Reminders from my Nathan....

I must admit, schooling my children from home certainly has had its challenges.  There are days when it seems like we have worked all day & have gotten nothing accomplished.  There are days when I feel like there just isn't enough of me to meet the needs of everyone. 

However, there are some days like today where a little something happens that makes my heart swell & it reminds me of one of the reasons of why we have chosen to school from home.

Natalie was sitting down attempting to do Literature on her own.  She was getting frustrated because the new vocabulary words were pretty difficult and she was asking for some help in knowing what they are.

From the other room, I hear Nathan say, "Finger Stretch it, Natty."

You see, finger stretching is how our Phonics program teaches little ones how to read.  Nathan half way through his Kindergarten year is reading more and more words each week.  He will take a word like cat and sound out each sound C-A-T....raising one finger for each sound.  Thus, finger stretching.

While Natalie was not going to be able to finger stretch her new vocabulary words...I thought it was great that he recognized a skill that could help her.

And now, my dear Nathan, who is so competitive has to stop his school day to participate in Natalie's Math Football Class Connect.  It is simply amazing that he can sit beside her and answer the math questions that are being asked to each 3rd grader.  Nothing is funnier than listening to him jump up and down & cheer as the boys score a touchdown & boo when Natalie answers a question correctly to block an extra point.  **Please note, that he is always let down in the 3rd & 4th quarters as they move from addition & subtraction to multiplication & division.

While keeping everyone focused on their personal daily tasks can sometimes be a challenge.  However, it is times like these that I realize that everyone is still learning regardless if it is at their grade level or not.

Nathan & Natalie on her Math Football Class.

By the end of the class, Dylan felt the need to join in.

What have you witnessed today that makes you grateful for decisions you have made in your life?  Take some time today and find 3 things that you are thankful for.