First Day of Homeschool!

Today was definitely a terrific milestone in our household!  My daughter started her very first day of Junior Kindergarten Homeschool.  We were both very excited last night, preparing our lesson plans, laying out clothes and getting everything ready for our very first day.

My daughter, who will be 4 years of age mid-October was very excited and proud to begin this new Journey.  We made a big deal about today.  This morning when Ava awoke, I presented her with her very own personalized Record Book that she is to "bring to class" every day.  She loved it because not only did it have her name on the front, it also had flowers, all in her favourite pink and purple colours.    This book is for keeping track of our lessons, crafts, discussion and positive feedback on a daily basis.  We also add stickers at the end of each lesson for a job Well Done!  Ava kept the book in her backpack which she wore on today's outings.

Today, we read the story Jack and the Beanstalk.  I found that I had to edit about 50% of the story as there were words, phrases and suggestions that we do not use in our home.  Mainly, I wanted her to enjoy the story of a beanstalk that grew as high as the sky from magic beans.  I presented my daughter with her own little bag of 5 special "magic beans", keeping in line with the story - we counted the beans several times today. 

We then planted a bean in soil and set it on the window sill.  Ava kept running to the window checking to see if the bean was growing and was very excited.  We had green beans with our lunch, therefore colouring pages on Green Beans and Jack and the Beanstalk were perfectly appropriate.  We then added her colouring pages to a special binder which will be used for this first year of school.

All in all, a terrific first day of homeschool!  Ava was very proud of herself and it seemed like she grew up so quickly since yesterday.  Just having these special moments together mean so much to us.