Today is the official start of our new school year. So far, so good. Sure is a big difference after doing it for 5 years now than when we started that first year! :grin: I do have a tendency, however, to feel overwhelmed at the beginning. Just something about seeing all the new material gives me a feeling that I've "bitten off more than I can chew". I know by the end of the year I will be so proud of all we've accomplished, but right now I guess I'm feeling a bit daunted.
I know how you feel. I get an excited and overwelmed feeling all at the same time. This year began so smoothly for us. I relaxed and didn't do too much. I think I always try to do a ton of "fun" stuff and textbook work too. So, I took it slow and it was so much better. This is our third year and I can tell that we are seasoned. Glad things are off to a good start for you!
Many times I feel overwhelmed too if I try to look at the year as a whole, rather than on a daily or weekly basis. We started on the 5th of July, but we ended last year at the beginning of May due to an unexpected move. We eased into our new year the first 2 weeks, steadily picking up the pace to be running smoothly along. Today we went to a local state park with a beautiful spring. We did our reading while there. We brought measuring tapes and practiced our numbers by measuring all kinds of things - feathers, bugs, worms, leaves, and more. We were excited to see a large owl roosting in a tree only 6 feet from us! How wonderful to have my children with me for such sights. They saw many animals - turtles, gar fish, strange green hairy looking worms and so much more. I'm trying to be more relaxed about our schooling as well, and adding more fun to it. I wish you the best in your own school year. May it be fun filled with lots of adventures along the way!!
Have fun, we will start the first week of September. August is too early to start for me. When I was in school we started in September. We have all of our curr., just waiting for the dvd's. This is the first year that my boys have voiced wishing summer was a bit longer. They are enjoying working and want to be able to earn more money before going back to school. Our oldest is saving for his truck ins. for when he gets his drivers lisc. and our youngest is going to get his car painted and put it in a car show in Sept. When the ps starts next week we will only allow our boys to work after ps school hours. We dont want to bring attention to ourselves and in this town, "What people dont know about you, they will make up". Hslda suggested it. Makes sense. Have fun ladies, take one day at a time. Cyber smiles from Colorado.
settlers (Staci?), How old are your boys? You're doing A Beka? We're going to do Bob Jones this year with our oldest (10th grade). He just told us last week that he's decided he wants to be homeschooled the rest of highschool. <BIG SMILE!> I'm happy he does! We'll see how things go though, and pray for the best! We're just receiving our BJU DVD's and books. Lots to do to get all my teacher stuff organized just for his classes! And I've got two younger ones to work with too! But it's coming together fine. This week we officially, yet slowly, started our 8th year of homeschooling. I never knew it, but I love homeschooling! I don't like every minute of it, but I love the overall experience, and being with my children, and being the one that gets to see the light go on when they understand something. My 11-yo ds gets frustrated easily, but when he gets something, he gets a huge grin on his face. It's sooo cute, I love seeing it, and I'm glad I have been able to! We just started with math and some logic stuff (Mind Bender Books) this week. I wanted to figure out where they were so I could get them headed the right direction and settled in with math before starting everything else. Next week we'll add 2 or 3 more subjects, and by Spetember we'll be going strong with all subjects. I usually start on a certain day with everything, but decided to try a slower start this year and see how it works out. We just got back from a 2-week misson trip to Fiji---it was GREAT! But it takes awhile to readjust and get your mind on other things. The kids learneed a few Fijian words, and I hear them outside playing, using those words with their friends, and teaching the dog to come using Fijian! Like I said, a great experience that they will always remember! But we have to get back to reality and going on this, and they're settling in well this week, so I think things will be fine...
Do you folks ever just get feed up and feel like stopping? This is my seventh year. I get so tired and my kids all are strugglers. That is why we started homeschooling in the first place. I love it but I guess with my husband's schedule it is so hard. He is home part of the time during the week during the day. Asleep of the day when on 3rd and it is so hard keeping things still and quiet for him. My boys seem to be getting to a very loud age. The school part is going fine actually. I am just having trouble with dh's schedule and keeping things still and quiet.
My paperwork was mailed yesterday, but I'm at a loss as to when we are going to start. DH has a workshop all next week, and the first day for him to report back is the Monday after that. I usually start the on his first "official" day, but was thinking of starting next week with his workshop. But then, Mom is having surgery on Tuesday, so the kids will be with my mom. Plus we haven't gone shopping for supplies AT ALL! I just don't feel together; if I sound very rambling and unorganized right now, that's because I really AM this year!
Deena, My boys are 14 and 16. They are in 10th grade. The little one is the same grade as the older one because he started K the same year as his brother because he wanted to do what his brother was doing. We bought the curriculum for both of them and neither of them struggled. The little one is very strong in all areas as the older one but is very, very strong in Algebra. I am amazed with both of my boys. The youngest one loves to fix computers, etc. he has done a wonderful restoring his car. He is on his last step, paint. He is going to get the air comp. this weekend to start sanding his car. Our oldest is a history buff and loves to collect vintage rifles with lots of history. I dont know how he remembers all of those facts. Our oldest bought a nice truck but he isnt interested in armour alling the tires like the little one is and spending hours detailing it. He spends that engery fixing up antique rifles. What are your babies interested in? We looked at the BJ curr. thought is looked really great but when we were ready to buy it we saw on the tv that BJU didnt allow interracial dating on their campus. Being that my husband is Spanish and I am Anglo that really offended us so we decided against their curr. I think after the news story they changed their rules but we felt that it taught intolerance and bigotry. I still think the curr. is Excellent but that just put us off. How long are each of the classes on the dvds? Do you like the mind bender book? I heard they were good. I am glad you like hsing. We really enjoy it and my boys have no desire to go to ps. We are doing Abeka and love it. They got their books and dvd last week. Fiji, what a blessing to be able to travel to a cool place. I would settle for a couple days out of town for a break and going to the mall. The mall is 3 hours away and I havent been to the mall in about 5 years, love the mall. Wouldn't mind shopping at Yankee Candle in the mall some time. Does anyone like Yankee Candles? They are so awesome. I love them.
