So, today was our first day back to school. It went better than I expected. Everyone did as they were told without me having to repeat myself a dozen times. Lest you think they are perfect children, it was a half dozen times before they came to the table for seatwork. Progress.

I’m also trying a new strategy. One child at a time at the table with me working one-on-one. Before I did tag-team, with me bouncing back and forth between the two eldest at the table. I think that was very distracting, especially to the younger one. Today I worked with the 8-year-old first: math, and our new subject, writing. Susan is using Writing Strands, level 3, and the first lesson was on Following Directions. I thought it was a great way to start out the book. I also meant her to read a chapter aloud to me, but I forgot. Tomorrow.

Peter, 6, left off his Reading Made Easy book in July. Today I could see improvement in his attitude, not as frustrated, not mixing up the letters, b, d, f, h like he did back in the Spring. He’s come a long way. (Way to go, baby!) He’s so close to having that “ah-ha!” light come on in his head. Finally his maturity is catching up with his mental ability. Math is his favorite subject and he breezed through it today.

Next week we add in our afternoon schedule. I’ve never taught in the afternoon before, so I anticipate some resistence. Hopefully everyone – especially me – will get into the routine quickly. It’s hard to teach this old dog new tricks. I like to goof off in the hours after lunch, so it’s going to take some discipline. I’ll keep you blog-posted on my progress.