Back to School

 

Last year we home schooled Elisabeth for Kindergarten, and loved it.  It was something that we prayed long and hard about, made lists of pros and cons, and talked to friends, family, mentors, and teachers.  In the end it was just something that we knew we were supposed to do for our family, and we are so glad that we did.  She is in First Grade this year and Abigail has been begging to do school, so we are indulging her in Preschool activities every day.  She loves it!  I love that our girls love to learn!  And I love to teach them, so it's been a great all around.  A lot of work, but so worth it.   

Last year Elisabeth also participated in Classical Conversations, a program that puts her in a class one day a week with seven other children her age led by a tutor who covers math, timeline/history, English grammar, Latin, science, and geography.  She also participates in a fine arts project/lesson, a science project, and does an oral presentation each week. It's a lot of fun learning with her friends each week. She starts again in a couple of weeks and is looking forward to her new classmates and tutor.  It's a fun change to our week to be in a class setting versus being at home.  

Being in a class is fun, but we manage to have a lot of fun at home too.  Our playroom is set up to be a school room/playroom, and it works so well for us.

View into the dining room where we have a chalkboard and baskets for our library books.

Chalkboard and Library Books

My desk and subject organization for the girls.  Drawers and baskets for play clothes, baby dolls, and more school supply organization.

My desk and the white bookshelves separate the school area from the play area.

View toward the play area.

Table, white board, piano (I completely underestimated how much the kids would LOVE having a piano!)

The play area is set up like a house with table, piano, living/bedroom area, and a play kitchen.  John is hanging out in the living/bedroom area.

Play kitchen area

Play kitchen and back side of bookshelves.

View from the playroom door into the school area.

Books, toys, and school stuff accessible from both sides of bookshelf.  This makes a great divider for when we are trying to do school and John needs to be occupied on the other side!

The girls each have a specified desk, and they love having their own supplies handy when we need them for particular activities or subjects.  Our reading spot is in the middle.  It's the perfect spot for snuggling up to read a book alone or together.

We love the flexibility to learn any where, but it has been really fun to have this set-up.  This room was originally a garage that was enclosed, and it's purpose for us has evolved over the three years that we have lived here.  But this is by far the most fun and well planned it's been.  It is very functional and we use it a great deal during the day.  It's also nice that if we do use it for school most of the day, we can just close the door and "go home."

We are thankful for this time together.  I know home school does not work for everyone.  Not everyone feels called in that direction and not everyone has the desire.  Honestly some days I don't have the desire to do it either.  But it is what we feel called to do at this particular time, and overall I do love it.  The flexibility allows us to take breaks when I need it or the kids need it, or just take a day to do something completely opposite of what we have planned.  We are taking it year by year to see what is best for each child and for our family.  This year we are excited to see what First Grade and Preschool hold for us as we enjoy it together!