The best day of school so far...

[sniz-teach]

Good morning!
I am still learning the ropes around here, so to speak, and have been reading through all the helpful, encouraging messages on this board. This is my second time to post, but I just had to share my excitement! We just finished our first week, and it went so well! Every day my 11 yo DD says "This was the best day of school so far!" She doesn't like math so I try to sandwich it between more fun activities and that seems to help. My 9 yo DD is bright and cheerful and handling her work much better than I expected and both of them are so much more willing than I anticipated. The Bible verses and the key idea of persistence is truly inspired and we've been talking about it and applying that character trait to everyday situations all week. Yesterday, we had our "Reading Kick-off" for DITHOR which I shared about on my blog. And one of the best parts? Getting done with all the core stuff in 4 hours, or even before (depending on when we start). I love how I feel we have enough time to do ALL the activities. In the past I would usually skip lots of stuff in an effort to actually not have the school day drag on until bed time, but I hated having to do that. Now we do EVERYTHING and we don't feel rushed, because we can still get done and have our afternoons free. I LOVE HOD!

[Vicki]

How wonderful and what a blessing for you and your children! It is such a great feeling to know that you're done for the day, yet have covered all the "bases". And to know that your children are receiving a Christ-centered education, which in this day and time is difficult to find, is best of all!

Hope this week continues on with peace and more blessings for your family!

[wdworkman]

Looks like you have some really creative kids! Hope today is just as fun.

[Teena6]

This is our 4th day..... and I am finding that to be true too. We are doing LHFHG and we cover everything usually by lunch. We do not start real early either b/c I am working with our 5th grader.

They LOVE the activities.

I would avoid activities too b/c of time.... but not anymore.

[jensmom]

Very funny! I have to put Math at the end of the day so that dd will not complain about the rest of it. She LOVES math! I agree with you about HOD. I absolutely LOVE this curriculum. Even with add-ons we are finished in 2 1/2 to 3 hrs. We have plenty of extra time for outdoor activities and other interests. I am a new homeschooler and I am VERY HAPPY with my new flexible schedule. Yes, we have our ups and downs. Yesterday dd went to time-out about 6 times for back-talk. Nothing really school related, just 6 yr old mouth. But at least I am able to stay on top of it and get a handle on it instead of it getting even worse in public school and only having 3 cranky hours in the evening to attempt to control it. I will gladly take the good with the bad just to be able to see the lightbulbs go off when she learns something.

BTW, someone mentioned creating a name for your homeschool so that it sounds more legit when you get to high school and start filling out college applications. Well, I thought about it and since I love to go to the beach I decided it had to have a beach theme. I decided on WAVE Academy. WAVE is all caps because it stands for.....Want A Vacation Everyday! I thikn we will get shirts made....

Enjoy your homeschool adventure!


Judy

[Tiffini]

I have to agree with my sis and say that we are having so much fun with HOD! I was nervous about the activities involved since I have never been able to successfully stick with activities. I don't like crafts and I'm not good at them. The great thing is that with HOD, the activities aren't usually "crafty", but they are always so fun and so purposeful. I know they will make the lessons stick in their minds.

Anyway, you have to check out my sis's blog for pics of our DITHR kickoff. I was really concerned about doing a kickoff since I am so sorely lacking in those creative type project-y things. But the only thing I had to do was get a few joke books from the library and they were off!! The littles were so cute with their re-enactment of Prairie School. We had to cut them off a little early, though, or we would still be sitting there today watching them!

[Kathleen]

Andrea & Tiffini,

I LOVE your pictures and hearing about the skits your kids put on!! How fun!! They looked like they were having a blast! And, what a huge blessing that you 2 get to live next to each other. (I have to admit that I'm a little jealous...I would love to have my sis so close! ) We're only a few days away from doing Grant's 1st project for DITHOR. And we're enjoying many of the same things you are in Bigger & DITHOR. We only let little brother & sister join us for singing...it's so cute to watch 2 yo Garret belting out Holy, Holy, Holy! (That's the only word from the song he knows though. )

Keep sharing the fun your having with your girls...and cousins!
I love hearing about it!
Kathleen

[Carrie]

Thats so cute! My 5 year old only knew the Holy, Holy, Holy, part too! He would always belt that part out when we sang (and at church too)!

I'm so glad you ladies are enjoying HOD and your school year! Thanks for sharing!

Blessings,
Carrie