Wow, another week has passed!

We were a bit better last week about getting some lessons done. And we have goals set for this week, so all should be well there. I am redoing the chore charts I made to have morning chores and afternoon chores, and I am adding dance practice (10 minutes a day) to both kids' academic charts. Yes, I know it isn't really academic, but they're supposed to practice - it was given to them as "homework", and homework is academic, right? See, I do use logic, though it may be a bit twisted sometimes. Speaking of dance classes, Fairy is really enjoying her new higher level class - still mixed tap and ballet. She says it is more challenging, but really enjoyable. And she says while she loves dance, gymnastics is her passion (yes, she said passion). So maybe, just maybe, I'll find a way to put her in regular gymnastics classes in January, instead of just taking her to drop-in homeschool gymnastics, which is still pretty good as it is with the same instructors, etc. she would have in the "real" classes.

I came out of my bedroom this morning to find Elf reading Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days, so that he could "see how other kids homeschool". I thought it was funny, because that is why I bought the book, and why I read other homeschooling blogs! Fairy said she'll stick with reading Bob Books for now. And I finally am getting it... I have been semi-panicking at her lack of ability to connect letter names and sounds with printed matter, but she can read the Bob Books, so I think she's learning much the same way I did, many, many years ago... by memorizing the books and then figuring out which word is which. If it works, then I guess all is okay, though I am stubbornly keeping on with phonics and letter work.

Going to be a busy week. Today was roller skating, and I have a class this evening. Tmorrow, Strega Nonna on stage, and 4H Engineering. Wednesday art and gardening classes, Friday is gymnastics and Park Day. Saturday, maybe a science workshop, and Sunday a Halloween party. I have my witch costume all ready to go, and the kids are going to be zombie pirates! Halloween is probably our all-time favorite holiday. Who doesn't like an excuse to be someone, or something, else for a day?

Oh, and my kids are questioning me about magic and paganism. I blame the book Wizardology entirely, as Elf has been reading it to Fairy. I have dabbled in it myself off and on for years, to the point that we still celebrate the change of seasons and full moons, so maybe this is a sign I should dabble a little more?

A fresh week and a fresh start...

We kind of forgot about homeschooling last week. Too busy cleaning the house, getting over headaches (me), putting log rounds in a circle around our backyard firepit, tearing out all the annuals that were done, just too busy in general. I think we "hit the books" twice.

So today is the beginning of a new week, and so we're starting fresh. I have my plans for the week all made out, and it looks like Wednesday will be the only really-busy-day-with-no-chance-to-homeschool (art classes, pumpkin patch field trip, Fairy's new midlevel dance class). This afternoon - afternoons are our best homeschooling time - we have: language arts (which includes phonics and spelling); math; history; and handwriting planned. Tomorrow will be the same, except we'll have science instead of history!

For me, having the house clean actually really helps. I feel more motivated in general to keep it that way, and do other things, like fun projects with the kids, because I am not bogged down in "oh, my house is a dreadful mess". Chore charts are helping too! Right now I am debating - start our long waited Greek vases? Make cookies? Cook up a batch of playdough and put some pumpkin pie spice in it? Hmmmm.... the possibilities are endless, except that I have a class at 6 today, and a paper to finish editing. Maybe we should just do our lessons and see what happens from there!

I am trying really hard to better manage time, driving, etc., as well. We've been doing two field trips a month, on Wednesdays. I am now (starting in November) going with ONE field trip a month, on Mondays. The kids don't want to give up any activities, so we're just not adding any more at all. I'm moving my once-a-month Global Arts and Crafts class from a Wednesday afternoon to a Tuesday morning, since on first of the month Tuesdays, we don't have to be anywhere else. I am also finally - yes, it has taken me this long - using the calendar M got me for Christmas last year, which has room to write all our activities, so I can see them all laid out.

Maybe there is something to organization? Have a good week!