So Here We Go

I am in my first year of homeschooling, and since I've been thinking, for the past two years, of restarting a regular journaling blog, here it is!

I'm hoping to find some other blogging, homeschooling mothers to swap ideas and advice with, and gain some knowledge from, about this new adventure on which my family has embarked.  I am currently attempting to tweak a daily schedule that I made a few months back.  I am definitely a night-owl, so I've had to change quite a bit about myself recently.  When it comes to schooling, my biggest challenge is patience and staying calm (especially w/ a very active 18 mo. old, and when the difficulty with a subject isn't lack of understanding, but lack of focusing).  I've found that the patience and steadiness come much easier on a full night of sleep and when I've spent time praying before the girls are awake in the morning.  This is a no-brainer, but needed to be learned anywho.

We've been using ABeka for the majority of our materials, but will only be using them for English/Language courses once we have finished with this year.  I'm excited about starting Saxon Math, and will be planning my own History/Social Studies classes.  I have not decided on a new science curriculum yet.  I've also ordered some Harcourt SOL readiness booklets - just to make sure we are covering a few of the things the local schools are, in that aspect. (Though I believe that SOL's are a joke, technically speaking...)

I have found the Dollar Tree (shocker!!!) to be a wealth of bulletin-board-type resources for homeschooling.  I made a flannel board, which was quite easy and very inexpensive, and we have a some different sized whiteboards, small bulletin boards, and enough art/craft/classroom supplies for a small army.  I love finding educational games and projects on sale (TJ Maxx and Target are great for this)!

I tremendously enjoy organizing! The only problem I've run into, is that the room we use for schooling is also our dining room. I want to keep it adult-friendly (especially for company), but it's important that it's inviting for the girls, most of all. I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that my house will not be spotless again for at least ten years. I've always hated clutter, so I do try to keep things in some semblance of order... to everything there is a basket, and a rubbermaid container (or gallon ziploc bag) for every supply under heaven. ;)

In conclusion to this "introduction", I must say, I'm shocked by how much I enjoy homeschooling! I was always the one who swore I never would! (Two years of my oldest daughter in the raunchy public education system, and a good dose of perspective solved that... =D) I do have to remind myself often that I only have a few short years, in relation to all of our lives, to spend with my daughters. When I think about things with eternity in mind, it's surprising just how much more exciting (and in some ways, easier), everything becomes.