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Why We Homeschool
Besides, I love teaching my kids. It's such a blessing to be able to watch them explore the world around them. They are inquisitive and enthusiastic learners, and it's a joy to experience their education with them.
I have nothing against public education. I'm a proud product of it myself. Everyone in my extended family has something to do with the school system: my father is a retired principal, my mom currently teaches economics at a local highshool, my brother teaches science to middle schoolers and my sister is a therapist to autistic children. Though I don't hold a teaching degree, teaching is in my blood. I just don't have brick and mortar classroom of 30 kids--I only have four. And the entire world is our classroom.
Homeschooling my kids protects their relationships with one another, including their baby brother. My kids are delightfully close. They play well together. They are each other's best friends. They learn together, create together, play together. Sure, they get personal time, just to be themselves; but for the most part being together is a part of who they are.
Homeschooling also allows us to get all of the formal education out of the way by lunchtime so that the girls can spend the rest of the day being kids. The time I would spend helping each child do after-school homework, is spent being a family.
How We Homeschool
We use lots of materials for our homeschool, including the kids' imaginations and inquiries about the world around them.
I'm a follow-your-kid's-heart homeschooler. I find it much easier to discover what makes each of my children tick and then plan accordingly. Of course they have to fulfill their 3R requirements, but we still have lots of flexibility within our choices.
This is the first year that I am separating my girls. Cayli will have her own studies and the Kenna and Mabry will have theirs. In years past I have kept all the girls together for everything since they are only a year apart, but it's time to individualize our studies. Cayli is ready for some more ambitious learning and the twins just need simplicity so that their mother keeps her sanity.
Here is what we are using for the '09-'10 school year:
Cayli * 4th Grade
- Learning Lanuage Arts Through Literature
- Wordsmith Apprentice
- Saxon Math 6/5
- Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
- American History a la our nation's 44 presidents
- Dance Twirling classes
- Violin Lessons
Mabry and Kenna * 3rd Grade 
- Learning Language Arts Through Literature
- Saxon Math 3
- Five In A Row (various selections from Vol. 1-4)
- Drama classes
- Piano for Kenna and Violin for Mabes
Of course, all three girls will sit in with their sister's studies, especially the fun stuff like science experiments and craft projects. And all three will participate in our morning scripture memory and Bible time. They will also be learning some Biblical Greek and Hebrew from their dad (got to put his never-ending student loan payments Biblical languages degree to good use).
Micah * 2 years old
Micah will be entering the world of Before Five in a Row. As you can see, literature is fun for him as long as he can throw it. This book is packed full of rich ideas for kids aged 2-4; I even did some activities when the girls were in kindergarten. I'm so excited to start Micah on this journey!

