Roll Call - When are you all starting?

[my3sons]

Hey ladies! Let's share what guide(s) we are doing and when we are starting. I am starting mid-Sept., and we are doing MTMM, finishing out PHFHG and then starting CTC, and finishing out LHFHG. I am getting excited! We will be schooling 5 days a week most weeks, as this works better for us overall. What are you all doing? Oh, and anyone doing something special to "kick off" their year? Love some new ideas in that department!

In Christ,
Julie

[LynnH]

We are starting August 20th. My dd starts her dual enrollment online classes the 23rd so we decided that would be a good week for both dc to start. We only school 4 days a week due to going to a co-op and volunteering at the animal shelter on Fridays. I usually don't do much as a big start the school year thing. I will be interested to read what others do. Maybe it will give me some ideas.

[Robbi]

We have already started! I had such high hopes for getting a lot done but its really only been 2 or 3 days a week. Oh well, we've been having fun with friends & cousins before they start back to PS. On the day PS starts we will be at the DR having our 20 week ultrasound!! The kids are very excited becuz they get to come with us!!

[sweetgrace]

We started LHTH last week! So far, I'm really liking it and my 4yo is getting alot out of it! I plan on taking frequent breaks through the year and making it really light and fun

[jen_good]

We'll be starting the 2nd half of Bigger tomorrow. I plan to go 1/2 speed for the first 2 weeks to get us back in the swing of things and also to allow more time to spend at the public pool before it closes.

Last year, we went out to a favorite restaurant for breakfast on the first day

Have a blessed year everyone!

Jen

[stawnasalas]

We are starting tomorrow :0. Ds is doing CTC, dd is doing Bigger and ds5 is starting LHFHG. We are going to begin with going over schedules, discipline/encouragements, and then do 1-2 subjects for each dc on Mon, 3 on Tues, and 3/4 on Wed. and then do day two on Thurs and Friday, to make the week a little more relaxed (and to just ease into school after being off since May 4th, 2 days before baby was born:)). I got 2 wonderful ideas from a dear friend for a rewards type thing: A ROCKS jar (each letter stands for something). Basically, when you notice a child doing something that the ROCKS stands for, they put a rock in the jar, and when the jar is filled, you do something fun. We will go to Menchies, which is a frozen yogurt place here that the kids love. I also am going to have each child put somthing they love to do for fun (ride bikes, play wii, watch a show, read, etc) on a popsicle stick (each stick is worth 15 min), and when they are overwhelmed, feeling frustrated, upset, etc, they can pull a stick and take a 15 min break as needed (one stick per day/for a total of 4 per week). I am hoping this works well for my 10 yr, who really struggles with frustration. So for tomorrow, rules, a few subjects, and then lunch with dad at Chili's. I hope its a fun back-to-school-day! I am soooo nervous, and know I need to give it to God, for this is His plan for our family at this time.

[countrymom]

We school year around, but we did end up with a month off that just ended, so it kind of seems like we are starting. We are on unit 15 of Bigger and unit 9 or so at 1/2 speed in Little Hearts. We are looking forward to another great year with HOD like usual.

[Rhyah]

We started July 23rd with Beyond again. We shelved it last year after only 3 units because we needed to focus more on reading for 1st grade. Now we are excited to be back and starting it again. I'm due to have a new baby in September, so we'll be taking a month off at some point in the fall which is why we started earlier than usual this year.

[mskogen]

We school year round here in sunny south Florida. We started the new school year July 9th. We are doing RTR, CTC, finishing Beyond and starting Bigger in January, finishing LHTH and starting Little Hearts this month. We have do HOD 4 days a week. The 5th day is used for special interests, field trips, Keepers of the Faith group, 4-H, make up days and sometimes just a free day

[netpea]

Starting day after Labor Day with LHTH & Preparing.

[scampbell2003]

We are starting tomorrow! My oldest is starting Bigger and my middle starting Little Hearts. Looking forward to being back to a schedule and teaching the kiddos. We are so excited! I am not quite ready but I know I have everything I need to get started so we are diving in. Probably half speed this week and then on to full speed next week. Love the flexibility of HOD!

[beckytrow]

We started in July, but we are on a break this week! Starting back up next Monday!

[3sweeties]

We started last Thursday...at half-speed. Tomorrow will be our first full day doing CTC, BLHFHG, and LHTH!

This year, one of the things we did to celebrate was to have a treasure hunt! I hid post-it notes all over upstairs (our school room is up there), with each one giving a clue of where to find the next one. The last clue I had one post-it for each child that led them to their own "bag" of back-to-school goodies (some typical school supplies, along with a few fun things). My kids LOVED doing this -- even my 10.5 year old!

[mamayi]

We started in mid-July since we had been off since May 1. New baby and her surprise medical condition put us off of school for almost three months. But we are back at it and all of us love having the structure and routine back! My oldest two (ds10 and dd8) are doing Preparing, dd6 is in LHFHG/Beyond right side and ds3 is happily playing with his cars most days.

[water2wine]

We are still finishing this year but will start up again about Nov 15th or so. We are going to be doing CTC for the 3rd time (how is that possible, but it is true), Rev to Rev for the second time, and MTMM on the high school level. Very excited to get started on a new year but still enjoying finishing up the present year. Probably going to school 5 days a week but HOD 4 days. It works so well for high school that way to fit in electives and labs that way.