Happy About School

Well, school is going really good. I am happy about that. Last year was kind of rough, I was so pregnant and SO tired, it was hard to keep up with the IDVA program. I almost gave up, in fact I sort of tried to convince the girls they should go back to regular public school for this school year, but they really wanted to continue with the Idaho Virtual Academy.

Especially Briah did, she has some great goals set for herself. She wants to be a 7th grader by the end of the year and is currently a 5th grader. She's set this goal all on her own, because she knows she's capable, and the program allows her to work as fast or slow as she likes. I'm not pushing her on it, I told her that's all up to how much work she'd like to put in, so we'll see. But she really is definitely capable, she tests way ahead in her subjects, smarty pants. Lexxi's doing great too, she is constantly surprising me with her work, because she will moan and groan over an assignment forever, then do it super fast and it is absolutely amazing. Opens my eyes to looking for ways to challenge her potential...

I get a lot of crap about homeschooling my kids, but it doesn't matter. I know it's not for everyone, but I'm doing what I feel is best for my family at this moment in time. And I truly love to see them every day. It's LOADS of work, to say the least, and there have been more moments than I can count where I've thought, "This is too hard, I should just put them back in regular school." But I really do find it so rewarding to get so much time with them.

The girls finishing up their Literature so they can head out to play with friends, while the boys head to the living room for a phonics lesson Leapfrog movie.

Lunchtime...

Levi practicing his letters. He loves to stick his pencil or marker over his ear while he's thinking, it's pretty cute. This munchkin is really good, just sits on my lap and tries to eat my computer or sits in his bumbo or swing and squeals and chews on his toes while we do schoolwork. Yesterday I put him on his tummy behind my chair with a toy, and 15 minutes later I turned around to find him at the other end of the room. 

The kids get points throughout the week for completing their lessons, as well as additional points for good behavior and helpfulness/getting their chores done. At the end of the week I pull out my "store" and they get to buy things with their points. It's really nice, because they can also choose to buy cards for things like, "A Yes when Mom says No", "Playtime with Friends", "Video Game Time", or they may even purchase "an argument" for use to argue with Mom on some issue and not get in trouble for it. Funny though, they haven't been as interested in arguments since they had to start paying for them.This one makes me look like a great mother, I know, but I came in the kitchen to find that Deacon had climbed up and pulled down this fancy glass to pour himself a glass of apple juice... And just a few of playtime...

He says,"Look Mommy, I a sammich." 

Yes, you do look like a yummy Deacon sandwich.