A New Venture

From the time Ella was just a baby people have asked what we would do when it came time for school.  Home-school?  Private school?  Public school?  We just always answered and thought that we'd do what seemed best when the time came.  As parents of an 8-month old there was no way to know where we would live, what schools would be like, or what our family situation would be when it came time to make that decision. 

When we lived in Louisville we met several families who home-schooled, and I even worked for one of the families who operated a business out of their home.  They had four children, and I got to observe what life was like for them.  Through this family I also got the opportunity to teach a Literature class for a large group of 7th-8th graders.  That was such a great experience.  I had several Anne of Green Gables-moments where I felt like I was really connecting with students, and they were responding and loving the books we read.  

Last year Ella had the privilege of attending school with several friends from church, and she did so well.  She had a great teacher, great friends, and learned so much.  We were so proud of her, and it was a good situation for us.  But if you've read my blog over the past year, you know how much I missed having that girl at home!  I also love reading and learning and teaching Ella so much.  Over the past several months I've thought, dreamed, researched, worried, prayed, and ultimately became confident and peaceful about home-schooling for this school-year.  

I'd heard about Sonlight in the past, and when a friend let me borrow a catalogue I fell completely in love with their core curriculum.  It was filled with all my favorite books.  How could I resist it?  Another friend already had several of the books that were part of the core I wanted so I was able to borrow a lot of materials.  I placed my order last Tuesday, and to my very great surprise and delight, it arrived on Saturday.

We were all so excited.  And that's been another exciting and confirming thing for me:  Ella's excitement.  She's over the moon about our new venture, too.  She called it "Free School," is glad I'm her teacher, that she doesn't have to wear shoes (a big perk for her, I guess), and that we won't have to rush around to get out the door in the morning (a dislike that she also inherited from me, I think).  She was so excited on Saturday and begged to start school right away.  So I read and organized all weekend, and we started yesterday.  I know it's still July, but that gives us some lee-way with holidays, right?

Our books for the week

 Ella is starting first grade, but we started with a review of old concepts with the Kindergarten Hooked on Phonics. 

We got a little bit of a later start yesterday because we had an overnight guest, one we were really happy to have on the first day of school.  She did Ella's read-aloud with her, and James wanted in a picture, too, of course.

We had a really great day.  Ella was so happy and agreeable, saying, "I have to do everything you tell me today."  Didn't she always?  The role of teacher is garnering more respect than my role of mother.  I'm not complaining.  After reading we learned about dinosaurs, the layers of the earth, and continents.  We made good use of my wedding gift to KJ 8 1/2 years ago.

   Note Lightening McQueen's appearance on the right.

We worked on phonics and spelling and math.  The kids watched Dinosaur Train and the Backyardigans episode, Journey to the Center of the Earth, while they ate lunch, and while James napped, the girls did a little Physical Education.

We just had a really wonderful day.  I'm so thankful.