Here Is What We Are Doing For School This Year

We've been on summer break since May 11th.  Monday we will start a new year of learning.  Kyle will be in 7th, Sarah in 10th, and Kamryn, my granddaughter will do some days with us and some days at her home.  She is in 1st grade.

We've had a good summer, did some swimming, the kids played Ultimate every Wednesday, and some of us took a trip to California for a family wedding.  Summer flew by, didn't it?

We've continued to learn this summer, mostly reading, with a bit of math.  We are ready to get back to a schedule.  I always look forward to a new year.

This year we are doing American History.  We use a lot of historical fiction, biographies, extra books like 'A is for Abigail,' by Lynn Cheney.  I have a big gap in ages with having my granddaughter doing history with us, so those books suited to her age will be read with just her, but otherwise we will be altogether for history.  

I like to do a bit of 'morning time.'  This for us means that we pray to start our day, work on Bible memory, read poetry and work on memorizing, read about an artist or listen to a composer.

We then go on to history, Sarah will do her independent work after that, and I will read science with Kyle.  Kamryn is going to do Nature Study, so she may do some coloring or puzzles while I work with Kyle.  When Kyle moves on to independent work, I'll do Nature Study with Kamryn.  

She is doing her math and reading and a special book study at her house with her mom, so when she is here it is mostly for history and science.

When I had mostly little ones, we did everything together other than math and reading.  This was the easiest way to teach.  The really young ones learn a lot even from materials that are above them.  You do not have to wear yourself out with teaching your children from several different histories, sciences, etc.

Give yourself grace this year.  God cares more about your heart and your childs heart, than He does about curriculum.  Focus on character and grace.  You won't regret it.