Back to School....

 Yes, it is time.  Time to take the pool down...sniff, sniff.  Time to get back into our regular schedule.  No more staying up late and sleeping in.  No more living in our swimming suits...hey, I didn't do that!  But the kids sure did.  It is time.....

I had originally planned on schooling through the summer, but I decided against it.  I am glad we didn't for the most part.  I needed a break to ponder things.  To play.  To craft.  To just enjoy my very favorite season.   But, I am craving our "school" schedule.  I am excited to get going and see how our year goes.  I have had time to think about WHY I am homeschooling and IF I am doing it the way I feel I should be.  What can I do better?  I needed this summer to figure out a few things and to change a few things I feel I needed to. 

• We'll be focusing on better devotionals.
• Learning or at least singing hymns with more regularity.
• Better personal scripture study.
• More creative writing.  (Can you hear Seth freaking out already????)

• They'll be taking the lead on science, geography, and history.  Well, for the most part.  I want them to figure out what to study, then I will do my best to surround them with what they want to learn about.  I will be trying a new history curriculum that focuses on living books not text books.  I will be gently introducing these books, and see how it goes.  It is very important to me that I don't shove their education down their throats.  I believe in being their mentor not their teacher.  I will guide them but not force them.  Except in math.  And phonics.  And grammar.  They pretty much have to do that.  The end.

I feel ready to go.  I am not a first year homeschooler anymore and am grateful I feel confident in our journey.  I am grateful for the blogs I have found, friends I have made and advice I have been given to help me homeschool my kids.  Happy Back To School to us all!!