Let’s Catch Up

Where Does The Time Go?

The weeks go by faster than I care to think about.  My baby is losing the last of her baby teeth.  This school year, in which we had planned to accomplish monumental things, is coming to a close and I feel like we are just hiking into the foothills and not nearly at the great peak we should have reached.

A mass of blue in this bed signals spring is near.

Transitioning From Public School to Homeschool

How do I feel about the school year?  Wonderful.  I have loved having Princess of the Universe back home.  The year overall has been a transition year, with some of the issues that make it a transition year really peaking now.  If you bring a child home from public school, especially if they’ve been there for some time, you’ll have some things to work through:

• missing old friends
• missing the structure of the school day
• feeling bored at times

Those can be big things, but it does not make me want to throw in the towel.  We have worked actively this year to keep up with her old friends and to develop new friendships. 

Princess of the Universe seems to love being home, so keeping her days structured has probably been the biggest challenge for me since I work on Mondays and Fridays, but the workbox system has nearly 100% worked that issue out.  (If only I’d found it at the beginning of the year!) 

The feeling of boredom doesn’t mean that she’s doing less here at home.  Do you remember just how many distractions occur in a public classroom?  In addition to the educational activities going on, there was always some sort of drama occurring.  No wonder a quiet home and working on things alone or with a sibling seem “boring” some days.  Maybe I should work on being a drama queen to liven up our days?  No, I think I’ll stick to exciting field trips for livening up the days.

The mustard greens I planted are really taking off.

At any rate, we plan to continue with homeschooling.  I am up to working through the transition.

Princess of the Universe sits nearby while I type.  She’s reading about the American Paint Horse after our fieldtrip to Elodie Farms.  She loves animals and we are looking for ways that she can do some type of animal-related volunteer work for school.  I know she would love that.

Nature Studies

One of the things I love most about homeschooling is the chance to be close to nature, any time of the day or even all day.  I love getting outside for lessons.  As far as our nature journals, I am continuing to work on finding our own personal style of documentation here, with a little help from various books and websites. 

Her first try at drawing a horse.

Princess of the Universe was not very happy with this drawing, but I was very happy with it.  One of the most important  benefits to drawing, in my mind, is learning patience.  She spent a short amount of time drawing this horse.  We talked about practicing regularly and being willing to spend more and more time on each drawing, which will make her better and better at drawing.  I realize that raw talent is a factor when it comes to drawing and how far a person can actually take it, but I also know that an artist must always practice and learn the tools and secrets of the trade.

I am working on a sunfish.  It’s taking awhile.

Our Current Unit Study

We are moving on from Angelo to The Clown of God using lesson plans from Five In A Row and as we continue to study Italy and Roman history.  We have pulled in a nice chapter book called The Apprentice and we are putting together a little lap book of sorts which includes a timeline of Michelangelo’s life, vocabulary words, and I’m making a really nice multiple choice “test” from the chapters in the Apprentice.  I hope to wrap this up in the next week. 

Our study of Hamlet has been on the back burner for a couple of weeks, but I assure you not forgotten.  We are hoping to finish Hamlet up by the end of March, maybe the first part of April.  More on that soon. 

Of Home and Garden

Cookie?  Are you okay?  You look like you’ve seen a ghost!  What?  Oh, a mouse!  You’ve seen a mouse.

Yesterday was the first time I’d seen little Cookie kill a mouse (or anything for that matter) and bring it up to the door as a prize for me.  Thanks, Cookie.  To think, that little mouse might have tried coming inside. 

I frequently take my morning tea into the garden now.  I love March.  Love it.  Spring is knock-knock-knocking on the door in March, and I’m saying “come on in!”  The sun is brighter in the mornings now and it has a different kind of shine.  I love it.  (Did I say that already?)

The little windchimes catch the morning light.  I tap them to make them sing.

Spare time is hard to come by around here, but I spend as much of it as possible in my little garden.   I can do my morning reading there.  We can do some studying there.  I can take my breaks and lunches there. 

I wish you could join me this bright morning.

Enjoy your Saturday.

Lynn