Kindergarten at Home - Week 1

We started our first day of Kindergarten at home last week and I wanted to document some of what we have been working on. I don't think it is realistic for me to assume that I will be able to blog every single week, but I am hoping to document some of the exciting things we are doing during this year of fun, learning, and togetherness at home!

I really can't believe Sierra is a Kindergartener already! I am learning that homeschooling is definitely not for the faint of heart and this will certainly be a learning experience for all of us involved. With Sierra being 5, Chyler being 3, and Ariella getting ready to turn 2 in November, it is certainly going to be a challenging year trying to equip them all with a great foundation and love for learning. I am up for the challenge though and if the only thing they learn this year is that God is the source of all love, learning, and creation, then I will also be okay with that as well.

 

We chose a fun, Bible based, unit study, hands-on, classical education approach to Kindergarten for our curriculum this year. It is called My Father's World - God's Creation from A to Z. The first 10 days of the curriculum, we are studying the Creation of the world based on the Genesis 1 account, Chyler, although she is only 3, is participating in these first 10 days along side Sierra; after this, she will do what she can with us, but will also have her own, separate workbooks and things to do. It definitely is fun learning together though!

Here are some pictures of what we have done so far.....

On Day #1 God separated the darkness from the light and named them "day" and "night" -- Here are the girls showing off their book pages for day #1 -

This little cutie enjoys coloring and playing while the big girls are learning...

here, she paused to say "cheese"!!!

 

Sierra is our resident artist and she is very diligent about coloring her numbers just right -- Here she is coloring #2 for the second day of Creation

 

 

Just as much as she desires to color well, cutting and using scissors is also a very important task to her. Her perfectionism sometimes overwhelms both of us (did I mention Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart?!), but she is getting better at cutting each day! Here she is cutting out her Creation number for the day.

 

 Chyler showing off her Day #2 poster - On Day #2 God created the sky. He divided the water below and the sky above.

Sierra with her #3 - Colored so wonderfully 

 

Again, Sierra very busy coloring her number of the day

 

 

Chyler showing her Day #4 poster - On Day #4 God created the sun, moon, and the stars.

 

 

Sierra busy working on her Day #5 poster - On Day #5 God created living creatures in the sea and birds in the sky.

 

 

Here is a small glimpse into our school area. It isn't really a school room per say because there are no tables or desks, we do all of our work at the kitchen table; but this is where we keep all our supplies, posters, banners, calendar, etc. and it is also the play room for the after school fun times.

 

 

Our ABC cards (and number dot cards) displayed on the wall --

All the letters and unit studies to go along with each that we will be doing this Kindergarten year. :)

 

 

I got this idea from my sister and I am glad that I started it this year. The girls took these cute little "My first day" Interviews. I loved hearing their answers and I will cherish these forever!

This is Sierra's....

 

This is Chyler's....

 

I have designated a spot on the wall for us to hang all of our Creation numbers. These will be a constant reminder of how wonderful God is and how He created the Earth in 7 days, and also a reminder of our first week of Kindergarten whenever we look back at them.

 

Also part of our "school area" - I found these great little plastic baskets in the $1 section at Target. It works perfect for me to store the supplies for each child that they are going to need that day - glue, scissors, a pencil, a certain color marker or crayon, a specific craft material, etc. So in the morning, all I have to do is grab the bin below with that day of the week on it (all my materials for that day are stored in there) and then grab each girls basket of supplies, bring them to the kitchen table and we are set to go! :) Keeps things more organized for me and them! :)

 

A closer up view of each girls supply basket...

 

 

I have decided to take all the creation posters the girls have been making, laminate them, hole punch, and then use a ring clip to make them into a book for each child. These will be great to use as we go back through to review the Creation story, retell it, and to show to friends, Daddy, family members, etc. Not to mention, a great keepsake for years to come! Here is the front cover of Sierra's book...

 

 

And this is just a sample page, Day #5 that she created today....

 

As you can (hopefully) see, we are having so much fun and although there have been definite trying moments in the past 5 days of "schooling" and more to come, I am sure -- I wouldn't trade it for ANY THING in this world. These days with my precious girls, learning about God, about loving others, and growing together can never be replaced and I am so thankful that I get to cherish these moments along side them.