Thursday, August 22, 2013

Tick Tock, Time For School

 Several weeks back, Patty talked about how she schedules her homeschool year and that she usually starts prior to Labor Day. While we don't have the Texas heat to contend with, we do tend to get those winter *blahs* mid-school year.

Following the knowledgeable Patty, I started to work through our calendar tweaking this way and that so that our school calendar allowed for more 'give'. Still allowing for our full 180 days, I found that starting even just a bit earlier allowed us to still take off when daddy's home (government holidays), Holy Days (if on a school day), Christmas break and a couple quarter breaks as well. And really, we were all kind of ready to get started any way.

A starting date and ending date were declared and I worked feverishly to complete the lesson plans for the days and weeks in between. Mission accomplished last week allowed me to realize that our first day of school on August 21st was achievable.


We began our SIXTH homeschooling year yesterday. Somehow that seems like a lot of years.


Each student received a book and a snack with a little note on their brand new desks.





While we started early, I thankfully learned last year that a 'soft start' made for an easier start for student and teacher. We'll again be slowly settling into schooling over the next several weeks and gradually adding in more subjects as the weeks go on.






The schoolroom helpers kept entertained with new books and long forgotten toys near the schoolroom.






My FIFTH grader:





My THIRD Grader:






My, how time flies! I keep thinking that I've got lots of time yet before the little girls start up, but in reality I'll be there before I know it.


Keep on enjoying these summer days. I know that we still will, even with the mix of schooling thrown in.





5 comments:

  1. Next week, I will have a 5th grader and 3rd grader too! (And a 1st grader and Kindergartner - it really goes by so fast!) They are so cute, and I love your smart cookie note. You know kids get their intelligence from their mamas, right? It's a scientific fact.

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  2. Sarah, this is sweet! And makes me even more happy that we are cyber/homeschooling now!

    Your students are adorable, and you are one prepared teacher, my friend!

    Happy school year!

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  3. Awe! Gosh! you make me blush, girlfriend! Glad you liked the idea. But the whole knowledgable thing? Depends on how much coffee I had that morning or if I remembered to take my vitamins - ha! Congratulations on another home school start!! May God bless you abundantly through these next months. May you receive the grace to "carry on" and more grace to use the grace...if you are anything like me! Hugs and kisses to your students and teacher's assistants.

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  4. Awwwww, Yay for you!! The last 2 years we started mid August, for Simeon's birth and the following year for Simeon's surgeries....both years we were able to keep up and finish mid May for some and end of May for others. This year, no surgeries/pregnancies (yet) so we are waiting til after Labor Day...or maybe the Friday before so we can be off Monday...


    Love the Smart Cookie idea and I love the chalk board pics!! Cutie pies!!

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  5. What a cute idea! I give you and all home school moms so much credit. I don't even think i'd be able to homeschool past 4th grade - well at least not in math or science!
    But honestly, I don't think I'd be able to homeschool at any age! So more power to you and good luck!

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You're so kind for dropping me a line!