We started school a little early this year since our newborn is due right after Christmas break. Hopefully, by beginning in August we’ll have a bit of a head start.

Here’s Joseph:

Catherine:

Benjamin:

Thing One and Thing Two!

Our day went *almost* like I had carefully planned….

We started at 9:15 instead of 9 o’clock sharp. Everyone’s bed was made except Benjamin’s (being just 4 he needs my help and I plum forgot). Most of the breakfast dishes got washed before school began (the rest I tended to after lunch).

Joseph, Catherine and Benjamin sat down at the school table eager to open their new books and start learning. Everything except for Spelling and Religion was done by lunchtime. We finished those up in the afternoon. The “Principle” (my husband) gave us a call to see how things were going and got a glowing report.

And I was MORE than impressed with our new software program, Homeschool Tracker Plus. Last week, I entered in the lessons plans for the entire year. It’s ALL done. Then it took me 60 seconds to print off the children’s assignments for the first week. This is what they look like:

Joseph and Catherine must check off each assignment as it’s completed. At the end of the week, if everything is done, they get to pull a treat out of a grab bag (it’s full of candy and tiny toys like bouncy balls and plastic bugs). It didn’t escape my notice today that they were VERY motivated to complete all their work. This is a big difference from last year, when I told them what they were supposed to do based on my handwritten plans, and then had to keep reminding them. Now they have their own lists and it’s up to them!

I am so thankful to have found this great software program and indebted to my homeschooling neighbor who shared it with me, gave me a demo at her home and even answered my nosy questions last week via Facebook!

Have you started school yet? If so, how are things going?