Our Week ending 8-14-2008

What an eventful week!

Tricky started going to the daycare 3 days a week. I can already tell she desperately misses her Nonnie. Each morning I left, she shrieked and screamed and cried. Her teacher apologized on the third morning, but I told her it wasn't her fault; besides, I've got three children - I'm sad that Tricky is sad, but it's not going to ruin my day. I know she's in a good place (with excellent ratios, BTW) and she'll be fine.

Casey left the daycare/preschool last week and started going to Nonnie's house this week. After the first day, I was a bit worried. Casey looked sad when I picked her up and, yes, I had those evil and pervasive thoughts that maybe I've made a mistake. But, I found out she was sad because Nonnie's daughter went to swimming lessons and Casey couldn't go. Ah! NOTHING to do with home school and missing out on Kindergarten!

But I am learning how to tweak Casey's schedule on the days I work. My poor kid - she's doing school work 7 days a week. (But nothing too intense on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.) Here's how her schedule will work for the next year (minus the "tweaks"):

Friday (the first day of our school week): Grammar, Reading, Phonics, Writing, Spelling, Math, Religion (what I'll call the Basics) and History. We also go to the library or have some other outing on Fridays. Piano lessons.

Saturday: the Basics, Science and maybe History if we've got a lot to cover.

Sunday: the Basics (lite - sounds like we're on a home school diet) and History.

Monday: the Basics, Science and Art or Music. Casey also has children's choir practice.

Tuesday: worksheets - emphasis on phonics and a copy work assignment, plus an "educational" video. Reading for at least 30 minutes. Once home, the Saxon Math Assessment for the previous 4 days.

Wednesday: worksheets - emphasis on math, and a copy work assignment. Reading for at least 30 minutes. Once all the worksheets are finished, she may watch a movie.

Thursday: worksheets - just fun stuff, and a copy work assignment. Reading for at least 30 minutes. Once finished, she may play a computer game for 30-45 minutes.

We're looking into swimming, gymnastics or some other physical activity - but that won't be for another week or so. Also, during our trip to Louisiana I played with a Wii. What fun! And I LOATHE computer games! I want one - with Wii Fit. Maybe that will ease my conscience on the exercise front.

Oh! And my son! Will is still in preschool, but in a new class - they call it Jr. Pre K or something. At home, I am working on teaching him letters (recognizing, knowing their sounds, and writing) and numbers. He's also doing the Singapore Early Bird Math - which he LOVES! He's also picking up on History and Science, but I'm not forcing it at this point.

So, that's our schedule. Now, I'm off to wake the kidlets so we can go to Mass to celebrate the Assumption!