An Interesting Beginning

I can honestly say that I have learned a tremendous amount in the past four months of homeschooling, mostly on what works for us, or what doesn't. I stopped writing in a daily log in December to see what it felt like just to allow for flow, and I prefer the journal because I like the sense of accomplishment that comes upon reflection. I decided that the Enki curriculum isn't working for us, and will keep it to use should Avery want to home school. We're now going with Oak Meadow's first grade curriculum. Before Christmas break Ethan took reading and math placement tests and tested well unto first grade (and then some) and I feel he is ready for more than what the kindergarten curriculum offers. He knows his letters, can read, and does addition beautifully. He is also ready for more science and math than the Enki curriculum offers. I also need a daily/weekly format to the lessons, giving us more time to play than to create some sort of curriculum based off of Enki's open format, and then I can weave in my creative touches here and there to make it even more fun. This morning I ordered the first grade curriculum from Oak Meadow. It should come next week. I look forward to learning with him through this new curriculum and feel it fits our family lifestyle better, and personal needs. I need some structure that I don't have to provide. I like being able to flow and embellish.

To Ethan, I feel we did the best we could, or the best I could this first semester. I feel ready to take our homeschooling to a new level of learning, filled with fun, excitement, and challenge, because we're ready and we like to grow. I am so glad we're homeschooling and I look forward to starting the new year with a new grade and a new flow, in joy!

I feel quite good releasing the Enki curriculum. It just didn't work for us. It was too much material, too little organization, and just not my style of learning. I feel really good! And the great thing is that I can use the stories, songs, and fingerplays in addition to the OM curriculum.