This School Year's Curriculum

It would take me all day to describe Abby's entire curriculum, so I decided to just take a picture of all of it instead. More than 90% of these books we've read before in the last couple of years, so we already know we love the books we will be reading. We're adding in map work and worksheets this year, and we'll be doing more math and language arts (L.A.), but otherwise it will be a review of the last couple of years.

Abby insisted on having the picture taken in her princess dress! Isn't she adorable? I think so.

Oh, and Abby's little brother, Abram insisted on getting a picture taken with all of his "school" books, too. We had to buy him a workbook to color in so that he wouldn't feel left out. He can't wait to start school--but I can, lol. I actually want Abby to be a pretty fluent reader before I start officially schooling Abram.

Kindergarten Officially Starts for Abby

Kindergarten officially started for Abby this Monday, August 25. Why I say 'officially' is because I've been teaching her at home, well...since she was born. My husband Josh and I have been discussing homeschooling since before Abby was big enough for others to see my stomach swelling. Josh was homeschooled from 6th grade through graduation, and I sampled homeschooling in upper elementary, when my mother homeschooled us. We prayed and talked and studied for years, and have come to know that homeschooling is God's will for our family.



Research and practice have been my primary concern for the past 5 years. We have asked around, searched the web, read many books on homeschooling and teaching philosophies, etc, and tested out a few approaches. We have come to love Sonlight curriculum and will be using it in our home. And even though we have already gone through Cores B and C, now called P4/5 and Core K, we will be repeating them this year as her first official year in school. The primary reason we are repeating is to give her a solid foundation. She has already learned to read basic 3 letter words and can write legibly, but we want her to complete the worksheets and map work we skipped last year. She is now ready for formal schooling, where before we just read to her a lot and taught her to read in very small sessions. I believe this will be a great year and can't wait to see her growing in knowledge and wisdom before my very eyes!



I am very excited about this school year--and a little nervous. I am excited to see her grow up right in front of me, seeing every ah-ha moment, knowing that I taught her to read and write and how to understand math. However, it's a heavy responsibility to know that if any one's to blame for her education not being the best, it's ME! I can't point to some teacher in 1st or 4th grade, and blame all my children's educational problems on them. I am responsible for the successes AND the failures, the joys and the pains. That humbles me. If I didn't know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was God's will and path for us, I don't think I would be brave enough. But God has given me a peace and joy when teaching my children that it seems easy until I step back and look at it from a different perspective. If you read this blog regularly, you will start to think everything we do in school is easy for me. That's not true. There's a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on--cleaning house in between subjects, wiping down dry erase boards and maps, cooking and wiping peanut butter faces, planning the following day's school, in addition to actually teaching. It's work! But it's FUN work. I LOVE my vocation!!! But don't think because you see the easy side, that there's not a hard side.

We are starting this blog to keep our family updated on Abby's education, so that they can peek in the schoolroom, so to speak. However, we welcome anyone in to read and enjoy our journey with us. We would love to answer any questions or comments you have about what we do.



Now, to introduce my 1st student: Abigail







She is just precious, as you can probably guess. She is our little princess and is more girl than I ever was. Every morning she comes down our stairs in a dress, and wonders why in the world I don't wear dresses all the time like she does. I have to push her to wear pants if we go climbing on the monkey bars. Abby's a little shy, but just loves her Sunday school class and teacher. She is as smart as a whip, in my opinion, and I am really going to have to work hard to keep a step ahead of her. I love her with all my heart, and I am so looking forward to teaching her for the next 13 years!