Homeschooling: the second week

We are on day 2 of our second week of preschool and 1st grade. (Yes, we started a little late because we were waiting on books to arrive. Its ok. I'm confident it will all work out.) We are using Veritas Press curriculum, for two reasons: one, Brian wanted to pursue classical education for the girls and two, they had lesson plans.

Really awesome lesson plans. Everything I need to do with Emily for one week is on one page with a box for the date of completion.We have Math, English, Literature, Geography, and Bible included in the program. They also have detailed lesson plans for each subject including an overview, list of materials I need for each day, and when needed, heads-up on preparation for the next day. Usually, all I have to do is to look at a particular subject and follow the instructions. No guesswork for lesson planning involved, I love it!

I had originally fallen in love with the Tapestry of Grace curriculum, and at some point I may still use it. But every review I read and every time I looked at their program, I just got overwhelmed by the amount of planning the teacher was required to do. Particularly since the teacher was me! And I am learning a foreign language and living in a new culture, don't forget that!

For Emily I also have two small supplementary workbooks that I brought over with me for Logic and Map Skills. Savannah is working through the Sing, Spell, Read and Write Preschool program and a small stack of extra preschool-type books. Her look of focus with the tip of her tongue sticking out as she writes her letters is one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

The girls absolutely love doing school work. One night, after bath, I told Savannah to hurry and get her pajamas on so we could read a story before bed and she asked: "Can we do some school to?" Both of them enjoy the new books we are working through.

This morning though, was a little different. Emily only had two worksheets left and Savannah only one, when both girls staged a mutiny... they dropped their pencils, they scribbled, one got too close to the other, they whined and complained about work that just yesterday was "so fun." I talked about whining... about sisters getting along... about how school was important... I threatened a little... then actually carried out the threats. Twice. Still, no change in their behavior.

I would love to tell you that I spontaneously came up with creative activity that distracted the girls from their whiny little funk and that we finished the morning happily... but what I actually did was to run to Brian (oh, the joys of a husband who is typically around the house), explain to him what was happening, and I tucked myself in bed for a nap. So, basically, I ran away. Mommy style.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.