Sophia's 1st Day of School
Reflecting on our first day of school, we will have to re-arrange some of our day. She really enjoyed math and handwriting (thanks to those great MathUSee & Handwriting Without Tears manipulatives), and drawing, of course. Religion (learning prayers), Big Thoughts for Little People, and our reading lessons did not go over so well. My thoughts ... prayer work should be less formal, more natural; the Big Thoughts book more cuddle book, less formal; learning to read ... not sure yet how to make that more interesting. We didn't even attempt the music (WeeSing Bible Songs). We'll need to do that just as a natural part of the day.
We started at 9 sharp with opening prayer and flag salute. Ended at 10:25 AM, but then read aloud for 30 minutes.
Will & Nicholas did as I expected. Will wanted to be right there watching & participating. So, our wooden letter pieces became swords and saws while Sophia did handwriting. Nicholas sat on my lap, nursed, got down, tried to eat crayons and manipulatives, nursed, crawled around, nursed.
Little funny side note. One of the more experienced Moms told me at the picnic last week that I shouldn't expect my plans to work perfectly. "Only in a dream do kindergartners learn quietly and peacefully while the Mother has bread dough rising on the side!" Well, she was right about learning quietly. At least, no one ran screaming form the room. But, thanks to my bread machine, I did have fresh bread mixing, rising and baking while we were learning this morning!
Truly a Home School. Learning with your siblings.
I'm also pondering names for our school. Some that I like are Divine Mercy School, Holy Trinity, Holy Family, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It's a good thing I don't have to decide today. I have to fill out some paperwork with the local school district during the year she turns six, so I have at least until then to make up my mind!
