We’ve finally started school – a bit later than usual, but our summer was a bit crazier than usual, so I wasn’t quite ready. The kids were ready though, especially Kayla. It rained all day today and I’ve decided that rainy days are perfect for starting school! They just feel slower and there is a kind of peaceful permission to stay at home and quietly work through the day. (We actually did leave the house for lunch at Whole Foods before saying goodbye to Grammie and Paw Paw and then piano lessons later, but still!)

We typically have some sort of special breakfast. One year it was apple pie and ice cream – probably due to our reading Farmer Boy at the time. Then last year it was chocolate chip cookies. That was the hoped for
breakfast this year so that was what we had! The cookies were from a Namaste Gluten Free Mix from Cornucopia. These mixes are the best we’ve found so far. We also had scrambled eggs and hash browns!

Then everyone gets a school box at their place complete with school supplies and other surprises – this year the big surprise was a coupon book. The coupons can be redeemed for a chore free day, staying up 1 hour past bedtime, a day off of paper route duty, watching a movie, etc.

After family devotions we hit the books. For those interested, here’s what everyone will be doing this year:

Kory: (7th Grade)

Saxon Math 1/2 (pre-algebra)
Henle Latin
Elementary Greek I (just a few lessons to complete before II)
Exploring Creation with General Science – Apologia (text and CD-rom)
Daily Grams (taking a break from Shurley English)
Writing Strands
Traditional Logic – Memoria Press
History – Veritas Press – Middle Ages/Reformation/Renaissance
Bible – How to Study Your Bible For Kids by Kay Arthur (these are great studies – the boys have completed several)
Spelling Power
Typing – Mavis Beacon
Building Thinking Skills by Critical Thinking Co.

Cooper: (5th Grade)

Saxon Math 6/5 – using the new D.I.V. E. CD-Rom
Latina Christiana I – Memoria Press
Investigating God’s World – Abeka
Daily Grams
Writing Strands
Spelling Power
Typing
Building Thinking Skills
Bible – How to Study the Bible for Kids by Kay Arthur
Writing with Grace – cursive by CLP
History (see Kory’s)

Our history co-op group still meets every Thursday. We now have 11 moms and 35 kids in the group for a grand total of 46 people in your house when you are the hostess. We may have to split, but it is too heart wrenching to decide who goes where, so we just sort of remain in a sort of denial! Our first meeting is this week, and the topic is Augustine, and I am teaching! Any suggestions??? I’m thinking of assigning a persuasive essay in the form of a letter from Augustine to a leader of the Manicheans, Donatists, or Pelagians. (If this sounds impressive in any way, please know that I knew nothing about Augustine – sad, but true- until last week when I thought I should begin preparing to teach!) I have the older kids who we are striving to challenge this year with more writing assignments and oral reports. They would get quite a bit of theology as well!

Art will be once a month with Michelle Goldshlag of Growing Artists and also a good friend from church. She will teach drawing technique this first semester and painting in the Spring.

Ballet/Tap (Kayla), football (Kory), piano (all 3) happen at various times throughout the week.

Routine is so nice in so many ways! Happy Fall!