Once a week you will see post from me on how our new homeschool adventure is going. This is my very first post. I will link this post to the new tab you see on my blog called Homeschool Journal.
Yesterday was our very first day of Kindergarten!! I thought it only appropriate to do a few traditional things to remember this day!
We prayed about our school adventure.
We said the pledge of allegiance to our flag outside.
We got dressed up! Of course took some photos! Complete with a sign to hold up, thank you to my Sister In Law for the fantastic idea of letting Macie make the sign each year to show her progress!
We drew a picture of our family.
And we did a first day of school interview. You can find the printable here: Positively Splendid First Day of School.
Certainly we would not let the day creep by without a craft project.
Then we did a few school related things, you know that math, science, reading stuff. 🙂 Great way to ease into this.
Our memory verse for the week is Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 🙂
My thoughts:
Besides the fact that I am terrified I am going to screw this up, I am doing ok. Half the battle of anything to me is being organized. My brain only functions in organization and systems. If I don’t have a good system or am not organized, “FORGET ABOUT IT”.
I took the time in the last couple of weeks to really get organized, not just with stuff but with my thoughts.
I have really put myself in the mind frame that Kindergarten HAS TO BE about learning to LOVE learning, and not so much about stringent schedules. I of course have to have a schedule because that is how the world operates. However, I feel like in our allotted school time there is room to move from subject to subject even if we haven’t maybe done all the work for that day or subject.
Emotionally, I can’t believe my child is 5 and starting Kindergarten. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little sad over the fact that I didn’t get to take her to her first day of school. I am realizing that my thought process with homeschool is going to take some getting use to. It all the sudden hit me, there will be no school programs to attend, there will be no open house school night, there will not be the sweet things coming home in her book bag that she made for me at school. I do feel a little nostalgic about those ideals, as that was one of my favorite things about her preschool time. HOWEVER, I also realize, I don’t have to worry about head lice, or a bully at school, or lunch money, or this kid has that and this kid has this and I want it too.
Yep, like most things I am sure I am over thinking all of this. For now, I am savoring the first week of school and cannot wait until I teach her how to do something fantastic, and get to witness her learning from me. I am really excited about that.
Nicole Tugrul says
You are are the right path Wendy! Enjoy every day of your home schooling adventure, it is all worth it!
Mel says
You can do this! I am homeschooling a 7th grader and 10th grader. I often wished that I had done so from the very beginning. The way I see it is we only have our children for a short season of their lives and the influence we can leave for them. I’m looking forward to reading your posts!
Gail S. says
How fun!! I bet you will be very happy that you had this opportunity to spent time with your little girl. What a sweet picture.
Sheila King says
Wendy, your thoughts are so much like mine. I am homeschooling a now 7 year old, 5 year old and sort of my preschooler who doesn’t show much interest yet! But several weeks before school started I was really struggling with my thought process. Sometimes I catch myself being jealous of public school moms for many reason.. some that you have mentioned. My husband had to remind at the beginning of this year why we started homeschooling in the first place and we prayed about it long and hard. We are only one week into school and I am so glad we decided to keep going and that Sean supported me. Carley is just starting Kindergarten and boy oh boy am I glad I get to teach her to read just like I did Colton! She is picking up on it so quickly and she smiles so big every time she gets something right. She giggle and laughs and makes jokes… and I’m just sooooo happy I get to witness her personality come alive in learning! What a privilege it is to be able to teach our own children. I don’t tell anyone what my future plans are because I DON’T KNOW! My goal is to get through one day at a time. I have a feeling you are going to do just awesome! Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading your journal 🙂