This year's school year began today, Sept. 3rd and we will have 176 days of school in on May 30th. This includes taking off two days at Thanksgiving, from Dec. 24th - Jan. 1st for the Christmas season, and a week off for a spring break at Easter time.
Scheduled activities that fill our calendar at the moment are going to a reading club at our local library once a week, going to a missions class once a week, Tae Kwon Do class two times per week, attending a Fun Understanding Nature (F.U.N.) event each month, and going to science classes hosted by a Science Center fairly near to us.
We are active in our church, and enjoy serving our Lord through many classes, groups, and participating in church-sponsored events and activities.
As our homeschooling experience continues, we will be going on lots of field trips and community events.
I think it is important to teach our children about reaching out and helping others. So, we not only donate to several causes close to our heart, but we also volunteer at our local food pantry once a month. Yes, even the girls help...they help stock the shelves. Even 4 year old Kenna, whom is just learning to read, can match food labels on the cans (or will ask to be sure) to make sure she's putting the donated food in the correct places.
Last year, Maddy was in Kindergarten, and it was a sheer pleasure to teach this child. This year I was a little concerned about teaching both a Kindergartener and a 1st grader. Especially since Kenna won't be 5 for another month. Last year she joined Maddy for class during at least half our subjects, so Alan and I talked it over and decided if she was going to do the work, she may as well be getting the credit for it. And because we don't begin school until September rather than mid-August, it put her even closer to her 5th birthday. Thought we'd give it a try and it she wasn't ready, not a big deal and she could wait until next year.
Today went very smoothly! They shared, they took turns, they waited - or joined in - while I was helping the other with their different grade-level lessons. I think Kenna is going to do just fine this year.
Each morning, during our "Morning Meeting", we do attendance and calendar, say the American Pledge, say the Christian Pledge, say the Bible Pledge, have prayer, log the weather in on our weather chart, and do a "Where's Dad" on our U.S. map.
Moving the arrow around to "Sunny" on our Weather/Season chart. It's been a beautiful day!
Today in math, we used Pattern Pieces and learned about Tangrams.
The
dog days of summer are the hottest days of the season. They are named
after Sirius, the Dog Star. During this time, the Dog Star gets very
close to the sun. Long ago, people thought that was the reason it got so
hot!