School's In Session

We took the kids to the Columbia County Fair for a final summer hurrah.  My parents joined us and we had Curtis, Sierra, Andrii, Anna, Jordan, and Slava. 

Jordan & Anna on the swings.

Slava loved the rides!

Jordan, Slava & a Police Dog.

 Jordan is obsessed with becoming a police officer.  Much to his delight the State Police had a nice exhibit at the fair.

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!

And I am so thankful for the freedom to educate our children at home!

Studious Sierra

 Sierra is dual-enrolled at home and at Liberty University this year.  She's doing 11th grade at home and is a year ahead at that.  Her subjects are:  English 101 (LU), Biology 101 with Lab (LU), Algebra 1 (again), and American History using "America:  Covenant & Calling" by Peter Marshall Ministries.  Peter Marshall wrote the books "The Light and the Glory,"  "Sounding Forth the Trumpet," and "From Sea to Shining Sea."  His daughter, a friend of mine, wrote this new curriculum.  On top of academics, Sierra has weekly piano lessons, Karate, a baby sitting job, a part-time job at her uncle's laundromat/dry cleaners, Missionettes, and Youth Group.  Yup, I'm tired just typing it!

Happy Students:  Slava, Andrii, and Anna.

 Andrii is in 9th grade and is doing Saxon Algebra 1, Mystery of History (world history), for English he's doing a combo of:  Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Total Language Plus, and 180 Daily Grammar Lessons.  For science he's doing God's Design for the Physical World/Machines & Motion.  In addition to his academic subjects he goes weekly to Fife & Drum, Royal Rangers, Youth Group, and will be working 1 day a week for his grandfather.

Anna is in 6th grade.  I just had to explain to her that she has not been held back (which she was telling her friends), but she started late.  It's this thing that happens when you come to the U.S. at age 7 and can't speak English yet...you have to start from the beginning.  Sigh.  Anna is a good student, but things don't come all that easy for her.  She's doing Saxon Math 7/6, Mystery of History, Exploring Creation with Zoology, and for English:  Easy Grammar, Total Language Plus, and Spelling Power.  She's also doing Growing in Wisdom a Character Concepts study.  During the week she also has Karate, Flagging, Missionettes, and this year she can start Youth Group.

Jordan is in 2nd Grade

 Jordan is doing Saxon Math 2, A Beka's Letters & Sounds and Language, A Reason For Spelling, Hand Writing Without Tears' Cursive (his idea), Exploring Creation With Zoology, and for history/geography I'm doing a study with both little boys on the 50 states.  Also with both Jordan and Slava I'm doing Character Concepts as our daily Bible Study.  Weekly Jordan will also go to Royal Rangers and Karate.

Slava & Anna

 Slava is very excited about doing school.  He's an official Kindergartner this year!  He is doing Saxon Math K, A Beka's Letters and Sounds and Kindergarten Readiness book, and an Activity Book by Christian Liberty Press.  Slava will be doing Zoology, 50 States, and Character Concepts with Jordan.  He too does Royal Rangers and Karate weekly.

Slava & Jordan doing puppets.

Anna got the little boys doing puppets which was really cute.  Two of the puppets were Wayne Jr. and Kerri (they did a lot of kissing....hmmmm).

Pretty much the little boys do school, go run and play, do some more school, jump on the trampoline, do school, ride bikes, etc.  Basically if they were stuffed in public school they'd be pumped with meds...no thank you.  Plenty of hands on activities and tons of patience for mom (pray for me please) and we do pretty good.

With the big kids we're finishing up a Bible study that we'd started last year which I love.  It's called "What We Believe Volume 3 - Who Is My Neighbor? And Why Does He Need Me? by John Jay and David Webb.  Previously we did Volume 1 - Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? and Volume 2 - Who Am I?  And What Am I Doing Here?  Like I said before, I'm so thankful for the freedom to home educate our children.  It's important to us for them to have a Biblical worldview.  Each year I ask the Lord to give me a Scripture for our school year.  This year He gave me Colossians 2:6-7:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

continue to live your lives in Him,

rooted and built up in Him,

strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

and overflowing with thankfulness.