What I Know Now

 If you had asked me what I was thinking when I began homeschooling four years ago, I likely would have said panic. I really didn't know what I was getting myself into. I had only an inkling of how labor intensive it would become. Four years in a homeschool is like a lifetime. Each year the children grow and change so much. I have grown and changed right a long with them. I have learned that I LIKE teaching. There it's been said. I enjoy teaching my kids new things. I enjoy the research and preparation that goes into some of the lessons we do. I enjoy seeing their faces light up over a class we are having. I enjoy helping them unlock the mysteries of math. Who knew... when I was in school myself many years ago no one would have thought it possible. I certainly did not enjoy schooling myself and my attendance record proves that. There were a very small handful of topics that were interesting to me. All the fact drilling and memorization was a wearying task. I look at my children's education they are receiving and feel joy at the beautiful cursive writing they are doing and  I taught it to them.
Don't get me wrong there are the hair pulling days. The days I would rather be warm in bed then doing another phonics lesson. Still though teaching is a joyful experience and I am grateful to have the experience.

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Project Time

 Our latest fun summer project has been to join a swap group and do a geo box. We have been part of swap groups before that were drastically ill run and been burned so I was a little hesitant to join another. That said this one in particular is very active and members are booted if they fail to participate so it makes me a little  more confident in doing a swap. That leads me to where I was when I decided we should do the geo box. What was a geo box? After some questions and googling of the topic I discovered its like a field trip in a box. You fit as much interesting materials from your location into the box and a few treats as well. We are pretty excited to see what is included in our box when it arrives from our partner. Below you will see some of the things we included. I say some because as an afterthought I also tossed in a coin and some rocks from the shores of Lake Superior.

Included above; a Canada bandana, a Canada pencil, a maple leaf shaped maple syrup sucker, maple sugar candy, postcards identifying some Canadian trees, a temp tattoo of an oak leaf, Canada stickers for each Province, a local newspaper, some local maps and brochures. The list of what can be added is endless.
 If you think this box swap sounds like fun but maybe just a bit to pricy there are other great swap adventures to be had. There are flat travelers where kids make paper friends and send them to a family for a visit, penpals, email penpals, sticker clubs, book trades, the ideas for fun swaps is endless and can be as creative as the individuals who make them up. Kids love receiving real mail and this is one way we have found to have some fun. Currently we have penpals as well. Not only is letter writing a fun pastime but also a great way for kids to practice their skills at writing.

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