let the school year commence
Today.
It’s the first day of the 2010-2011 school year here at our home.
And this year the School of Keigley has a record number of students.
Three.
A second grader.
A first grader.
And a kindergarten student.
(Not to mention that we also manage and maintain a very elite preschool and a rather crème de la crème nursery as well. So sorry – all vacancies are filled.)
Ahh – the new school year.
The books we cannot gather locally are ordered from our school’s personal suppliers- a.k.a. Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
The classroom has been tidied. (Read: the kitchen counters are cleared and the sunroom table is free of toys and mismatched socks.)
Idealistic routines have been written in chalk on the kitchen cabinets, clothes are in each child’s labeled plastic bucket in the hall for pre-breakfast dressing, copywork has been placed on the kitchen table and pre-breakfast chores have been assigned. (Bergen has compost duty this week. Mosely is on laundry detail and London is setting the table.)
A field trip to a horse farm is scheduled later this week to begin our nature journals with this term’s focus on mammals.
I am sure it will be a good day.
Not because the idealistic list gets every item checked off.
Not because Fox sleeps exactly on schedule so that math can progress quietly and efficiently.
Not because my children will be completely cooperative and perfectly obedient.
But because I get to enjoy the privilege of doing something
a little bit magical,
a lot miraculous,
completely humbling,
totally beyond myself
and
mostly unrepeatable.
I get to participate in educating my children.
I get to place beauty and truth and knowledge
in their direct paths
and watch where all that wonder
will lead.
I can’t wait.
Let the school year commence!
8 Comments
Gretchen
That is a wonderful start! I find that we get a lot of work done between 7 – 8 a.m. I get science, math, handwriting and some copy work done then. Then during breakfast I do Bible story, memory verse, memory verse CD, and this other book called Leading Little Ones to God. Then after breakfast a break (TWH) I take Eli to school at 9, and I come back and do read alouds, writing out our words for the week or playing a word game, poetry, journaling & history and/or geography. I am usually done by 10:30 a.m. That is unless we have a science lab. I have been adding things off the internet b/c I feel like he is getting through it quickly. Do you find this? Just was wondering. I know you have more children to deal with so you are more occupied. Anyhow, just seeing if you experience the same thing. I read then their book of the month in the evening a chapter or two.
LaceyKeigley
7 – 8 a.m.? – oh… you early risers! I do NOT get my best work done then!
I think I would feel as if they were getting done quickly if I just had one. But with everyone here all the time it feels like we do more since we have to spread it out. But I think working efficiently is way better – and one of the many benefits of homeschooling. It really does not take that long to complete a day\’s work for a student as young as ours. And then you get to just live and enjoy him! Besides, I think more \”free\” time for unstructured education is a huge part of the whole picture.
Gretchen
Thanks……..for the info. I was just wondering. He does have a lot of free time because he gets up so early!!! Anyhow, I am finding alternative things to do with him, plus going to the park, library and places to expend energy…….outside! 🙂 Hope all is going well! G
thegypsymama
You are BRAVE and WONDERFUL!
🙂
LaceyKeigley
I think that depends on your definition of brave.
thegypsymama
Girl – you are a mom – so BY UNIVERSAL DEFINITION – you are brave! 🙂
Jenny
I hope you have a wonderful day…..a wonderful year! I need to print this post out to read on those days that aren't quite so magical and I lose my focus. What a great reminder of the reason why we homeschool! Thanks!
LaceyKeigley
Are you still homeschooling too?
Love to hear how it\’s going sometime.