School Review: Week 1

So we are off and running.  It is very nice to get back into the school routine, and our first week back went very well.  This is the fist time in 5 1/2 years of homeschooling that we have ever taken a full month off from school.  We usually school year round and take a break here and there when we need it or when we have somewhere to go or someone visiting.  Now that we have experience a one-month break, I know we will not be taking another one! 

Here are the benefits that I see to year-round schooling:
1.  We never have to review.  (This is one of the main reasons I don't like long breaks.)
2.  We can go straight to the next level of a subject once we finish the first.
3.  We never have to feel guilty about taking a week of school off when Grandma's in town or when we just need a break.
4.  We have a lot of structure to our days and our life all the time, but still have plenty of free time every single day.
5.  There is not too much time for the kids to get bored, get naughty, or drive each other and me crazy!  (This would be the top reason we won't be taking a full month off again.  I could not believe how different it was to have them play together all day, every day.)

Things I learned in Week One:
1.  12 drawers full of assignments and a full load of subjects only takes Basia and I 1 1/2-2 hours to complete.  That leaves her plenty of time to be an active little girl.  I worried that it would be too much with daily history and science.  I had a lady recently criticize homeschoolers for being in Walmart during the regular school day.  Many do not understand how much work can be done in a short amount of time when you are working one-on-one.  I have no doubt that we are getting more done in those 2 hours than what is done in many first grade classes in 6 or 7 hours.
2.  Brishen's school day is also shorter than it has been, even though he is still doing all his regular subjects.  I never realized how many extra breaks he was taking to help me out with Basia or one of the little kids I was watching or just to play when everyone else was playing.  He's working hard and getting most or all of the afternoons off, other than the 1-hour silent reading time.
3.  Basia is obsessed with science, and I will never be able to keep up with her demand for experiments.  I really am bad about planning science experiments on my own and having the supplies I need to do them when I want to do them.  I learned a few years ago, that I have to buy a full science program that does all the planning and scheduling for me, or we would never get to experiments.  Now I'm wondering if I need to buy two separate science programs for Basia.  We did science daily, including some experiments, and then she spent one whole afternoon wanting to study and research scuba divers and snorkelers (including the question, "Mom, what is the value of snorkelers, anyway?"  Another afternoon, I set up an extra experiment, and she still wanted more.  Sheesh!  This is tough for me after having a child who is happy to read about most things in a book and doesn't need to get his hands in it to learn and be happy.
4.  Geometry may be a little tough for Brishen at this point.  I say this not because he has had any trouble so far, but because I'm reading ahead in his book, and it seem so grown-up for a 6th grader.  I am going to watch carefully for clues that he isn't getting it and have ideas for what we can do instead if it becomes too much.  We've already done parts or all of 3 different Algebra 1 books, so I'll have to figure something else out.
5.  Basia understands and enjoys Ancient History a lot more than I expected.  She does really well at narrating the history section back to me after I read it to her.  This is going to be fun.  Of course, she wants lots of hands-on history work, as well.
6.  Homeschooling means accepting a different level of "clean" around here.  Brishen has science experiments in various stages of development on his desk for observation.  We have triopses hatching on our kitchen table.  Basia has a homemade barometer in our living room and a weather vane on her desk.  We've only done one week of school.  This could get bad!
7.  Finally, I learned (again) to check the supply list for Brishen's science curriculum before the week begins.  I don't like to be in the midst of a school day when I am told that he needs:  dried lima beans, a piece of pure limestone,  plaster of Paris, steel wool, and alum.  I also don't like when they say a particular item can be easily found at a particular type of store when it cannot!