Lesson 13, Day 3

So today was my first day finishing up our first week back. And all I can say is, "Hallelujah we all made it through! " I don't know what it was, maybe the long break, the need to have a surplus of extra stimuli, being home doing the "routine" or bad lesson plans... wait- nope that's not it. :) 

But this was the hardest week yet. My kids weren't angels, although the pictures will suggest. 

I was not always patient and kind in my tone, although I love them dearly.

But as I went outside today to holler at my son, I had this overwhelming feeling that my neighbors might think my blue robe at 4 PM meant I did nothing today. I mean don't blame me for loving my robe. I wear it over my regular clothes all the time, it's cold with tile floors and this girlie is southern at heart.

Yet when I come inside and see the mess of laundry, the multiple books spread out on the floor, and the unpacked clothes from our vacation- I have to ask myself is this good? 

The mess, no, but the learning... YES!

Even though we do things differently than our peers, even though our kids aren't always perfect and our tones aren't always loving- I have to be grateful that they did learn this week. More than just the memorization, they grew in their love for learning. This week, my earth model might have been hairy, but he really gets that the inside is a "solid hot metal that can burn" (in his words of course). That mining is fun (when done with sprinkles and flour). And that the Sahara Desert is HUGE! Why? 

Well, that's up for debate on another day- but having a set plan sure did help me. I also realized that the objectives should be seen as an objective for the week rather than day, and the activities should be limited to your choice of one. Too much is too much and I never want you to think I'm going to do it all- because no one has it all together- including me. 

Here are some of the things I did do while in my blue robe...

 He circled and located the geography, then we placed the map cards on the map to compare.

Then we located the spots (without cards), with chocolate chips. If he got it right he ate it, if he got them wrong, he had to give it back to me. :)

Then we went into the activity of the morning by making a gallon man. If I had to do this over again, I would have had all the pieces cut out, all the words glued on the rectangles and just had him put it together. It took too long to produce and I clearly did not feel like trying my patience today would be my lesson- but it was. :)

Honesty.

 That's what you want, right?

Blessings to you all,

Crecia