1 Month In

1 Month In: lessons learned, thankful for, frustrations, & observations in no particular order.

• Trader Joe's sells delicious pound+ chocolate bars; these make school@home days, school@school days, & even weekend days go much better!
• This was a good week: Kindergartener did well in at-home & at-school learning goals & was generally happy with a good attitude.
• Bad week = tears for both mom & kindergartener; fit & clinging to mom instead of going to class in the morning; bad attitude & no morale in learning goals. A classroom teacher who truly has a heart for my kid as an individual makes all the difference in the world.
• I thought I'd want more free play time at school in a kindergartener's day but I was wrong. There was already too much for my kinder . . . . although he's adjusting now . . . . He likes structure. He likes an adult he's bonded to nearby. Lots of kids in a seemingly chaotic mess with no organized activity was not his idea of a good time; overwhelming! Thankful for a classroom teacher who will give up her very limited time to herself to help him feel comfortable and adjust.
• Bible & prayer time with kiddos first thing in the morning.
• School activities that feel like work to kindergartener should be done in small chunks with fun activities as breaks and sweet rewards for hard work with a good attitude.
• I had heard other homeschool moms ponder what to do with a younger sibling during lessons with the older child. I had shrugged this off, knowing that my 3-year-old would be more than happy & capable to join right along with us. What I didn't foresee is that in oral activities, she can answer at least as quickly as her brother . . . . which is discouraging to brother . . . . so yes, often I do need to figure out separate activities.
• We are 1 month in & just starting to settle into routines. Routines make life easier.
• There is no way I can stay 'down the hill' for the 6 at-school hours. Maybe 'can' isn't the right word but most days to maintain sanity for myself & 2 little ones, coming home is key. Although I do love being 'down the hill' for shopping & errands.
• The opportunities to snap a photo of hands-on learning are more plentiful than my ability to always have the camera ready & too abundant to actually post all the incredible learning going on! Viewed through the right lens, life is full to the max with learning activities.