2nd week of school

This is how our second week of home schooling went:

September 3rd - NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY!!! The kids thought it was pretty cool that we took Labor day off just like a "regular" school would. (why shouldn't we?)

   We are really starting to get into a routine when it comes to school. (I'm pretty happy about this). Faith started school this week, and it went very smooth, she was really excited to start her school work, and just like Libby and Justin, she sat down and got right to it. All the kids completed their work in a very timely manner, with no problems at all!

Lets go kid by kid ok?

Faith: Loves her school books, now granted with her being in pre-school, she doesn't have a lot to do, and a good portion of it is coloring. However, I will say I really like the way the school has everything set up. We don't go according to the number of the pages (ie 1, 2, 3...), instead they go along with the theme. Like this week the theme was "Jesus loves the little children" so, all her work was based on this theme, she read the story in her children's Bible about Jesus and the children, she had coloring pages that matched, and in her Saint coloring book she learned about St. Peter Claver. Now she does have "handwriting" but it seems somewhat easy for her, so I have been giving her extra handwriting sheet so she can practice a little more.
 When she finishes her school work she has a couple different options she can do 1) play quietly at her desk with play dough. 2) Color quietly at her desk. 3) go downstairs and play with Patrick and Grandma (and yes she is allowed to watch some TV with Patrick). I will say that Grandma has been wonderful in coming up and watching the baby for me as we get into a good school routine! Thanks Mom!!!

Justin: Well, Justin is Justin, smart as a whip and boy does he know it! He flies through his work with few mistakes, and when I point them out, he happily goes back to correct them. I was really impressed with Justin on Wednesday. The girls had completed their work, and it was about 3pm (we got a late start that day), Patrick was getting fussy because he wanted me (he wanted to nurse), so I went downstairs, the girls did their chores (mostly) and were sitting around coloring as I was working on the next days lesson plans. I looked around and noticed Justin hadn't come down stairs yet. At 4:30 I hollered up the stairs (yes I know I was being lazy) and asked what he was doing. He was still working on his school work!!! He didn't stop until he was done. He didn't get done with all his work until 5:30 that night! How awesome was it that he stayed with it until he was done???! Soooo very proud of my son!!!

Libby: Libby is doing great, still making some mistakes because she is rushing through some things.But we are working on that. She is doing REALLY well in math and spelling, which is amazing, because she seemed to really struggle with those 2 subjects last year. I think it has to do with the format when it comes to spelling. The lesson is broken down into 4 parts, the first day they write their spelling word in what ever order it says in the book (sometimes it is by sound, alphabetical order, etc....) The second day it is fill in the blanks on the words, there are sentences, and the kids fill in the correct word. It continues that way through Friday when they have their spelling test.

My Thoughts on this week: You know, I have really enjoyed this week, the kids have been great, with little to no problems at all. Libby did have some work she was supposed to do, that she didn't get done, so yesterday (Thursday) I told if she didn't have it into me by the end of the day she was going to get all of those questions marked as wrong (which they are if they aren't answered). Guess what? It was on my desk last night! I'm going to give them one more week of being nice, and allowing them to go back and correct their mistakes (mostly from rushing through and not reading the directions completely), after that, what ever they get is their grade for that day. I will say with me being on them about making sure to read the instructions CAREFULLY, I have seen a lot less mistakes this week. All in all, I am VERY happy with the progress they have made this week, and the effort they are putting out. Next week I will start really getting on them about their chores (making sure they are done).

OH! I forgot to mention, about yesterday (Thursday)- The kids are having "Religion Class" with Grandma Battson twice a week, yesterday was their first class with her. Grandma teaches CCD in Ohio to second graders. We talked about it, and came up with the idea that I would make sure they are doing their daily work, and twice a week they are going to video chat with Grandma and she is going to "check up" on what they are learning. We felt this was going to be a great experience for the kids AND Grandma. If we had them in SOR they would be doing this with a teacher anyways, so why not let Grandma have this special time with the kids. Well just from the little bit the kids and Grandma told me, it went very well, and everyone seemed to enjoy it :)

Sorry this was such a long blog, but that is a LOT to get through. =0) 

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!