We officially started our new school year this past week. We have been doing some light schooling all summer (when we weren't out of town!), but we have hit it hard now!
Mariah,,,, it feels like she should be about 5! :( Why do they have to grow up so fast!? She is a sophomore this year. She has grown up so much in the past couple of years. She is completely independent and self-driven with her school work. That is such a blessing to this mama that is stretched pretty thin!
Malachi ~ 6th grade and it seems just yesterday that he was that very wild toddler that got into everything! He too has matured so much in the past year. His schooling is pretty rigorous this year but he is handling it like a champ! He was my "late reader". I honestly thought he had some issues or I was a terrible teacher! I had to keep reminding myself that this was a big reason why we homeschool. They can learn at their own pace and.... without labels being attached to them! What is so cool is that he didn't really start reading well until third grade but when we tested him this year he tested above grade level in every area! But guess which area was his highest? Reading comprehension! He tested over a 10th grade level! So yeah.... home school mamas that may be reading this post. Keep at it! When that "light bulb" turns on it is so worth it!
Myles~ 3rd grade. Bless his little heart. This fellow has stretched me as a mama in so many ways! He is smart as a whip but SO hard sometimes! Once we get him settled into his work he focuses and does fine. However, it is an emotional battle every morning! He would rather be outside than doing anything else. We will keep on keeping on.... teaching him, training him, and praying hard all along the way! :)
And then there is Macheus~ Kindergarten! How is my baby already in kindergarten!? We are not doing a whole lot with him. Some handwriting, a little Explode the Code, and mostly just reading, reading, reading! McKenzie was my only kid that had to endure a full Kindergarten curriculum. Poor girl..... I was fresh out of college with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I had to deprogram a bit. When Matthew came along he just couldn't handle Kindergarten. I had a wise older mom tell me to just let him play for kindergarten and by the next fall he would be fine to start 1st grade. It was true! They mature so much from 5-6 and he did great the next year. We called him a "kindergarten dropout". Pretty much a joke now as he is a very smart man! He has a college degree and finishing up his last degree next spring!
Malachi working hard at his desk. This is where he always does his work. Mariah mostly works in her bedroom where it is quiet.
Myles works wherever I end up wanting to do it! If the baby isn't napping I prefer my bedroom floor!
I should've taken a picture of Madeline! She is my right arm! I honestly couldn't do it all without her! Having the new baby, keeping up with household stuff, being the caretaker of my dad...…….AND home schooling is a lot! She is a huge blessing to me! (She's also an English whiz so that is what I get her to do with Malachi! :) She does his English, Spelling, and she also teaches Science unit studies to all of the boys!
And last but not least... Marc's system started back up last week too! He was a new superintendent with a building project going on at the same time! It has been a lot but he has done a fabulous job! The building is done and the students have moved in. Doesn't he look good standing in that new school!? :)
~Until next time...…..
