Journey to our children: Back to School

For the last several years I've seen moms posting "first day of x grade" and "last day of x grade" pictures of their kids on Facebook. I love the idea, but I have found it harder to utilize as a home schooling mom. In two years when I have to start submitting paperwork and documenting Nadia's education, it will probably be easier to declare what was the first and last day of third grade, but for now it's very nebulous for me because I started doing Kindergarten with her prior to August 2013 (when she would have started Kindergarten had she gone to a school), and although we took a week or two off here and there this summer while we were on vacation, we still have been doing some school work all year round. Last year I did take a "kindergarten" picture but didn't write the words "first day of" on the chalkboard. One of my friends always flips the chalkboard and has "first day of x grade" on one side and on the other "I want to be a x" stating what her child's current aspiration is to be when she grows up. I love that idea and decided to start doing that this year. It will be fun to see how that changes over the years. I gave up on the idea of doing a last day of Kindergarten picture this past spring because I truly had no idea when to snap that photo, but maybe in the future I'll take some last day pictures as well. Nadia alternates between saying she wants to be an artist and she wants to be an astronaut when she grows up. She says she wants to be the first woman to walk on the moon. Ian alternates between wanting to be a fire fighter or a police officer. When I told them they had to pick one for me to write on the chalkboard, they picked astronaut and police officer.

This year I again wrestled with when to take the "first grade" picture. Our school district started on Thursday, which was earlier than usual. I was tempted to take the picture on that day, but I decided to wait until today to really get into higher gear with school work. I also vacillated on whether or not to take a picture of Ian. Nadia's first picture was taken last August when she was 5 years plus 2 months old. Ian won't be turning five until December so he wouldn't be in Kindergarten this year if he went to school, but I don't plan on waiting a whole year before starting him in Kindergarten curriculum. However when it comes to most things (Sunday School, AWANA, etc.) he's not considered a Kindergartner yet. That won't happen until next fall. So I finally decided to label his picture "K4" as a compromise. The other two have summer birthdays so Ian is the only one in this situation in our family. If I had taken the pictures last week, I would have gotten them before Nadia cut her bags. Oh well! When I was teaching in a middle school or at a university, I was one to have a lot of planning done far in advance. I haven't been operating that way with home schooling thus far. I do have some plans for both kids this school year in my head. This post will count as my written plans. :)

(All About) Reading - Ian is part way through Level 1. I would like him to finish that level and also do at least some of Level 2. Nadia will be starting Level 4 next month. For now she's still reading "I can read" books. I will continue to read picture books and chapter books to the kids, and I'm hoping that Nadia will develop a stronger thirst for independently reading chapter books this year.

(All About) Spelling - Nadia hasn't done any spelling for two months. Last school year she completed all of Level 1 and 19 of 25 lessons of Level 2. This year I'd like for her to finish Level 2 and also do all of Level 3. I haven't started spelling with Ian yet. I want him to make a little more progress with his reading skills before I start on spelling. I am guessing I'll
probably start on Level 1 with him in January. I'd like him to complete Level 1 in 2015.

Math - Nadia is about 2/3 of the way through the first grade math textbook. I'd like her to finish that by the end of November and start the second grade textbook in December. Although I used a Kindergarten math textbook for Nadia, I am not planning to do so with Ian. However, I do want to start having him do some math (counting, addition, subtraction, shapes, time, etc.) every day starting this week.

Handwriting (without tears) - I'd like to have Ian review his capital letters by completing the Pre-K textbook and also learn to write his numbers and lowercase letters by completing the Kindergarten textbook. I want Nadia to complete the second grade textbook (Printing Power) and at least one more Draw Write Now book. I also will have both kids write in a journal several times a week. Ian just wrote his very first journal entry last week.

Art - Both children need to make more progress with their scissor skills (cutting paper not hair!). I would like both children to complete four of the Level 1 projects from Creating a Masterpiece (colored pencil, soft pastel, sculpture, and pencil). I also want Ian to finish the Fun to Draw workbook he started a few months ago and Nadia to work through more of the I can Do All Things art curriculum.

Keyboarding (without tears) - I purchased a one year license for a new keyboarding program (their first grade one). I also have another program "Typing

Instructor for Kids 5" that she could use. She's sent a few emails over the past year, but I'd like her to start sending at least one email a week (to a cousin, aunt, or grandparent).

P.E. - We will walk to the playground (only Oliver rides in a stroller) when the weather is nice. Nadia and Ian are both on soccer teams (8 games in the fall and 8 games in the spring). Nadia is taking Level 2 of gymnastics (starting today). Nadia will play on a basketball team in the winter. Some skills I want to work with both of them at home are: using a hula hoop, using a jump rope, playing hopscotch, and riding a bike without training wheels. I also want Ian to learn how to swing himself.

Science - I won't do anything formal with Ian but will continue to read picture books on science topics, play science games (for example recently we played food group bingo), and take him on science field trips. Nadia will be working through Purposeful Design's Level One science textbook.

Social Studies - I won't do anything formal with Ian but will continue to read picture books on history topics and take him on history field trips. For example, the chapter book I am reading the kids right now is about Saint Patrick. This will be the first year I will do a formal history and geography curriculum with Nadia. She will be doing Adventures in U.S. History (intended for 2nd or 3rd grade) by My Father's World. Her Bible instruction and some science will also be included in this curriculum.

Music - I plan to restart Nadia's piano lessons in November.

Spanish - To be determined! I am considering starting Rosetta Stone Spanish with them sometime this year.

Character Education - 99% of the time this occurs throughout the day through teachable moments, but this year we are going to use the We Choose Virtues program to help the kids learn the definitions for 12 virtues and work on implementing those in our daily life.

This might sound like a lot, but today when I did Nadia's school it only took a few minutes more than one hour to do science, history, handwriting, spelling, reading, and math. We were on our way to the playground by 9:30. I did Ian's school work after I put Oliver down for his nap, and it took him 15 minutes to do his reading, math, and handwriting. This afternoon we're going to go swimming, and then while Nadia is at gymnastics from 4:00-5:30 the boys and I will spend some time at the library and another playground. I love the fact that the kids get a lot more time to play because we are home schooling them!