Wow! It’s been a long time since I posted. We’ve just been really busy! Life as a homeschooler, I’ve discovered, is much more crazy than I thought it would be. Now, granted, a lot of that is just getting used to not being on the school district schedule, and finding our own routine. That has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. I think I had pictured this wonderful thing where both the boys would sit down at the table at 9am and we would begin school and have our little school day with little to no interruptions, with the boys paying close attention and doing all that I ask of them without a problem, while the little ones play with their educational toys, and have it all done by lunch-time. (Oh, is that Beethoven playing in the background?) Hello! Real world! It’s great to dream, but then reality sets in. Some days it’s tough as nails to get one or both of them to cooperate. Other days they are excited about our lessons. Then, there are those days where I throw my hands up and wonder what the heck I’m doing! But, all-in-all, things are getting better. We all have to adjust to this new lifestyle, and it just takes time. I think we’re getting there, though. We are having many more good days than bad. I love being able to teach them good things. I love being able to tie what we are learning in school to the scriptures, the prophets, and the Gospel. I love that they have both been able to test out of math that is too easy for them. I love that we can spend as long as we need to on things that are difficult, while breezing through some of the easier stuff. I love that I get to spend that time with my kiddos!
We are going through Nevada Virtual Academy (K12), and that is working out well for us. I love having the curriculum and lessons already set up, but still having SO much freedom with them. For example, they had Constitution Day lessons available, and of course I wanted to do those. So, we went through their lessons about James Madison and the Constitution, which I have to say were surprisingly well done, and then I talked to them about what it says in the scriptures about the Constitution, and my feelings about the Constitution, and how it was really authored by the Lord. I got to talk to them about patriotism and how blessed we are to live in the United States. I love being able to do that. And that is just one example. We’ve done that with other subjects and lessons, too. It’s great to have that ability and to be able to make our values part of their education! One will never find that with public school!
I’m going to try to post more often, and hopefully as we get into the grove of things better, I’ll be able to.
