Well we made it through our first day, but it was not without some bumps in the road.  Nathan was up by 730am and ready to go.. Did his first cursive assignment (write a letter in cursive, so we can rewrite the same letter at the end of the year to show progress) with some gusto!  Then concerned himself with when recess would be...  I made a big breakfast, so he got to eat before starting his Social Studies.. read Chapter 1 and we will discuss ????  Couldn't answer the first 3 questions, so I set about typing up 9 questions (chapter is only 6 pages with lots of pictures).. that would convey the direction of the chapter.. Reread the chapter and answer these questions.... You would have thought I asked him to chew his arm off??  OMG!  He complained the whole way through, but finished! To be fair, this is no more resistance that I would have met with when he got assigned his first homework from school, so no biggie - we will persevere! 

      Connor got up a little later, so he began his writing and finished while eating breakfast.  Not too much resistance and he really tried his best!  Social Studies Chapter 1 (a little longer 8 pages with lots of pictures).. same thing read and we will discuss.  I asked 3 questions, 3 wrong answers (chalking it up to waffle brain - the inability to think when plied with fluffy waffles).  I set about typing up 15 questions to cover his first chapter.  After arguments, 30 minutes for recess and procrastination.  He went about answering and got 6 wrong!  We will redo questions tomorrow morning after some discussion.

     I stopped with this today, as schools are just starting to actually teach and we will be way ahead by the end of the month.  It is a hot and humid evening, so they will get in an hour of physical activity for gym class tonight swimming.  Planning a trip to the trampoline park for next week for gym class, might have to add that as a little bribe for tomorrow.  :)

   I realize this will be hard until we get into a routine and are able to do some things that are more interesting and fun, if not this is just like school (this is what I was told today)!  

Today was the first day of school in our district...

        I knew it would come and it did with all the fanfare of any other "first day".  I felt bad and a little guilty that my kids would not be getting their first day pictures, seeing all their friends, finding their way to their classes,  and navigating a crazy lunch room setting for just the right place to sit.  It consumed me for most of the morning, then I realized why I made the decision to home school and what it will mean to their futures and I forgave myself.  Both boys were still in bed when everyone else was shuttling to school - we are starting our school year next week, and I realized they were not missing all of this as much as I was.. so then on to other things.

        I am going to try to keep a record here of what we are doing and how I am trying to change the way they see learning and hopefully see a spark, that spark that says they get it and they want to learn, want to find the answer!   I hope to use this to show what a true education is, not this pseudo learning public schools are now spoon feeding everyone.  We will not be using anything related to Common Core, but also not using a specific curriculum either.  I am drawing from what the district is teaching and expanding it tenfold.  We will use travel and field trips to reinforce the concepts and ideas, to show how that battle over 200 years ago effects us still today.

      I am hoping this diary, as you will, will keep me on track and accountable - it is their education after all and they only get one, no do overs!  Let the adventure begin....