This week we finished up our second year of homeschooling.  On Tuesday we had our final visit with our support teacher and we received the kid's report cards today.  I have felt so blessed to have this opportunity to be home with the kids.  The decision to homeschool has been a really good fit for our family so far.  With Sean home infrequently, we are really able to maximize the time that he is here and it has enabled our busy family to keep a fairly relaxed pace in life.  I think the morning school rush would be a real challenge for us, especially with the changing sleeping habits of my kids.  For years my kids started the day before 6 and I can't believe that I can now say we don't wake up before 7, often later.  I smile everyday at 7:30a.m. as the school bus drives by:)

Some of the highlights this year have been piano and history.  I love that the kids have been able to start formal piano lessons and have had the opportunity to perform for others.  Both Aiden and Caileigh seem to really enjoy it and it has been a good lesson in discipline as they make time for daily practice.  They even have written homework each week.  Last week, Aiden's homework was to write his own song.  It is a work in progress but he is hoping to play it in the recital next month.

Both kids continue to enjoy their history lessons.  There are a series of four books that take you from ancient history, right up to modern times.  We are 1/3 of the way through the second book.  Sometimes we merely read the material, and other times we stop on a particular favorite subject and read additional material and do activities relating to it.  Recently the vikings were a popular subject and currently castles are a hit.

We've started our "summer school" schedule and the relaxing days have been really enjoyable.  We're still keeping up with math, writing, piano, reading and history and we'll add in other topics as they come along.  For example, we're learning about road safety in July and the water cycle in August.  Aiden has the challenge of memorizing his times tables this summer but we have a lot of fun games that should help with this process.  We'll also review past lessons to keep things sharp.  

The relaxed schedule has created lot's of time to try some new things, like embroidery!

We're also busy getting our garden planted.  We're adding some new things this year like onions and lettuce.

Next year's curriculum has been purchased and it has been exciting to see the material start to arrive.  I'm starting the little three on a fun, informal preschool program so I am really looking forward for that to arrive.  I think it will be a fun time for all the kids as we read books and do fun crafts and activities.  My focus for this time will be on the fun experience, rather than formal learning.

Although I keep a detailed school blog, I thought I would share a few pictures from our school year........

{Our "100" party to celebrate Caileigh counting to 100 by 1's, 5's, and 10's}

{Making Advent candle holders with friends}

{Kadinsky's circles}

{Aiden's acrotic poem}

{Our family production of "Peter Rabbit"}

{The lighthouse of Alexandria}

{Learning about the phases of the moon with Oreo cookies}

{Learning to draw rabbits and birds}

{A math lesson in repeated addition}

{Caileigh's story titled, "The Stallion of the Wild", can be read on her blog}

{Baking}

{Making unleavened bread for passover}

{Learning about 3-D shapes}

{Labeling of a butterfly for Caileigh's project}

{Never too young to do patterns}

{Everyone paints}

{Learning about chemical/physical changes in science}

{Getting excited about chemical changes}

{Observing a caterpillar change to a chrysalis......he should be emerging any day!}

This year has been fun filled.  I can't wait for next year!