curriculum

So far, these are the choices I've made for curriculum: (obviously, I have no idea what will work and what won't or if we'll even get to use everything!)

Rocket Phonics (along with finishing up Get Ready, Get Set & Go for the Code Books)

Horizons math with manipulatives

Nature in a Nutshell for Kids and home spun experiments for science (to fill time when needed)

The Hand Book of Nature Study by Anna Comstock along with Handbook of Nature Study ebook

Continent Bags a la Counting Coconuts for geography

Five in a Row for everyday reading

Pink & Green Mama for art inspiration

Lesson Pathways for a free curriculum for just about anything (i.e. if I'm fumbling and need something to do)

Tot School for Eli, if he so chooses! 

History and all things between the lines of this list will be seasonal, eclectic (classical education to Waldorf!). We'll bake, prepare meals, play, build, pretend, dream...we'll pretty much continue life as we already know it. Just, maybe, a little more organized.

Here!

Ok! We're here! I feel like I'm in high school and I just ran in two seconds after the bell rang...

Last week, against my better judgement, we began our "official" preschool. I wanted to stick to my original plan to begin the first week of November, even though our move didn't go exactly as planned.

So, we began.

Turner and Eli really responded well to school, though initially concerned we were actually going somewhere.

Last week we talked about fire safety. There were some songs and finger plays we did and I was amazed at how quickly Turner remembered the words to things.

We began each day with our little greeting "Good morning, good morning, welcome to our day." and it really made Turner smile. I think he remembered his teacher, Miss Lynn singing it. After that we got dressed and then came downstairs to sit for breakfast together. We lit a candle and said a little morning blessing. The boys love to have a candle at their table and to blow it out after the blessing.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I tried to concentrate on our Little Acorn curriculum. Tuesday and Thursday was still loosely based on that but I also had lots of other things to do. I really hope by January the house organizing is done and we can have a more calm week!

Intentions

My intentions with homeschooling the boys for their early childhood education are simple: have fun, learn with all the senses and to just let them be. I have no rules, no guidelines, no expectations. This is going to all be new and a learning experience for met, too. It is going to be an exercise in patience, this much I know.

I have decided to use the daily and monthly guides provided by Little Acorn Learning.  By using these guides, I already feel a little more at ease with our 'curriculum' and I know it's going to be a way for our family to learn and grow together. Three days per week we will follow Little Acorn until we learn what works best for the boys. Tuesdays, Thursdays and downtime will be used for the gradual introduction of letters, numbers and other fun things. I have high hopes for this "schooling" and I know it will bring a nice flow to what seems like chaos right now.

I'm hoping to begin this all the first week of November and, in the mean time we'll be moving. To try to ready for November, I'm printing guides/ideas/papers and organizing in a master notebook. I plan to stick to our rhythm as closely as possible and I truly hope to establish a "normal" as quickly as possible. We have had a hectic 18 months and it's time to figure out how to have a more peaceful time with the boys.

We all have a lot to learn and I'm ready for a little change!