Back to School, Part 1: Addendum

The P.E. conundrum has been resolved! My friend Anne commented on the previous post, letting me know of a homeschool bowling class in the area. Somehow I think a bowling class will suit Evan just fine.

Evan knocks 'em down! from Cheryl on Vimeo.

The above video was taken this summer, the first and only time Evan has bowled. We were all playing so did not use the bumpers and Evan threw mostly gutter balls, poor kid. This was his moment of glory! I expect the bowling class will make use of bumpers for the little kids. Caitlin will also take part in the class, which is open to all ages. It will be a fun way to spend our Monday afternoons.

In my previous post I neglected to include any mention of catechism or Bible study. I suppose that is because I don't really think of those things as school. They are life. We don't approach them as school subjects but instead incorporate them into our family devotions, which are led by my husband. Our primary materials are the Lutheran Study Bible (ESV), The Treasury of Daily Prayer published by Concordia Publishing House, Martin Luther's Small Catechism, and the Lutheran Service Book (our hymnal). For help with memorizing the catechism we also use Sing the Faith, which is the entire small catechism set to music (composed, by the way, by that aforementioned husband). One of the things I always did with my two oldest children that I have neglected with my youngest this past year is the reading of Bible stories. When my teenagers were little I read to them every night, and the reading usually consisted of a Bible story plus a few other story books of their choice. I have not been reading as regularly to Evan. He is often content to read on his own at night and I am so tired by the end of the day that I am often content to let him. It's not that I never read aloud to him, but I don't seem to do it as much as I did with the older ones, and that includes reading Bible stories. One of my goals this year is to return to that, if not at night before bed (when I am so tired), then during the day. The daily schedule is shaping out nicely for this year, so I will really have no excuse for not making this a priority!

More later on Caitlin's studies and what our weekly schedule is going to look like.