(Sarah’s note: I had originally planned to share about Mount of the Holy Cross hike today, but I’m moving that off until later. 🙂 )
Steve and I have the joy of seeing the 2nd generation of homeschooling as our married children homeschool our grandchildren. How well I remember the first day of homeschooling each year and the photos we took.
Recently, we saw Melanie and Anna Marie’s first-day-of-school photos for the school year they are just starting. I love having daughters-in-law who will invest their time back into their children through homeschooling. I love their faithfulness to that calling. We are blessed!
Trusting in Jesus,
Teri
PS: You might be encouraged by these Mom’s Corners on beginning your homeschool year successfully:
Three Crucial Steps to Fruitfully Start the Homeschool Year
Time Management for Homeschool Moms Through Scheduling Perseverance
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them
up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4
Hi Teri,
what a lovely post! Which curriculum do your grandchildren use? It is a really beatuiful thing to be investing so much in children’s education!
Many blessings,
Alice
With two families, several grades plus preschoolers that could be a complicated answer. In general, Melanie uses quite a bit of ABeka, but not exclusively. Anna Marie uses Rod and Staff, Christ Centered Phonics, and this year is trying Masterbooks.
Congratulations on your first day of school! May God bless you as you teach your children, not only academics, but in wisdom!
What books do the families read, both the adults and the children. Finding good, wholesome books for my family and I to read is always a struggle, and any recommendations would be much appreciated!
Thank you!
Lots of people tell us that the Moody series for children is a top favorite for wholesome books.
We are a second generation homeschool family, too! We live in CT where I was homeschooled and where I now homeschool our 3 children.
That’s really great, Diana. I am sure your parents delight in your second generation homeschooling of their grandchildren too!
They are such bright, beautiful children. I can’t wait to start this journey with my kids in a few years. Your family is such an inspiration to me! God Bless you!
Sounds like your children are still babies and preschoolers. This is a good time for you to learn to use a schedule and to study in preparation for your curriculum decisions.
I recognize some of the books Anna Marie is using with her children, and they bring back wonderful memories!
Very sweet that it can bring back good memories.
What lovely photos!
Daniel’s “Demolition” book cracked me up – too funny! They all look so happy, with their new books and school supplies.
Wishing everyone the best as they start the new school year.
Lea
I enjoy the blog comments on photos because often a comment sends me back to a photo to take in details I missed – like Danny with the demolition book. Very cute, very little boy, and then I loved his smile when I looked at that photo again. Thank you, Lea.
I love Math For a Living Education that Joshua is holding! Math can be so dry and boring and it really is a fun way to introduce it! Thank you for sharing the pictures.
We are starting back to school tomorrow!
That’s a great recommendation on the math curriculum, Hope, since you have used it and liked it. I know Anna Marie is excited about her new curriculum this year. Have a great first-day-of-school and school year.
What sweet, sweet pictures of your precious grandchildren (and daughters-in-law)! I know this must be such a rewarding and special time for you! My parents homeschooled me and my siblings, and I hope that one day, if He wills that I should marry and have children, we might could carry that on in our family as well! 🙂 May God continue to bless your sweet family!
With love in Christ,
~Martha Joy
Thank you. You are right. It is rewarding and special.
Hi. I enjoyed looking at your family’s homeschooling pictures. Do the children use math manipulatives, such as Base Tens or Cuisinaire Rods? I have found them really useful for children to comprehend and visualize new math concepts, as well as to practice and problem solve.
Hi Marilyn, I know they have math manipulatives, but since I am not in their homes during their homeschooling time I don’t know how much they use them. I remember from my children, manipulatives were a frustration when I made the children use them. MY kids caught onto the concept through discussion or the pictures in the math book. To have to use the manipulative just slowed them down. At first I thought they needed to use them so I required it. When they proved to me they really did understand and could do the work without, we didn’t use the manipulatives. I have shared our manipulatives with Melanie, and she is done with them (makes me wonder if her children are like mine were since she still has several younger ones coming along) so I can offer then to Anna Marie. I know for many kids – the visual and hands on learners – manipulatives are great.
Have a great school year, everyone! (One of the advantages of homeschooling is you don’t have to wear shoes in class. 🙂 )
No shoes in class is a big advantage in our home! I like to wear shoes, but much of my family is happier without them on, probably the grandchildren too.
I have a two year old and the Demolition book made me chuckle!! I always tell people what my girls are doing then state that baby is “organizing” the paper clips and “keeping” (eating) the chalk off the floor! Thanks for the laugh and of course the ever encouragement your family gives.
Not sure what eating chalk does to a 2 year old, but watch that paper clip organizing! Doubt they are something you want ingested!
We just started our homeschool year up last week. This year we have a 9th grader, 7th grader, 1st grader, and a 2 year old who thinks she’s in EVERY grade! ha! One thing I did notice with my oldest (and made me think of you guys and something I read) was that the literature has changed…for the worse! Do you all have any suggestions on literature anywhere? I’ve used the same language arts curriculum forever, and this is the first year that I have been really disappointed. I had to pull so many books because they were inappropriate! I love to have the “extra” literature to read, but wow! But other than that, the year is going very well so far. Loved seeing all of your little ones in your family. Homeschooling is so much fun. 🙂
We like Christian biographies for literature. They generally have good content and provide wonderful examples for teens (and everyone for that matter) of whole-hearted commitment to Jesus. They are instructional and inspirational.
Thank you for replying. 🙂 I appreciate it.
Happily!
beautiful pics. thanks for sharing. your family is the first i ever encountered in homeschooling and your daughter in law is the 2nd… i always wondering …. living in a big city i don’t usually see or meet people in homeschooling…. thanks for sharing these lovely pics.
I wonder, Annie, if we have any homeschoolers reading this blog who live in a big city and if so, which one?
Awwwww this is so so cute! We take first-day-of-school pics as well!
I am sure your first-day-of-school photos are very cute too!