Smooth Sailing Today

Today is moving along pretty well. Some days I can't say that, but today is not one of them. The girls got up late, but by 10 they were working hard on their school folders. By lunch time, I was able to check off 90% of this weeks assignments on their memo sheets!!

Just a bit ago, I gave the girls a gentle prompting. They were laying around, waiting on their friend's arrival home from school, watching the preschool shows. "You know, you girls are doing awesome this week on your school work. Did you realize that all you have left this week is your Science? I have the booklets all ready for you."

My oldest leaps up, excitement in her voice as she proclaims her love for the new system of school work. She loves that she can SEE a weeks worth of work, and be able to complete it at her own pace (eh, well, yea, I'm pushing~ quietly). She quickly realized that after my telling them they were a week behind yesterday, that today, they can be caught up, and by Friday, they can be ahead. Ok, I'm not sure that last one was realized too, since she seems to think she lives on Easy Street.

My mind has lept that far ahead, though. I can see the next folder already in my mind's eye. I've already made the extra pages for the next 2 spelling lessons. I've already printed out the next history chapter and all of it's activities, as well as the next chapter in the social studies book. I've even gotten the next science booklets printed out and put together, and the lap book activities that they love so much. I spent every spare minute today, getting a teacher's guide and Lap Book for our next reading and comprehension book, Little House on the Prairie.

In 2 weeks, when the teacher comes, we could be farther ahead then we've gotten in a while. Tomorrow, I am going to reward their diligence so far this week with a trip to the gym. Instead of sending them up to work on their folders while the littles are in the daycare room, I will let them swim with me and spend some time with me. They will really like that, and then they can log the swim time in the PE Log too.  ;-) I'm all about multi-tasking.

This is the cover of the lapbook.

This is inside the front cover.

This is inside the back cover. We glued on the next folder today, so once it has some items in it, I'll share more pictures. :)

February already?

We are chugging right along, learning new things, applying ourselves in new ways, and working hard to balance it all with love and cheerfulness. We've changed up our schedule and routine lately, and are now doing things in block study sessions. We've added Co-op classes once a week last semester, and have started up the spring semester. The kids LOVE the classes and new friends they've made, and are stepping up to the challenge that all of this is giving them. They also have a PE class with PE is 2 Fit, a local business that caters to homeschool families. The other new thing in the works is a local stable is finishing setting up as a vendor with our charter school. This means that 2 of my big girls will be learning horsemanship, and they are very excited.

Block studies has benefited us greatly. We now set up packets for the subjects (for example: math) with enough work to move them through a week's worth of assignments (1-2 chapters with tests). They have a folder of work printed out and waiting them, and a memo page detailing 1 week's complete assignments stapled to the inside, that they are to take with them when we go to the Gym. They pull it out and work on everything they can with out my help, and on the days that we are home and working together, I can help them with things they need a lesson on.

Something I've been working with on all of the age levels is Lap Books. These things are time consuming, yet the kids love them! The camera battery is charging, so I will post some of our lap book creations with you at a later time. I've got to go scan some more stuff in for next week. God Bless you in all you are doing :)