Kindergarten Homeschool Update

Now that we are half way through the school year, I thought I better do an update on our homeschool year.

If you remember correctly, we originally had Zoelle signed up for a local private school, then about a week before school was to start, several factors made us change our decision and so we ended up homeschooling Zoelle. If you missed that post, you can read all about our decision here.

I was so nervous going into a major decision like that with my Zoelle who seemingly fights with me on everything! I poured my heart out last spring with all of you on how hard parenting can be with her. So to make a decision to have her at home, when if I'm honest, most days I need a break, it scared me! I remember even telling Chris that if I call him everyday crying and telling him I can't do it, that we will be sending her to school.

The first week started, and I was pleasantly surprised that she did well. Really well. Well, the school part I wasn't surprised on, she has always loved school and loves to learn. It was the not fighting with mommy part that shocked me! She did her work, actually begged for it and loved it the whole time! The real test for her and me, would be when it got too cold out to go outside to burn energy. In the past, winter is the hardest for both her and I. We pretty much are twins in our personality!

As much as I prayed we would have a winter like last year, I knew most likely it wouldn't happen, so when it came, I braced myself for changes in Zoelle. Instead, she kept right on with a positive attitude about school and towards me. Each day she begs me to learn. If I can't sit and do school with her, she is working on her own workbook, practicing her piano, or reading.

A few weeks ago, she came up to me and told me, "Mom did you know three, seven times, is 21?". I was astounded! We have done some adding and subtraction, but never had I taught her multiplication. So I tested her a bit more. "What are five, fives Zoelle". "Umm...25", she answered after a few moments of thinking! After asking her several other multiplication problems, that she answered correctly, we realized she just is gifted in math (she has since gone through 3 math books). She loves math and reading and I'm ok with that as those are two things absolutely necessary in life.

She also loves choir! She is in a local community kids choir and while her teacher did pull me aside at the beginning of the year asking me if she was just extremely shy or hated choir (to which I assured it is the former), she really came out of her shell and loved her very first choir concert.

Another thing she loves is her piano! I've been teaching her since last year and while last year started off slow, this year she has been teaching herself new songs during the week when she is supposed to be practicing her assignments. She can't seem to get enough of piano!

As for the little girls, I have yet to start any school with them. I tried the first few weeks of school, and they were more interested in playing then in doing any school. However, Meridian has shown some interest in the past few weeks and so I promised her with this new year, we would try.

If you are curious which curriculum we are using. Zoelle is using Little Hearts For His Glory while Meridian (and eventually Xiomara) will use Little Hands To Heaven. I still love them both and would highly recommend them!

Overall, I cannot believe I can say this, but homeschooling Zoelle has been the best decision we have ever made this year. She has really blossomed and our relationship has come almost full circle (although we still have our days). I'm very thankful I took a leap of faith and decided to homeschool her!

Then You Were A Kindergartener

Today you enter Kindergarten. I can't believe it. I remember when you were born, I tried to think ahead to this day and I just couldn't quite grasp that it would ever happen. Yet here we are. On the brink of a major change in our lives.

We signed you up to attend a local private school and then about a month before school was to start, your dad and I felt a lot like Miss Clavel on your favorite movie Madeline when she declares: "Something is not right". We began to have doubts about school and so we spent a month praying over our decision.

Things changed in the school (a new teacher), we moved (necessitating a longer drive to/from school each day) and things changed with you (you started reading Little House On The Prairie chapter books). We began to talk extensively about how it seemed like a waste to spend money on school when you can read so well, and also when you can add/subtract. I didn't want you to be bored in school. I also wanted to encourage your love of learning while I could.

Thus last week, when those around us were heading to school, you stayed home to start your first "official" year of homeschooling.

But for your dad, the decision was not an easy one. He thrived on the socialization of school. He worried you would miss out. Worried that you would become behind. I had to gently remind him that you are already ahead and that, for this year, he doesn't have to worry about you being behind. I explained to him how you will be in story time, Sunday school, children's church, and children's choir. Plenty of time for you to make friends.

I worried too with this decision. For me, it means a lot more work. For I will be trying to do a little preschool with your sisters during the day too. It also means that I have to work extra hard at our relationship. I'm not naive enough to think the days will be all rosy and perfect, but for some reason I really think this year will be beautiful, healing, and a balm for both of our souls.

We are taking this on a year by year basis. But for this year, I am so confident that this is the right decision for you! You will thrive being home another year with us. Expanding your mind, exploring your world.

Yet at the same time, even though you are homeschooling, I want you to be aware that this is a big step for you. For you truly are growing up. Kindergarten is a big leap into the future and while we have never been able to go back, somehow this feels like we truly are leaping in the future. That future is up to you baby girl, and it all starts now.

Welcome to kindergarten!

Someone Is Growing Up

I haven't written about our homeschool journey since the beginning of January. In that post, I shared that I was struggling a bit with school for Zoelle. The funny thing is, shortly after posting that, Zoelle seemed to take off in school. She whipped through her first math book and is well on her way to finishing her second one. She is reading now pretty fluently, and understanding it as well. I brought out our old Bob Books from last year to have her try the other day and I was amazed at how much smoother her reading went compared to a year ago.



So in the midst of all of that, you may be surprised to learn that we made a big new decision; next year Zoelle will be going to Kindergarten. After much prayer and talking, we decided that a local private school is the direction we wanted to go for this next year. I'm not sure how future years past this one will look, but for now, we have a major peace about school.

Of course, it is a big change for me and that is part of my change post. Zoelle is a huge help around the house and I will miss her help each morning as she goes to school. Speaking of morning, mornings are not my cup of tea. I am not a morning person at all. So this will challenge me to have to formulate some sort of schedule. I'm not positive yet if I will be bringing her to school or if she will take the school bus, but either way I'm sure we have just added a bit of busyness with going back and forth to school even if just for school programs.


While a bit nervous about this change in our lives, I do feel it will be a great one for Zoelle. She has a wonderful teacher that I know will work hard with her. At the same time, this will give me a chance to focus a bit more on Meridian and Xiomara and because I have the preschool Heart of Dakota Publishing curriculum, I will be starting both the younger girls on a part-time homeschooling routine this Fall.

Overall, I know this is the right decision for our family, but I'm sure you will have to remind me of that this September as my oldest daughter, who I never thought would turn five, goes off to school for the very first time!!