First day of school

We did it! We completed our first day of the new school year!!! It was an easy day since we just started, but we still got a lot done.

First things first...a couple photos of our classroom, as promised...

Lionel's desk:


Sweet-Pea's desk:

My desk is an 'L' shaped desk and we have it coming out into the middle of the room. It looks overbearing, but it's actually quite practical that way. I need to work more one on one with Sweet-Pea, and with my desk positioned this way, all she needs to do is swing her chair around and we have a great work space.

Lionel LOVES history. Here he is with his new Bob Jones World History book. He's is thrilled to try this new curriculum out. We used Beautiful Feet for many years, but it was time for a change. The topics in this book cover everything Lionel loves reading about. His favorite? Anything to do with wwi and wwii. He will be teaching me when we get to that section!! Right now Lionel says he wants to be an Historian. We'll see...


Sweet-Pea doing what she loves....typing on the computer! She's got a great new program this year, so she should be able to type with more than a couple fingers in no time. She too changed curriculum in some subjects this year and the changes are quite refreshing, even just after 1 day. Notice her pink floral chair and pink mouse! She cracks me up. We were at Staples the other day, she spotted that chair across the store and practically begged me to get it for her. Fortunately it was on sale for just $19.00, so I got it. She LOVES it!


Today we began school at 9:00 a.m. The kids were up at 8:00, ate breakfast, got dressed, cleaned up and were ready for the new school day right on time. We did our pledges (American flag, Christian flag, Bible) and then began our day.

It took me a bit to juggle their subjects around. They do not do the same subjects at the same time, it simply cannot be done. Because they are 7 grades apart (he's in 10th, she's in 3rd) I can't combine their work. So, while he did his Bible, she did Writing Tales, while she did her spelling online, I did history with Lionel, and while he was working on his seatwork part, I did science with Sweet-Pea...etc. etc. It was a bit crazy at first, but I think I found what works best. I'll do the same tomorrow to see if I'm right. It's all about trial and error with more than one child. I honestly don't know how parents of 5, 6, 7 or more kids do it. Unit studies I suppose!

While doing their work...this is what was going on outside...


This is one of the new houses on our street. There will be 2 more built after this one. The noise wasn't quite so bad today. The generator was humming, but we had music playing during school, so we were fine. I heard that playing Baroque music while studying is calming and helps you study better. It works for my kids!!! I use Pandora Radio and play the songs we enjoy most...check it out if you've never used it. Free music to listen to in the styles you enjoy, or of the artists you like best....simply create your own station.

Tomorrow is another day. My prayer is that each day will bring new surprises and challenges, but that none will be filled with things we can't get through. Learning is so much fun, especially when you get excited about it. It's very contagious, so I pray that God will give me the get-up-and-go, the desire, the passion and the wisdom I need to teach my children each day.

Blessings,