It's Been a While...

It's been a while since I've posted on my blog. So long that I've probably lost some of my followers, but that's OK. I started this blog several years ago just to write about our journey, to share our experiences with family, friends, and other homeschoolers. Somewhere along the way it became a chore and wasn't fun anymore. But, here I am, hoping to jump back in where I left off, but first, a confession...

Confession: This has absolutely been one of our most difficult years of homeschooling so far. Harder even than the first year, when I had no clue what I was doing with my first born 4 year old. Harder than when I went from homeschooling one to homeschooling two. And harder still than adding a third.  

We've added in a number of 'outside' classes that have us schooling "on the go" as much as we are at home! We spend more than three hours each week just driving, not to mention the amount of time we spend sitting and waiting at lessons/classes. It's really changed the way we do things and honestly it has taken me the entire first semester to adjust to schooling this way. It has negatively impacted the amount of time I have to work with the younger two and as a result  we've gotten behind and some things have slipped through the cracks, particularly with Luci since she is more dependent on me than the boys.

Things here aren't all discouraging and depressing, though. Here's just a small glimpse of what's going on with each of the kids:

Photo by Greg Campbell Photography

Gavin (8th grade) is doing very well, especially considering all the changes this year. He's taking two outside classes this year: Spanish I and Algebra I. He is making A's and B's in those classes and I'm very proud of him. He continues to take piano lessons, but is also playing guitar as part of a band with a few other teens in our church. They call themselves The Praise Project and they are doing a wonderful job! He amazes me with his musical talent, especially since I have none!

Photo by Greg Campbell Photography

Ben (5th grade) is also doing well, despite having to make huge adjustments to our homeschool days. He thrives on consistency, but our days are anything but consistent this year. He's had to learn how to read in the park, do math lessons in the van, and take advantage of every spare minute. He has taken on a volunteer position at our church working with the preschool & kindergarten children's church program. I never would have imagined how well he would do or how beneficial it would be for him. He takes great pride in being a helper and the teachers are constantly praising him for his help and patience with the children.

Photo by Greg Campbell Photography

Luci (2nd grade) would love it if school were all about reading, writing stories, drawing pictures, and doing arts & crafts. She's probably been impacted the most by all of our changes this year. Some of her school subjects slipped through the cracks and she's had a difficult time in others. Math has been a difficult area for her this year and I haven't given it the attention it needs. I'm trying to focus more on her this semester and get her back on track. One thing that's helping is changing her math program. She's been using Singapore Math this year. It's mastery approach works well for kids who are naturally good at math, but Luci needs a math with more repetition--something that keeps recycling topics over a long period of time. We've changed to Horizon's and are picking up with the second half of Grade 1 so she can get some more practice in areas where she is weak.