Started LHTH today ..

[mater est laetus]

Monday has been my planned start date but as I thought about I decided to ease into it a bit with a staggered start by doing day one of LHTH today and only LHFHG on Monday. I might even only plan to do four days of each next week, perhaps staggering a couple more days.

I would love to say it was all bliss. I can say they all enjoyed it (the art activity caused some issues as they're use to free play in that arena and weren't taking naturally to following directions - great opportunity for learning patience, self control and trusting and obeying Mommy). Unfortunately we're having some character issues so I was wore slap out by the time we were done from all the correction and instruction on top of leaping around like an antelope, etc.

All in all though, my 3 yo daughter is delighted to be starting school (she was really down when she went to bed last night because I didn't start yesterday). I mentioned in my planning post that I have felt that I have neglected her (she long ago started asking me to teach her phonics but I have been sporadic in doing so). She's been playing phonics games on my iPhone and yesterday she started a blending game with me while I was folding laundry and then started bringing books to show me how she could sound out the titles. I decided to add a phonics program to LHTH for her and will do the math activities from LHFHG with her.

My oldest, who will start LHFHG on Monday, took part in all of it and was carefully listening to the words of the corresponding music while the little ones (and the dog) danced around the living room. This child is not at all like his sister - very smart but would prefer to lead than be led - so I'm curious to see how Monday will go. Prayers eagerly welcomed!

[netpea]

Sounds like you had a few rough patches but that it was good overall? I hope so. Praying with you that next week is a great start to the year!

[mater est laetus]

Sounds like you had a few rough patches but that it was good overall? I hope so. Praying with you that next week is a great start to the year!

Thank-you. .. and yes - the actual doing of it was a hit (aside from the art issues) but the children in general were not so good today. Sorry if that was confusing!

I edited to try to say that better in OP.

[mater est laetus]

Since we're home this morning while DH and oldest DS are working at the church I did Unit 1 Day 2 with the littles. They're improving in following directions already.

DD is overjoyed and I just couldn't help but report it.

[netpea]

that's wonderful!

[kmartin]

I had a similar experience when I started my dd with LHTH this past fall. She was 4 at the time. Like your daughters she was used to free play during art time and was resistant at first to guided art activities. What helped with that was I made a deal with her that if she did the art project for LHTH nicely then she could do her own art project next. This worked out well for us. I also saved art projects for the end since this was her favorite part of the lesson. Knowing there was an art project waiting for her motivated her to listen to the story time and do the other activities so she could get to her art project.

[mater est laetus]

Karen, that is encouraging to know.

I am reminding myself that structure and routine is something we are all working on here and I am learning to communicate clearly with them so they know what to expect and what I expect of them.

Yesterday was my first day with my 5yo. He did well - we both did, especially considering how much went wrong yesterday to get in the way of getting school done. I'm learning scheduling strategies along the way, praying a lot, and reminding myself of Carrie's post in the thread about boys and school - specifically the part about being prepared and sticking strictly to what is scheduled so as not to drag out school time.

I know it's going to take us some time to settle into really having to do school so I'm giving us all grace and I am so thankful for having the schedule so specifically laid out for me. I don't know that our first day would have even been completed otherwise.