Top 5 Homeschool Happies

Though Summer is generally not something I get excited about, I do really look forward to what is coming next - AUTUMN!  And what comes with Autumn, but a NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!  Yes, I am one of those nerds that loves school. SQUEE!

Thing # 1: Anna just finished up her third grade year at her beautiful and amazing Waldorf school!!  Those of you who have been with me for a while know that when I started this blog, Anna was homeschooling.  We were able to get her into an incredible school for 3rd grade, and she loved every minute of it.  Waldorf is such a beautiful and effective way to teach and live, and I am so grateful that Anna was able to experience a real Waldorf school for a while.

We are moving to Texas, though, and the availability of such a unique education is limited. Texas is known for amazing schools that value kids and education, with great teachers to boot. (Hi Laura!!)  It is a great system, but it isn't the approach that I think would work best for Anna. Beyond that, Anna has a lot of sick days due to food sensitivities and allergies that leave her feeling yucky, and Texas has a strong truancy law.  In order to allow her body to heal according to it's own schedule (and not the school's), and to continue a more hands-on and creative education, we are going back to homeschooling.

Thing #2: I am so excited about going back to homeschooling!!  It's the nerd in me, really.  I'm ordering books, making out lesson plans, and sharpening pencils left and right (no really - it's a sickness).  I could probably write my own book on all of the things I am planning and learning and reading!

I'm making my own curriculum based on state standards to ensure she's getting what she needs and mastering needed skills.  I'm taking those standards and turning them into lessons that she can really get into and apply to real life.  Be watching in the coming months as I share some of what we're going to do.

Thing #3: Anna is loving handwork this summer!! One of the amazing things about Waldorf education is their focus on creativity and handwork. I was about her age when my grandma taught me how to crochet. I remember spending summers at my grandma's feet with my brother and cousins as she taught us how to use nothing but our minds, our hands, and a hook to turn string into something truly beautiful.

Just this very morning Anna asked if she could make me something and whipped up a pencil holder for me out of her own creative mind and without a pattern.  (Pencils... the girl knows how to get to my heart!)  Though she looks rather serious here, it is only because she was in deep concentration as she worked diligently on my gift.  She just ran in from our front porch and showed me yet another creation. This time it was a coin purse that she made for her Mammy (my mom) just to make her smile.  Have I mentioned how much I love her giving spirit?  I feel so lucky to have this little one in my life.

Thing 4: Violin lessons!!  Anna's school last year gave them free violin lessons as a part of their musical education.  She is doing incredibly well with it, and we are going to continue this at home, practicing often.  When we get to Texas, I am hoping for her to join a homeschool orchestra if it is not too far from where we will be living.  By joining the orchestra she will continue to get an hour and a half lesson each week, and have the opportunity to perform twice a year.

To be honest, I want to learn violin too!  There are some incredible lessons and tutorials available on YouTube for free that I plan to take advantage of.  I bought Anna's violin from Amazon, and plan to get one for myself as well.  Though they may not be professional grade, to this layman they look absolutely gorgeous and sound beautiful.  Here's the link to the one we bought, in case you might be looking for one too.  It comes with a case, a tuner, a set of extra strings, and resin for less than $50!

Thing # 5: Last but not least, I am thrilled that Anna will be starting her third year as a Girl Scout this fall, and she will finally be a Junior.  We found a wonderful homeschool troop where we will be moving, and plan to join them.  She just Bridged from Brownie, and I couldn't be more proud.  She earned a ton of wonderful patches, but even more exciting are the lessons she's learned and the many incredible memories she made with friends.  If you are on the fence about joining Girl Scouts, I cannot recommend it enough.  It is only $15 for the entire year, and with a wonderful leader like Anna had this year, it's worth every penny and then some.

I am so excited about this coming Autumn.  We are going to be doing some preschool work with my spunky Gunner-boy, which I will also share.  My beautiful Abbi-girl will likely be going to a specialized day school for Autism, though that may take some time, so we'll be working with her too.  While Anna's education is the only one that requires this kind of structure and planning from me, I am incredibly happy and blessed to be able to spend extra time with each one of my babies, helping them explore their worlds!!