A Boy and His Chicken

For some reason, Daniel has found a new friend in Kate's chicken named "Teeny."  He'll go out to the chicken coop many times throughout the day, scoop up Teeny and hold her under his arm like a football and then walk around like that.  

He also likes to take Teeny in his police car...

Or ride her around in the shopping cart.

  Not sure how much Teeny likes it, but Dan sure is having fun!!

Look Who Came Last Night!

The Tooth Fairy made a visit to Kate last night.  Our little 6-year-old lost her third tooth yesterday... and gained a dollar!

My Next Book Purchase

If you're not familiar with Amazima Ministries, please click on the left side bar Amazima picture to go to their website.  It's a wonderful ministry to support.  Katie Davis, who started Amazima, has a wonderful story to tell.  Her book will be out October 4th.  Can't wait to read it!  You can pre-purchase the book through 147 Million Orphans and 50% of the purchase price goes back to Amazima Ministries.

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Last Day of Summer (Sort Of)

Tomorrow we start our first day of school.  The books have been purchased.  The schedule has been set.  Goals have been communicated to my students.  They are excited and we're celebrating with a popsicle on a beautiful summer's day.

Nate's opting out of school this year. :)

Now they're off to swim in the pool...  oh, how I love those students of mine.  Hope you're having a blessed Sabbath Day.

Homeschool Schedule

School starts for us next Monday.  I'm always excited to start the new school year and all the wonderful things my children (and I) will learn.  This year we are concentrating on reading well and enjoying it, writing well and improving math skills.  Below is our schedule:

Bible   15 mins.
Character Training (Doorposts)   15 mins.
Cursive Writing   15 mins.
Reading and Comprehensive Guides   45 mins.
Latin    30 mins.
Math    30 mins.
History (Ancient Greeks and Holidays)   30 mins. 2 times/week
Music  (Classical Composers)   30 mins. 2 times/week

We'll have some art lessons and journal time later in the year as well as monthly field trips as a family.  Between that full school schedule and after-school classes and activities (Cub Scouts, dance class, park days, sports, etc.) I sometimes wonder if we're making our days too busy.  One of the many reasons Jim and I chose to homeschool is to simplify our lives and to learn, love and serve as a family.  I want to make sure that the busy-ness does not take away from our family time and God's calling on our lives.  Those opportunities to serve both within and outside the family are so very important.  We will make changes in order to allow for those opportunities.  Can't wait to see what the new school year brings for all of us!
             

Do Something Risky!

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Lazy Days of Summer

Beach time!

 Pool time!

We're enjoying the days of summer, enjoying Nathaniel and enjoying all the events planned this summer.  I've tried to plan the camps, Vacation Bible School and other activities so that we have at least a week's break between each.  That allows us an opportunity to have the necessary free time.  We are doing school "light" during the summer.  We strive for 20 minutes (minimum) each of math, reading and Latin each day.  I'm already excited for the new school year.  I'm making some changes to our homeschool schedule and curriculum.  This will be our 3rd year and I feel that we're honing in on our priorities for our children's education.  I enjoy planning the year with Jim and including him in our scholastic goals for our children.  I'll get into more detail later in the summer, but we will be concentrating on math, reading (a lot), cursive writing, Latin and character traits; all this with God central and foremost in our daily activities. 

I recently read an article by Martin Cochran (editor of The Classical Teacher) in which he stated the following, "We live in a culture in which educational starvation has become epidemic.  Students who are functionally, culturally, and morally illiterate are graduating from our schools.  But some of us have saved up the seeds of the old education and are replanting them again so that, as more and more people realize that the educational crop has failed, they will have some place to go."  (emphasis mine)  Why do I homeschool?  Mr. Cochran could not have stated my reasons better.  What worked so well for over two thousand years has been replaced with the latest experimental ideas of the 20th century, and guess what... it's not working.  But enough of that for now.  I'm going back to enjoying the lazy days...