I Rang The School Bell Today

Local schools start the 2007-2008 year in only 16 days.  I had planned to start Eler Beth's lessons at the same time.  But I got to thinking that it might be a good idea to ease her into it a little bit early.

Last year we took her out of school halfway through the year to begin home schooling her.  She was already in the school "mode", so there really wasn't much transition shock.  But I started thinking over the weekend that perhaps it might be a bit of a shock and stresser to her and to me to suddenly start our home school routine.  It was always a bit stressful to get the kids off to school on those first few days, but once they were out of the house, I wasn't feeling the stress the rest of the day; or, at least, until time for homework!  So since this weekend I was working on her curriculum, anyway, I asked her how she'd like to do a few lessons each morning this week, just for an hour or so to start getting back into the right mental condition.  She thought it sounded like a wonderful idea.

Well, that was yesterday.  Now she thinks it stinks! Ha Ha!

But I can see from how our morning went that it was a very good idea.  It is going to take her a while to be able to sit still and keep her mind on the work she is supposed to be doing.  It is going to take her a while to get into the habit of doing something  quickly, instead of whining and comlaining and wasting time.  And, let's be honest, it is going to take me a while to get back into that kind of patience to lead her studies without pulling out my hair or hers!  By the time area schools start their classes we should be able to put in the 3-4 hours of school we have scheduled daily without stressing Momma to the limit.  Plus, I assured her that while the other kids are in school, she will occasionally be able to take a day off, or run off with me to the park or zoo, or even take a whole week's break.

She's been doing a summer reading program anyway, and just started a new book, so I built reading lessons around that book.  We did that and some math, and then we did some science.  Her science unit will include the anatomy of cockatiels, in particular the different types of feathers and wings.  I thought that would be a fun thing for her since she has cockatiels.  Later we'll use the cockatiels unit to do reading, language arts, and composition.  I really didn't give her much to do today; it was more a lesson in re-learning how to sit and follow directions for a sustained amount of time. 

I was right.  I really didn't want to jump into the deep end of a full days' worth of school on August 9.  Wading into the shallow end and testing the water today proved that without a doubt.

We'll do another hour or 90 minutes tomorrow and for the rest of the week.  But I'll also reward ourselves with a trip somewhere on Friday.  My little sixth grader will deserve it by then -- and so will I!!!

Tags: home schooling