It Has Been Two Weeks!

 

It is hard to believe the kids have now been in school for two weeks.  The time is just flying by!  Except for getting up very early every morning, this has been a nice change for us all.  The kids really like their teachers and are making new friends.  Our conversations at dinner are now about what did you do in reading and math today, what was your favorite activity today, who ate what for lunch, and who misbehaved and got their name on the board.  So far, the teachers have just been reviewing, so all of the material is very easy for the kids.  We will see as time progresses how they do and if we chose the right grade for them.  So, our afternoons include a snack, shower, homework, dinner, books, and off to bed.  I am still working with the kids on handwriting, Spanish, computer, and reading in the afternoon, since they don't have much homework yet.  I am learning that one of the hardest things about sending them to school is not having control over their learning and understanding all the material they are being taught.  So, we will continue to work hard at school and at home.  We are very proud of them, and they have done a great job embracing this new school and jumping in with a great and happy attitude.

Their New Classrooms

Everything about school in America is brand new for the kids.  In Colombia, the kids had desks to sit in at school, but it was first come first serve.  No one had their own.  If you didn't get one, you just sat in the back of the room.  School consisted of a lot of copy work from the teacher and the blackboard.  They were never called on to answer questions, take tests, or have a need for critical thinking skills.  They only went to school until lunch everyday  We really like all of the kids' teachers and really glad we made the decision to enroll the kids in this school.  The kids were so excited about their desks that have their own name on it and a place for all of their supplies.  This school bases a lot of their teaching with music and positive instruction.  They have very high expectations and want to instill a love of learning at the same time.  So, a lot of the skills the kids are taught, especially math, are set to music.  The teachers are all very up beat, and everyone is excited for another school year.

Painting Once Again

Although the kids are growing up (too fast!), they still like all of the simple things we did together when they first got home.  Playing with play dough, Wiki Stix, and painting on their easel are just a few of those things.  The only difference is that these fun activities have to wait for the weekend now.  Our afternoons now consist of homework, dinner, and bed.  We did paint recently, and the way the kids think now is so different, and it shows the progress we have made.  Rather than just picking up the brush and starting to paint, they really things things through.  Before we stopped schooling, the kids were doing creative writing at school everyday.  We taught them that they first need to start with characters and a setting, then a problem, and then a solution.  I had the kids think about that before they painted.  If they were to write a story, what would that look like on paper. 

Juan loves sea creatures and dinosaurs, so he wanted to illustrate what it would be like if you were driving over a bridge and could see fish in the water on a beautiful sunny day.

Angie loves animals, especially cats.  So, her story takes place on a farm near the barn.

Ingrid loved the beach when we went on vacation earlier this year.  So, like Juan, she focused her story on water as her setting.  In her picture, there were baby seagulls in a nest and a Mommy seagull nearby in the water.  The Daddy seagull is flying in the sky to make sure his wife and babies are safe, while he looked for some food to bring back to them.

We are proud of them for all they have learned!  Throgh all of the daily challenges we faced, the kids have made so much progress.

Driving the Kids to School

So far, the kids are doing really well at school.  It is long days compared to schooling at home, but they like it.  They are making lots of new friends.  The kids' school is only five minutes from our house, which is perfect.  The valet drop-off and pick-up is working great.  This is wonderful for me because I know the kids are with their teacher before I leave, and I don't have to park and walk them into school.  That would be a lot harder!  The first thing the kids do, in the morning, is meet in the cafeteria to sing some songs and say the Pledge of Allegiance together at 7:55.  They then go with their teachers to their class and get started with the day.  Getting up at 5:30, having a quick bowl of cereal, and leaving for school is a lot more challenging than breakfast this past year of homeschooling.  It was much easier to get up at 8:00, have a more relaxed breakfast, and home school on our own schedule.  This is the part the kids don't like!  With that being said, the kids needed to be in a different environment for school this year.  Also, there are a lot less behavioral issues first thing in the morning because the kids are focused on getting ready, doing chores, eating breakfast, and getting out the door on time.  There is no time to play and get upset with each other.  This also means there is no time, so far, for me to get upset first thing in the morning!  Juan is dismissed at 2:00 and the girls at 2:30.  So, Juan has a snack while he waits for Ingrid and Angie.  They all meet together on a special bench at the end of the day.  I have a sign in my window to pick-up the kids and their teachers bring the kids back to me. Here is a picture of the kids with their sign.  Then, it is off to home to start our homework!

And They Are Off!

The kids left for school this morning, and the house is very quiet!  They were nervous but excited.  We are all anxious to hear about their first day, when they come home.  I drop them off at school every morning, and it worked out great today.  When you drive up to the school, they have it set up just like a normal valet.  When I drove up this morning, the teachers were waiting.  They opened the doors, said "Good Morning", the kids jumped out, the teacher shut all my doors, and said "Have a good day."  And I was off to go back home.  School starts at 7:55, so we planned on leaving around 7:30.  Everyone got up early to make sure we were ready.  At 6:30, the kids were already finishing breakfast and ready to brush their teeth! 

It is a big change for us all to have breakfast ready and lunches made and ready to go, first thing in the morning.  Dinner and bedtime will be a lot earlier now too.  It was a great decision though for them to go to school.  I am excited to be Mom not their teacher.  We are proud of what they have accomplished over the last year and know they will do well.  So, we are off to another new adventure with the kids!

 

 

Getting Ready For School!

Our kids went yesterday to meet their teachers, find their desks, and drop off their supplies.  Their lunch boxes are out and ready for Monday, their backpacks are all packed up, and their uniforms are ready to go.  They can wear navy shorts, navy, red, and plaid scooters, and red, navy, or light blue polo shirts.  They are very excited, and Monday will be the big day.  We will post first day of school pictures then.

 

 

Over the past year, the kids have belonged to a homeschool group at our church.  We have met most Fridays and have loved it.  It has given me the chance to talk to other Moms and for the kids to make new friends.  We will miss going and know all of our playdates will now have to be planned for the weekend.  Recently, it was a show and tell day.  The kids decided to make a poster of pictures of their time in Colombia when we became a family and then since we have been home.  It was their first time to make a presentation, and they were so nervous.  They did well though, and it was good practice for the projects and presentations they will be doing this school year.

 

 

A New School

After home schooling for a year, we have decided to enroll the kids in a charter school for this upcoming school year.  In many ways, it has been wonderful to have the kids home this first year to grow and bond as a family, and we are so glad we chose to homeschool.  There have been a lot of stresses and challenges too though by going this route.  The kids came to us with little school and have not understood the expectations we have for their education.  After much research, we have found a charter school only four minutes from our house.  We are excited for the kids to be around their peers in a school environment, as they learn and understand more about what school in America is like.  We hope that with the combination of watching other kids learn and working with other teachers besides ourselves, it will offer a very positive educational experience.  The kids are excited and will go and meet their teachers, see their classroom, and find their desks on Friday.