full speed ahead

The last couple months have been a roller coaster of events and happenings...some of which have taken over a lot of my time and energy. But...one very important event that happened was Addison starting Kindergarten!!! I was not sure if I was actually going to start her since she shouldn't actually start till next year. I didn't want to push it, but she was so hungry and eager to learn that I actually felt that I would be holding her back if I didn't start her. She already knew all of letters and sounds and was asking to read and 'add.' I don't really even know where she heard that, but she sure doesn't skip a beat and wants to learn or know as much as she can. I am 'teaching' her, but I kind of feel guilty even saying that because she is so easy. She has a lot of first born tendencies, wants to please us, and is very self motivated. At this point, things just come to her very easily. I only pray this continues! :) We will have to see about this with 'Kaden boy.'  We may be doing school with him hanging upside down on the couch!! But whatever works, we will do! I have never really been the 'you have to sit at your desk and not move' person anyway. I remember teaching and letting kids lay on the floor if they wanted or stand up and do their work. I just know I want to be creative and keep it exciting...doing school outside, using markers some days instead of pencils are just a couple ways to MIX IT UP! Some of my brothers and sisters have even done 'pool school' some days. Mom will let them get in the pool and lay of rafts while she reads aloud to them...rare, but it happens. :) I love the flexibility that I have.

I have snapped a few pictures of Addison at work! She just loves it! 

  

 

 

She is reading very well...Praise the Lord! We had a little rough spot with her blending the sounds together, but once she got it, she got it. She identifies beginning and ending sounds...and sometimes middle at this point. She loves writing and writes a lot of 'I see,' 'I like,' 'I love' sentences. She is never lacking for what to write! I usually have to work with her on condensing her ideas into smaller words she can spell and write down...hilarious some times. 

She loves math and I do too. We started a program this year called Math U See. I actually did it myself for a little bit in middles school when it first came out. It has come a long way and so far I am very pleased with it. My favorite part is the manipulatives it uses. I would have bought the 'blocks' whether I used the program or not. It allows them to SEE what they are doing with numbers and develop strong number sense and place value very young...hence the name...Math U See. I just love it. 

We are currently doing a unit on apples...very low key and fun. Just reading about them, how they are grown, what they are used for, the kinds of apples, etc. I have many more ideas of units I want to do with her and am excited to just make it fun.

We just read about the voyage on the Mayflower and the Pilgrims for history. I plan to go more in depth with the Pilgrims and lead into the First Thanksgiving as we are making our way towards Thanksgiving. I really want Addison to have a strong love and respect for her country and the freedoms she has...I just want her to know our roots and how it began so I can lead her into some more in depth topics in the next couple years.

We do various topics for our Bible time everyday. I want to cover the Fruits of the Spirit with her, focus heavily on character...which I have some great resources for...and just go over some basic Bible stories and songs with her. And...take every advantage of the 'teachable moments' I have everyday when she or any of them are being unkind, have lousy attitudes, need redirected, etc. I get to reinforce things that we have been learning. Education is very, very important to me, but I want my kids to have strong character and a strong love for and relationship with the Lord as well. Then...the sky is the limit!

We are doing well around here and are very flexible when we have to be. We are going full speed ahead! I can't believe my baby is in school!