It's Officially in the Books!

Our first official year of homeschooling is in the books! It definitely was a learning experience for Zoey and I BOTH...and we are totally and completely smitten and in love with this year and our experience with homeschooling in general. Were there some bumps along the way? For sure. There will be some curriculum changes next year and subject changes here and there. For example, she's not in love with Spanish and has really been interested in Latin lately. I think we're both feeling more confident in our expectations from everything to what it is that we think school will or should "look like" to what expectations we should and can have of one another.

Zoey has grown so very much in this past year. Not only physically and emotionally but her mind has just cracked open and she's made me so proud with how it is that she is thinking about people, the world and life in general. This is what it is that I was wanting for her!! The safe space for thinking original thoughts as well as the space to explore interests that she may not even have had the chance to know about before now. Just in this year alone she's confident and even enjoying math, something that was so not happening while in public school and she's actually retaining what it is that she's learning! We love Math-U-See and Mr.Demme so much! So very thankful we went with that curriculum for math. She also discovered an interest in drawing and sketching, something that she didn't have the confidence enough in to express while at her public school, (at least it didn't happen in the past). Growing up in a family with an artist as my father, there are days when I see Zoey sketching and drawing and I can't help but get a bit teary eyed. She NEVER used to do that and she does it all the time now. I love that she has so many ways of expressing her creativity and that drawing is now one of them.

Her favorite subject this year hands down, was science. Both what we did for school and her independent projects. Reading was a close second and she enjoyed free writing as well. She read a TON this year! So many books that I lost track of them all, (we originally were trying to keep a list). Makes me so happy. Something kind of quirky to note, she loves finding words that she doesn't know the meaning of and then looking them up and then finding ways to use them in everyday conversation. She cracks me up.

My one big worry about homeschooling her last year was, are you ready for it...socialization!! I know, silly right?!?! I had all sorts of concerns and worries. Well, guess what? She is just fine and in fact, had perhaps even a busier social calendar than had she still been in public school! Weekends were busy with friends coming over or her visiting friends. She knows more kids than ever now with the homeschool group kids in the mix of things now as well. Having dance classes twice a week and hanging out at the library after school hours helped too. She even attended two out of three middle school dances this year, which was awesome too! Very thankful that her friends have stuck around and remained friends despite our rearranging our lives a bit and that we've been able to make some new special friends through homeschooling as well.

She's happy that it's summer break, that's for sure...but interestingly enough, she mentioned that she was sad that the routine of "school" would now be over and that she was looking forward to next year already! Over the summer she'll be taking part in a day drama camp, taking some summer dance classes, babysitting and she has a potential job assisting at a gymnastics summer camp as well. She will be continuing working through math (I don't want to lose her foothold on things) and we'll be doing a somewhat lighter botany course as well. It's safe to say that reading will be on her agenda as well. There's no stopping that! I'm hoping to get her to be involved in the teen book club at the library that I work at, as well as participate in the summer programming.

Feeling so very thankful that we took this leap of faith last year and just DID it!! Thankful too for our friends and family that have shown so much support.

Feeling pretty blessed.

We'll be sharing our happenings here on the blog yet this summer, so stay tuned for what's to come!

Homeschooling 7th Grade - Day 2

Today was a much better day for both Zoey and I. We made a pact to take our time, we aren't in a race to get things done after all. We started a bit later today, around 9:30 and she worked on her geography studies which led her through some reading and then choosing a biome to research (this will end up becoming a part of a book of biomes that she will be creating). When she was done with that I read aloud chapter 2 from the book The Road to There by Val Ross. Again...very surprised with how much we both enjoyed it! Really has some interesting, shocking and even funny historical information.

After geography she wanted to work on her science. Today she had a few projects which she loved. One was taking her temperature at different times throughout the day. We took her temp. upon waking/at rest, after doing jumping jacks and playing with Leo later in the day and then after she ran around the house three times. She recorded her discoveries on one of her project sheets for her science binder.

She did a bit of science reading...it didn't feel like too much today! Hooray!

After her science reading we took our lunch break and then we had some fun in the kitchen making a cell model fruit pizza.

She used her human cell diagram from her Kids Discover Science magazine for her guide...

and wrote down what fruit was for what feature of the cell.

This project wasn't in her science curriculum but it was one that I thought might be fun and tasty too! I'm glad that we did it.

After our kitchen project she took a break while I cleaned up a bit. She checked her email, went outside for a bit and then we both spent some time outside. I put up the hammock and she read from her poetry book.

She read the assigned poem a couple of times to herself and then she read it aloud to me. I loved today's poem so much. It was perfect.

This.

This is how I envisioned homeschooling to be. Perhaps we need to loosen up a bit and truly embrace the Charlotte Mason'esque philosophy.

After reading Zoey decided to make a little fairy house.

We ended our day with an art project where she used oil pastels on black paper to create a shot of earth looking from space. This was a project from her Geography through Art book. Zoey is not a huge fan of art that she "has" to do so at this point I'm really trying to back off with instruction and just try to get her to enjoy the process of using different materials and testing things out on her own. I'm a crafty person so sometimes she tends to back away a bit if I offer too much guidance. I admit too, that I need to let her do things her way too. :)

Here were her two finished projects. She likes the one on the right more...and I like the one on the left.

She ended the day today with math. She felt a lot better about today...she had fun, didn't feel like it was too overwhelming and I'm feeling good about things too. Perhaps the pressure of the first day was just too much for us both. The expectations just couldn't measure up to the reality. She told me today that she couldn't ever imagine going back to public school after today. :)

First "Official" Day of 7th Grade

 

So today officially marked our first day of school for homeschooling. It was a bit scary to be truthful. We had been waiting forever to start and were SO very excited that I was worried that the real deal might be disappointing. While I wasn't correct completely in that line of thinking, it wasn't the most amazing day ever. Crazy, I know. :)

We still did the back-to-school photos and then she promptly changed into a more comfy outfit since she can do that now that she's homeschooled. :) Bonus points there.

If our dog Leo doesn't look enthused to be getting his picture taken, it's because he's not. He's definitely a dog with attitude.

I will share a little bit about our first day of school here soon. So far so good though...when I asked her if she still wants to be homeschooled at the end of the day today the answer was still a confident and enthusiastic YES, so that's good!

Almost a 7th Grader!

We were outside the other day and had a little impromptu photo shoot, you can tell it was not planned since there is green paint on Z's arms...oh well! :) She's a busy girl, which is a good thing!

She is so excited for this year of school...we've been counting down the days until we officially start in on schoolwork. We are thinking up some fun new back-to-school traditions since this is our first year of homeschooling, one of which is this little All About Me questionnaire which I had Z fill out below...

7th Grade Questionnaire 

Answers typed out by Zoey

My favorite food: Pickles, Mac & Cheese, Plain Salads With Olives, Cake, And Buttered Noodels.

Foods I'd rather avoid: Baked Beans, Lasagna, And Fish.

My favorite things to learn: I Love Science (Especially Herbal Science), Drama (Acting Tips), Dance, Writing, And Grammar. 

My favorite color: Bubblegum Pink & Tye-Dye!

My best friends are: Noley, Gracie, Ava, Leah, Hannah, Ruby, Kristina, and Katherine.

My favorite games to play: I Like Playing With My Barbie Dolls (I Usually Pretend They Are On Spy Missions), Playing With American Girl Dolls, I Like Playing Clue (The Harry Potter Version), Playing With Stuffed Animals, I LOVE Building With Legos, Playing Fairy Games And Building Fairy Houses, And The Board Game WildCraft! 

When I have free time I like to: Sew, Play With My Dog (His Name Is Leo, He Is An Adorable Cocker Spaniel, And Enjoy The Outdoors! 

My favorite books are: All The Harry Potter Books (I Have Read Them ALL Like 15 Times!), The Homeschool Liberation League, Nancy Drew, Little House In The Big Woods, Don't Stay Up Late, Moon Runner, And A Midsummer Nights Dream (The Play Version). 

My favorite movies and TV shows are: Boy Meets World, Gilmore Girls, Full House, Arthur, Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer, All The Harry Potter Movies (Except The 4th A.K.A The Goblet Of Fire), And Aquamarine! 

My favorite holiday(s) are: Christmas, Valentines Day, and Thanksgiving! 

Things I do well: Acting, Dance, Drawing, Science, Writing, Hair-styling, And Reading.

Things I need to practice more: Singing And Playing The Recorder! 

My favorite place to go: Downtown Minocqua! 

My favorite family activities: Hiking, Sledding, And Playing With Our Dog, Leo! 

My favorite thing about home: It's Cozy And Looks Like A Ginger Bread House! 

My favorite things to do outside: Practice Gymnastics, Adventure In The Woods, Collect Herbs, Play With Our Dog Leo, Bike, Run, And Walk Down To The Creek. 

My favorite chore: Shaking Our Echinacea Tincture! 

My least favorite chore: Cleaning Up Toys! 

My favorite song: I Don't Really Have One But I Like The Oldies! 

What I want to be when I grow up: Actress, Fashion Designer, Herbologist, Doctor, Dancer, And A Hairstylist! 

A place I want to visit: London. 

My favorite part of last year: The Weekends And Being In The Play Frog Spell! 

Something sad that happened last year: I Never Had An Actual Science Class.

When I get up in the morning I like to: Check My E-Mail. 

My favorite part of each day is: Going Down To Our "School Room" And Looking At ALL The Cool Books I Will Be Reading This Coming School Year (It's My First Year Homeschooled!)  

My favorite drink: Tea Or Pink Milk!

My favorite sport: Dance!!!

Something new I'd like to learn this year: How The Human Brain Works! 

And a picture of Z in her favorite tree...a photo request from her.

I have a feeling it's going to be a GREAT year!