With starting homeschool we also just moved into a new condo. This was a great way to get off to a fresh start with organizing supplies and a learning space. I've put all the boys in one room and used the third bedroom as a classroom (doubling as a guestroom). We now have a fun, relaxing learning atmosphere that I love - and the kids love it too.
I have a friend that just recently left Costa Rica to live in the states. She handed down to me tons of homeschooling supplies including some unit study boxes that she put together. These gifts as well as her advice and support have already been invaluable to me. We just finished a unit on insects that I think changed our lives. The boys took it all in with such fascination and wonder, it was pretty cool. She also left me with some tools to get started with for reading. With only 17 days left until my scheduled c-section I really don't have energy to lesson plan or get super creative. We're just trying to get through the days and learn something along the way! Here's a typical day so far... 
start with Bible... nothing fancy just pick a Bible story, devotional, talk about it and pray!
Do a lesson in this book with Kai - he's on lesson 70. He loves it some days, others he doesn't, but it's working really well at teaching him to read.
These blocks are the best! Again, Kai doesn't always love it, but it's teaching him word families.
Jude and Ezra join in sometimes, but I let them participate as they feel like it. Today, this is what they were doing while I was doing this with Kai. They like to get in on the action, too, though. Here they are all working at their little desk. Too cute, of course Jude just scribbles and Kai and Ezra have to comment that he's not doing it the right way, and I have to explain that he's just a baby and when he scribbles he's really doing a great job!
Here are some more shots of the classroom and the stuff I'm using:
Kai and Ezzy's workbooks and journals
Our bookshelf
and boardbooks! I am so blessed that literally everything I have has been given to me and passed on by friends and family members. Amazing, huh?
With rainy season here, we have to make sure we take advantage of sunshine in the mornings and get outside while we can.
Our view
backyard "pignig" as Ezzy says. I love that they had to bring their books out too. We enjoyed this time of reading and eating before the rain came and Jude's nap time. While Jude napped Kai and Ezzy wrote "stories" (dictated to me) in their journals and drew pictures to go along. They love doing that and come up with some crazy stuff!
So that was our day today. I feel really good about it, except for one meltdown by Ezzy in the afternoon because he wanted his beans "molido" and they were "entero." This actually escalated into a tantrum and afternoon tantrums are really tough for me to handle, I just start losing my patience. Luckily daddy walked in the door in the nick of time to take over that one!
So I guess we'll see how tomorrow goes!
Do a lesson in this book with Kai - he's on lesson 70. He loves it some days, others he doesn't, but it's working really well at teaching him to read.
These blocks are the best! Again, Kai doesn't always love it, but it's teaching him word families.
Jude and Ezra join in sometimes, but I let them participate as they feel like it. Today, this is what they were doing while I was doing this with Kai. They like to get in on the action, too, though. Here they are all working at their little desk. Too cute, of course Jude just scribbles and Kai and Ezra have to comment that he's not doing it the right way, and I have to explain that he's just a baby and when he scribbles he's really doing a great job!
Here are some more shots of the classroom and the stuff I'm using:
Kai and Ezzy's workbooks and journals
Our bookshelf
and boardbooks! I am so blessed that literally everything I have has been given to me and passed on by friends and family members. Amazing, huh?
With rainy season here, we have to make sure we take advantage of sunshine in the mornings and get outside while we can.
Our view
backyard "pignig" as Ezzy says. I love that they had to bring their books out too. We enjoyed this time of reading and eating before the rain came and Jude's nap time. While Jude napped Kai and Ezzy wrote "stories" (dictated to me) in their journals and drew pictures to go along. They love doing that and come up with some crazy stuff!So that was our day today. I feel really good about it, except for one meltdown by Ezzy in the afternoon because he wanted his beans "molido" and they were "entero." This actually escalated into a tantrum and afternoon tantrums are really tough for me to handle, I just start losing my patience. Luckily daddy walked in the door in the nick of time to take over that one!
So I guess we'll see how tomorrow goes!
