I know it has been forever and ever since I have updated, but I wanted to share this!  AA had her first day of Kindergarten this last week!  It has gone SO well.  Aubrey Ann is excited about school everyday, and she is loving all the curriculum we chose for her.  That is such a relief because we spent months and months researching all of our options, so it is nice to know that we made some good choices!

Her first day started with a fun first day of school breakfast of homemade donuts, sausage and strawberries.  What I love about homeschool is that she had the time to help me make breakfast and I got to enjoy her company in the morning rather than feeling so rushed.

During breakfast time I have been doing a morning devotional/character study with both kids, and a circle time with both the kids.  Then AA starts her subject work while Landon does an hour of carpet time.  AA does her history, math, writing and spelling during this time.   After that it is time for recess!  We have gone to the park for recess, and even made a trip to Mamaw’s house.

After recess we have lunch, then it is time for Landon to take his nap.  AA finishes any work that didn’t get finished in the morning during this time, and we do literature/reading during this time.  We are usually completely done with school by 1-1:30, and then AA has time to read and rest for a bit.

Some curriculum choices that have been wonderful so far:

Math-U-See

AA has LOVED doing her Math-U-See everyday and begs to do it!  Usually math is her least favorite subject (sounds just like Mama!) but now she LOVES it.  I am SOLD!

Lamplighters Books

We have run into the unfortunate consequence faced by most parents whose children learn to read at a young age, finding age-level appropriate books, that are challenging enough to keep up with AA’s reading level.  AA is currently reading at a 4th-5th grade reading level, and the content of most books written for kids of this age level can be inappropriate for younger audiences.   Fortunately, we found Lamplighters.  It is a company that focuses on finding books that build character, while also making sure that the content is appropriate for children of all ages.  AA is currently reading a book written in the 1800′s called “Helen’s Temper and it’s Consequences”.  The book is WONDERFUL!  I look forward to AA reading it to me everyday.  It is a book about two sisters, Helen and Betty.  Helen is a smart girl who always knows the right answers, and Betty is her younger sister who isn’t nearly as smart, but she is far more wise and kind than her older sister which is shown when she befriends a poor, disabled girl who can’t find her way home.  Helen won’t take the time to help the poor child (despite knowing all the right answers to her Sunday School’s teachers questions regarding the Good Samaritan earlier that day). I knew we had found a real gem of a book when after reading the first chapter AA said, “Helen pretends to be nice, but she really isn’t.  There is a big difference between SEEMING good and BEING good”.  WOW!

Our other curriculum choices have been good too, but time will tell.    We are still in the honeymoon phase, talk to me around Christmas to see which really works for us!