I love homeschooling- I really do.   

Like most homeschooling moms, I get overwhelmed sometimes, and wonder how I will ever get it all done.  I think these feelings at times stems from having too many things on my to-do list, and having to try to get it all done and still get the homeschooling done too.  (Also, from setting myself up with expectations that are too high!)  It's easier on me and the children when I have more time to dedicate fully to them and their schoolwork.    I have to work at letting other things go and not being so worried about things that aren't as important.  Priorities are important!   

Some days it is extremely easy getting things done - the kids just get their work done without a problem, and they're done before I know it and can move on to other things and I can get rest and enjoy the day with them. I love those days!! 

Other days, it can seem to be such a hassle that I almost wonder if I'm doing the right thing. Sometimes the days drag on and one of my kids will be stuck on a subject for hours on end.  This is probably more my fault than theirs, as I don't always have the correct attitude waking up! 

The  bad days actually do have a good purpose- they help us to better appreciate the good days that we have!   I  think that all of our struggles also help to build character in all of us.  

I can see the good results of the labor when I actually take a step back and let myself observe how much they have learned, and how much they have progressed since the year before.  It also encourages me greatly when people comment about how well they seem to understand things they wouldnt have expected them to know.  I very much enjoy hearing people praise my children.   It helps me to remember that my effort isn't in vain! 

I just thought I'd share some pictures from a homeschooling day here.  One great thing about schooling at home is that you get to work barefoot!



They always do this when I point the camera at them.



The hardest thing I've found with homeschooling three children of different ages, is trying to figure out how to teach Noah (4) and the other two (9 and almost 8) at the same time.   While Caleb and Bonnie are working on something, I'll try to help Noah learn something- and while I'm teaching him, Caleb will be listening in to our conversation and will try to "help" me teach by telling Noah the answers to questions I'm asking.  I have had to remind him multiple times to stop listening to me and focus on his work, and that this is Noah's work, not his. 

Lately, he has been a little better.   He has finally realized he can't do that anymore, and he has been paying more attention to his own work.   I have to remind him at times, but it's not nearly as bad as it used to be.  

Noah has gotten really good with the computer mouse, and lately has been very interested in the website, Starfall.  It's a wonderful resource which teaches phonics in such a great (and fun!) way for children.   I could let him play on this website for hours because it reinforces so many things that I want him to learn, while still being enjoyable for him.



And another way we work on phonics and reading is by me writing out words that rhyme and sounding them out as I write. Then I ask him to write them out as well.   We do similar things with Math.    He has workbooks, but I honestly think this approach works better at his age.  



I had to brag on him eventually: I am really proud of Caleb, who is 9 years old and has advanced into Algebra 1/2 (Saxon).   I never would have thought that when he was 9 years old he would have been doing this well.. He seems to have a real knack for Mathematical things (unlike his mom!) and I hope that he will be able to make that go far one day!   I have a DIVE CD that he listens to to help him learn his lessons.   If it weren't for that and his dad (who is also terrific with Math), I wouldn't be able to help him very well with a lot of the problems, as I was terrible with Algebra as a child and ended up doing consumer Mathematics instead.     But I am actually learning a lot by watching him do some of his problems- I know and understand a lot more about Algebra now than I did when I was in the 9th grade.



Here is what Bonnie was working on when I was taking pictures (English).  She is also doing really well. I just love to see them all growing and learning in their own way!



This is just a sample of our homeschooling lives and what we do each day.  I hope that you've enjoyed reading about it.