First Week of School Completed!

This week was a "soft start" for our homeschool, although it is daunting that even a soft start took up all of my time such that a couple of nights we were doing school till 8:00 p.m. (and I cried).

• Three youngest boys: In full-time school . . . except that I forgot to order the Latin book and I am abruptly switching History and Catechism courses, so we were not completing those three classes each day. It will only take more time for me to try to teach them everything!
• Two girls: They had a few assignments to do for their hybrid school beginning this week, as well as starting the home subjects assigned by Mom.
• High-school young man: No school till next week! He's still working as many shifts as he can, plus helping around the house (which I appreciated).

The Treasure Boxes have proven highly motivational. It looks like they will be well worth a trip to the dollar store once monthly!

I wrote into our schedule that after breakfast, the three young boys and I will take the dogs for a walk, which really gets the boys moving. Killing two birds with one stone! This walk particularly helps Thomas gain strength, as he can't walk the half mile without pausing to rest a few times. When we get back to the house, we are supposed to stretch out and do some Physical Therapy exercises. It's really hard for me to give priority to physical pursuits that cut into valuable time for scholastic education, so I'm pleased for one week--that's all I can take credit for!--we took our walk every morning!

Buying new sneakers for a boy with a lot of energy

I am still getting my sea legs teaching three boys simultaneously, finding a way to be teaching one boy out loud while keeping another two working independently at the table when they're so young. I group as many subjects as I can, but I've also found over the years that a complete "one room schoolhouse approach" leaves the older children stunted and not growing and leaves the youngest children not getting the focused, primary-level learning that they need, so I do teach them individually for many subjects as well.

We are schooling in the dining room this year.

Also, life doesn't stop for homeschoolers! On our very first day of school, the ache in Thomas's tooth for the prior three days became a warm, swollen cheek, so we abandoned school mid-morning to go to the dentist where he diagnosed an infected baby molar that had to be removed on the spot. In fact, we had three doctors' appointments among us just this week.

We're already "totally behind" and I can see there is no way for us to complete our basic school subjects--so much simpler curriculum than when I had only one, two, or three students versus six, yet still too much for my current available time! What's a mom to do but try, try again each day?

Playing chess when I had to accept a business phone call during school hours

History: Immediately this week, I realized that I need to abandon complicated history (like RC History, with a "spine" and many wonderful living history novels). I ordered one simple history textbook aimed for grades 2-3 that I will read aloud to grades 4, 2, and K. I don't even have time for them to have individual History courses.

Catechism: First I planned to use the MODG catechism, which I liked very much, but then I'd be doing three separate catechism and Bible courses each day. So I tried using a video course for all the boys at once, but it is not engaging and is too calm, too oriented for adults. I've got to scrap it and figure out what to do. 

Latin: I ordered Latin books for everybody except for Joseph. What on earth am I thinking requiring Latin for a fourth grader when I can barely manage the basics? Yet in order to be involved in any of the Catholic co-ops or hybrid schools around our city, your kid has to study Latin every single year, even if Mama cannot possibly facilitate that. Joseph's Latin book arrived by the end of the week, so we'll try next week.

Getting up early to do math first thing while I cook breakfast

Saxon math with Nicole the Math Lady

On Friday, the five younger kids began CCE, a homeschool hybrid program that we're participating in this year.

Grades 6 and 8 starting the middle school program

Grades K, 2, and 4 starting the elementary program

I greatly enjoyed being a teacher at CCE today! In all the years we participated before, I was always in the nursery with babies, which felt lonely and disconnected: it was very hard work to get my kids there each week but I never saw the good fruits because I wasn't in a classroom. What a joy it was today to watch kids give presentations, to see them learning their Memory Work, to witness virtue and kids trying their hardest. It was also good for me to meet some new families who have joined the program since we were in it last.

The Adorable Snuggling Pups

I have begun a series of photos of our puppies sleeping because their cuddling is just so cute to me! Wherever Tilly goes to sleep, Nicky follows . . .