The Countdown

Today's post is brought to you today by the number 26 and the letters O.M.G.

 

There's only 26 more days till our "official" first day of homeschooling, and I gotta tell ya, reality, excitement, and a touch of panic now and again, is beginning to set in. I find it most helpful to the state of my mental health when I remind myself that I've been "teaching" my kiddos since the moment they exited my body; eating, sleeping, socializing, playing, talking, walking, feeding, pottying, dressing, cleaning, pet care, biking, manners, etc, and that this homeschool thing....is really no different. I know what Bre needs to learn for 2nd grade and we're just going to work our way down the list. I know what Wes needs to learn for P-K and we're just going to work our way down the list. If it's something I don't know how to do (Stephanie Neher, you are the next contestant on "Are you smarter than a 2nd grader?") I'll either figure it out, good ol' google and pintrest haven't failed me yet, or I'll find someone who does know and go from there. Easy peasy lemon squeezey, right?

It's a slap bracelet turned spectacles!

As I was contemplating what our typical school day schedule will look like, I decide to ask B how she might prefer to do it. I want her to feel like she's participating in her education and not just someone that school is being "done to". I asked if she would like to do our schoolwork in the morning after breakfast and then have free time after lunch OR have free time in the morning and do our schoolwork after lunch? She thoughtfully chose option B, and knowing what a magnanimously awful morning person I am, I'm quite ok with her choice. So, we're gonna give that a shot and see what happens. I figure, hey if it doesn't work we can always change it cause we're in charge of how this thing runs.

"There are zero elephants in my cereal bowl."

Our first Life of Fred math book arrived in the mail today and I was so excited to check it out that I read through half of it while I ate my lunch. It's really cute and had me giggling many times. I think Bre's really going to like it. Wes won't be ready for the math portion for another 2 years or so, but I think I'll have B read the story portion out loud to him because I know he'll enjoy them. Plus, it'll give her more reading practice. 2 birds, 1 stone, feathers everywhere baby!

"1 sock off and 1 sock on, diddle diddle dumpling my son John"

 

We also started our "first day of school" paper chain countdown this afternoon. It has become our preferred method of time keeping cause the kids can visually see the time passing as the chain gets shorter and shorter. I suppose we could x the days off on a calendar page as well, but it's just not nearly as much fun as wielding scissors and a stapler. Bre cut out the appropriate number of strips we needed. Then I had her write numbers on each strip starting at 27 and counting backwards so we could tell at a glance how many days are left without the need to count the remaining chains each and every time someone forgets, which is usually multiple. I threaded them together and Wes was the handsomest little stapler operator that you've ever clapped eyes on. Our paper creation is currently draped over the ceiling fan above our dining room table and after supper each night the kiddos will take turns cutting off a link and I'll keep a paper bag handy in case I need to put my head between my knees and breathe.