If you have been following along here, you know that we do “school” like activities all summer long.

Throughout my 21 years of home schooling our children, I have found that doing a bit of math, handwriting, and reading during the summer is a great way to ensure a smoother start to more full time school in the fall!

Of course we always do our Bible time all year long – where we sing, memorize scripture, do a devotional and pray together.

I still like to have an official first day of school.

It just brings enthusiasm, excitement and more purpose to our days!

Our official start date this year was on a Tuesday, August 17th.

Here is my line up for this year:

Eliza Claire, nine years old, 4th grade

Tate Owen, ten years old, 4th grade

Lane Stevan, 13 years old, 8th grade

Chad will be joining our crew the second week of September!!

We started a new devotional that morning, and it has been fantastic!

So many good conversations with my trio because of this book!

Our schedule has been running smoothly.

After the first week of school we did make a few tweaks to it – but we already have our school rhythm down pat!

The first day of school we started a new memory verse.

I have been asked before how we chose what to memorize.

We just pick verses that speak to us!

This one is a good one to put in our hearts.

I am still having Tate and Eliza practice cursive.

I just write a few words down for them to copy.

It is quick and easy, but that small practice everyday amounts to fluid handwriting!

I always leave a line or two for them to put their own word, and I just love what Eliza wrote on the bottom two lines of her page.

Lane’s work this year is on his own, and he is one happy guy because of that!

I have had children who prefer that, and children who would never like being on their own.

I think Tate will always want to be at my side for school – and I am ok with that!

Lane has been enjoying everything I planned for him very much.

Lane has time on his schedule that we are calling “creative hour.”

It is working out SO good!

Blake is the teacher of this class – and with Lane’s vision, he is helping him have all the supplies he needs to build the things he wants to build!

First up is a remote control airplane.

Lane is learning SO much from this part of his school!

Lane does join us for art class on Thursdays.

We have been doing art class most of the summer and we are continuing!

It is super fun, even for me!!

On the first day of school I wanted to finish a read aloud we had started during the summer before I started a new read aloud with Tate and Eliza.

We are reading our way through history this year with chapter books.

It is a GREAT way to learn history!

Our first book is set in Colonial America and is a great story so far.

Tate and Eliza started to learn how to type when school started and it is one of their favorite new things.

I have a book I am teaching them with, and then we also have a tutorial on-line that they practice with.

They will be typing like pros soon!

Tate and Eliza also started piano lessons at the beginning of June.

It has been slightly hit or miss over the summer months (to be expected), but I am SO glad we started then as we have worked all the kinks out of it now!

I am their parent teacher and they also have a teacher who keeps me accountable as well as practices with them four days a week.

We have their practice lessons with their teacher over zoom for 15 minutes each of those days.

They will also take assessment tests with their teacher to move up to the next level.

It has been a lot of work for me, but I am finding my groove with it all after spending a huge chunk of time last Friday going through all of the videos for the parents again as well as all of the curriculum again.

Tate and Eliza LOVE piano!

And they are progressing perfectly!

Tate has therapy assignments from his therapist that are on our school schedule too.

I think we were at the library weekly during the summer – maybe we missed a week or two.

We plan to keep up with that now that school has started.

My kiddos love to read!

Finding good books to read is a BIG job for me!

They still like to browse, even though I pre-order most of the books we get from the library.

I am always excited about a new school year!

The enthusiasm of these kiddos of ours is contagious!!

It is exciting to watch your children learn and grow!

Lord willing, this school year will be another good one for us!

Moschel Academy is off to a GREAT start!!