So we are almost at the end of our third (!) year of homeschooling. Wow! This has been such an interesting journey and a wonderful blessing. I don't think I imagined how fulfilling this lifestyle would be. It is, in fact, a lifestyle and not just something we keep ourselves busy with on weekday afternoons. It has been an experience of family bonding, exploration and discovery, and intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth. So much more than just school! In fact, we are liberated from "school" and yet learning so much! The kids have made many new friendships- the long-lasting kind- and memories they will have for a lifetime. The homeschooling community has been a great source of support and social contacts, but the kids have also maintained their relationships with their neighborhood public school friends. In many ways, they have the best of both worlds.
They have all grown in their abilities and understanding this year. It has been a wonder to watch them learn and change. What a privelege for me to be included in their educational and personal journeys!
The oldest has matured a lot and tackled more challenging studies. He is technically a 7th grader, but currently finishing up his 9th grade Algebra course. He studied a variety of topics in Science, including Physics (his favorite) and Chemisty and also learned about the lives of several great scientists. He has completed his second year of studying French and his third year of studying Latin. He took on more challenging writing and Literature study, including Uncle Tom's Cabin, Sherlock Holmes, the works of Mark Twain, and Shakespeare . He took cooperative classes in both Speech and Debate, where he gained confindence and experience as a public speaker. Together 
we did an in-depth study of American History, considering the challenges, failures, and successes this country has faced. We've had so many great discussions surrounding these topics and I have seen him take these issues to heart and consider their implications on the past, present, and future. I see him thinking more about his own future and looking forward to high school, college, and beyond.
My oldest daughter had an enjoyable 4th grade year. She "met" some very interesting people. She was fascinated by the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Anne Frank. She had a great time experiencing the gold rush and designing her own immigrant tenement housing. Her compassion 
grew as she learned more about the civil rights movement and I saw the pain in her heart as we studied about slavery and WWII. We treaded those subjects lightly and gently, but with truth and honesty. She learned new Math skills, including more complicated multiplication and division, fractions, and geometry. She studied French for the first time this year and continued her third year of Latin. Her favorite subject was Science. She and her brother worked together to build an electric race car, a spring scale, and an electric light generator and worked experiments with those homemade contraptions. She continues to be a voracious reader and a talented writer and artist. She also became a Girl Scout this year and is having fun earning as many badges as she can.
My kindergartener has had a year of wonder and discovery. She has an enviable love for life and learning and sees schooltime as a fun and magical adventure. She is proving to be a whiz at Math and had a great time with her very colorful, hands-on curriculum. She works very hard at reading and writing and pushes on with determination even when it's difficult for her. She learned about global cultures in her Around the World class and discovered a love for Science during her Hands-on Science class. At home, she has been learning how to handknit and is looking forward to being able to make more advanced creations with her newfound skill.
My preschooler has become more aquainted with letters and numbers and enjoyed the arts and 
crafts we did together. I think her favorite subject this year was playdough! She often showed up in the schoolroom dressed as a cowboy or a fairy or a ballerina, just as a preschooler should. Her imagination is boundless and I hope it stays that way for a long time. 
The baby didn't do school of course. He did enjoy the special toys we bring out while the big kids are working and I have to say it's quite amazing how much he picks up along the way. He is talking quite a bit now, and has even learned a few letters and phonics sounds. Imagine my surprise when I asked an older child what sound the short u makes, and my 16 month old answered, "uh, uh, uh!" He still knows the answer to this. Next time you see him, just ask. :-)
And then a bath for Babybird.
I highly recommend starting the school day with an early morning hike. Even if the air is still crisp and chilly as a reminder of yesterday's snowfall.
Watching leaves and twigs float down the creek to find out how far they will go is the best part of this 3 yr old's morning.
Back home to find the eldest working on a cool science experiment.
We went back in time this weekend for a friend's Renaissance party.
Then we spent a couple of days studying the life and art of Van Gogh and made our own versions of Starry Night. I think they turned out pretty good!
~M, 10
~E, 12 
"Come on, I'll lead the way." 
"This one has mushrooms on it. Mushrooms are a fungus that grow on dead plants, like this log."
"My Mom let me go across the creek. It was harder than it looks."
"But I made it across!"
"There's also alot of garbage in the woods. That makes me feel really sad. Next time I'm going to bring a garbage bag to clean up my woods."
"Here's a ball! Maybe we can take it home to play with it."
"This tree is really tall!"
"Thanks for coming with me on a hike through the woods. Happy Spring!"
