Educating the Masses....

Okay.

Maybe not the "masses" I guess...

But some days homeschooling SIX children feels like "masses" at this point. ;)

A while ago, I said I'd post something about Vivi's schooling, but I haven't gotten around to it, apparently. 

Until today!

If you've been patiently waiting, here's the scoop:

Vivi went back to school one day after Christmas break...  partly because we had so much snow that school was canceled a lot, and partly because she was sick, and partly because it was such a terribly sad thing to her to have to go back.

Anyway, we did two weeks of homeschool with her around and amazingly, it went better than I'd imagined it would. The one day she went back, she wet her pants TWICE before school (in the space of about an hour) and begged me "Stay home Mommy! Stay home Mommy!" all morning. It was rough. So I spoke with her teacher and we decided to give it a shot, at least until the weather/school schedule was a bit more predictable.

In the next couple weeks, Vivi mastered writing her name by herself, recognized a handful of letters, and knew a few colors! She didn't know/do any of that in the past year. We were encouraged enough to keep going... then we started noticing positive changes in her behavior. She remained happier for longer and longer, she was more and more compliant, she even was talking more!

That was enough to convince us that we needed to keep her home for the rest of the year. I spoke with the school district and her from the public school and jumped through the necessary hoops to "officially homeschool" Vivi.

Vivi was delighted to tell people she now did school at home with Riley and Scott and Quinn and Halli Kate and Trey! And she proudly added, "Mommy Teacher!!" every time. It was pretty sweet.

Now, after a few months, Vivi is recognizing most letters by the sound they make (not necessarily the letter name), she is counting some, she knows more colors, and she talks alllllllll the time! She's muuuuch happier of a child than she was before, she's significantly more settled, and she's much more kind.

I have to admit it's been harder for me than I imagined. Not that she's difficult, necessarily, but I've had to ask for help more often. I feel like it's just about my limit, I guess, as far as trying to get all the schooling things done, the household things done, the feeding the masses things done, etc. But God has been very good to us, and He's sent us an AMAZING blessing in my sister's mother in law! She recently moved out here from Indiana and she's had experience aiding in schools... and experience with foster care, adopting, and children with "different challenges." I almost cannot believe how wonderful it has been to have Mrs. MaryAnn come each week and help us out! She's been doing one on one stuff with each of the children and has even done some ironing.

I have been immensely thankful for her!!

As far as what we've been doing for "schooling" for Vivi, it's been a bit of trial and error. We're using the Rod & Staff/ CLE 2-3 year old work books for the "seat work" side of things. They're right on par for Vivi and plenty challenging for her. Tracing lines, learning colors, numbers, letters, etc.Vivi loves to use the iPad, and I have an ABC app and a Numbers app from Sesame Street that she absolutley LOVES using. She will be VERY careful with the iPad if she knows she gets to use it for "Elmo." She's also been enjoying the LeapFrog DVDs and letter flashcards we have. Trey can quiz her and it's just about the cutest thing ever! It's been less formal "school" and more inclusive learning for her. She's doing SO well with that. Thankfully, she also loves to color, so she does quite a bit of that, too.

So to all of you who have faithfully prayed for this transition, THANK YOU!! Truly. It means so much to us to have such faithful and generous support. God truly has blessed us with wonderful family and friends! :)