Kindergarten Update

When I last posted about Miles going to kindergarten, I had registered him for a half-day program at a church. Plans have changed since then as a result of so many other changes in our lives lately. We have now decided finally, that we will start out homeschooling Miles, but we're not giving up "going to kindergarten" completely. I found a wonderful program at another church that offers classes for homeschoolers! They are on Mondays and Fridays, and you can choose either or both days. Fridays were already full by the time I called them, so for now, Miles will go on Mondays. I was so thrilled to find this program! I knew of other similar programs that are actually co-ops, so the parents have to assist in the classrooms, but I found myself wishing there was something more like the Mother's Day Out program I've had Miles in since he was 2 and a half. And that's just what this program is. They call it "Sonlight," and I'll drop him off at 9 and pick him up at 2, which means 5 hours all to myself! I have really needed this kind of break.

In the Sonlight program, Miles will have classes in music, Spanish, art, P.E., social studies and history based on the Bible. Also, if I'm able to get him into the Friday class (he's on the waiting list, in case something opens up) he'll also have a class in science. They'll even send home worksheets that are optional for them to do for extra credit. I'm so excited because it's like we're getting the best of both worlds--we'll get to homeschool, and still get the benefits of "going to school." I must admit that right after signing him up, I couldn't wait to get to the store, school supply list in hand, and experience the excitement I enjoyed as a child getting all the things I would need to start a new school year. It was so fun getting the crayons, markers, pencil box, backpack, manila paper, scissors, etc. I even let Miles pick out a lunch box and Thermos, which are Transformer themed! Next week we'll get to go to open house and meet his teacher and see his classroom. I'm really looking forward to that!

At home, we've decided on the Five in a Row program. It is a wonderful program based on literature. In my research in different ways of homeschooling, I've come across the idea of using "living books" for teaching, as opposed to dry, boring textbooks, and I love it! Charlotte Mason has been a big influence for me, and I plan on incorporating some of her methods as well. She encourages getting outside a lot and learning through nature, and she also talks about using living books. The Five in Row program goes along with her ideas. What we'll do is read the same book five days in a row, each day focusing on a different aspect of the book. One day may be a lesson in math, another history, geography, art, science, and so forth. I think a flexible and laid-back program like this will be just what Miles and I will both need to prevent homeschool burnout. And we'll also be taking field trips, getting together with friends for playdates, and another weekly class called Zooniversity, where they will explore animals and their habitats from around the world, and the teacher will bring the actual animals for them to see and touch!

Needless to say, I am very excited about our choice for Miles's education. It's very important to me that he have the best, and this will be the best for us. I know it's not for everyone, but for us, it will be more than just "school." We'll be using the world as our classroom and our lives as our curriculum, which to me is real education, and something that I don't believe can be experienced while cooped up in an ordinary classroom day after day. I also know that the picture of Miles's eduation will likely change from year to year, or even from month to month. I'm keeping all the options open because I've learned from my research that there is no one standard or typical way to homeschool. Every family is different with different needs and ways of educating that suit them. In fact, I think it's really more about taking charge of your child's education rather than "homeschooling"; whatever decision you make for you child's education, I believe it's important that it be an informed decision about how you want your child to be educated instead of going along with what everyone else is doing just because it's easiest or because you're not informed of all the choices available.

Anyway, Miles's Sonlight class starts on August 31st, and then we'll probably start our homeschool the next day. We're both so excited! Miles asks me ever so often when we're going to "start homeschool" and I keep telling him "in a few weeks." I'm still working on lesson plans and getting materials together for projects, etc., but I can't wait to start myself! Please keep us in your prayers as we start this school year.