Back to School (well three schools)

Last year was a wonderful school year. We sent Jonathan to full day Kindergarten at Line Creek, we sent Joshua and Caleb to Faith Christian Academy 3 days a week (home schooled the other 2 days), and home schooled Ashlyn full time for 6th grade. It was evident that this plan was what we were supposed to do. All four kids grew academically, spiritually, and emotionally where we had them. We loved paying for only 2 private school tuitions and loved the one on one time I had with Ashlyn all year. We knew over the summer we would continue to look at each school year and decide what would be best for each child each year.

After much prayer and discussions with teachers and children, we made some big changes this year.  We decided to send Caleb back to Line Creek where he attended Kindergarten full time to get free reading tutoring and speech therapy again.  He was sad to leave his friends at FCA, but looking forward to a 5 day a week school schedule instead of 3.  I am excited to see Caleb grow in his reading and spelling skills this year as well as be the "big brother" for a change at the school.  So far, he LOVES it and has made more friends than he had at FCA (it's only been 2 weeks!) He begins his reading program in late September.  His teacher is AMAZING!

Because Jonathan and Caleb share a room and are so close, we decided to keep him at Line Creek with Caleb.  This was a hard decision because our original plan was just to send him there for Kindergarten and then send him to FCA in first grade.  He is such a good reader and SO smart!  He also has so many friends at Line Creek.  He LOVES riding the bus to and from school with Caleb and looks forward to seeing his friends.  He also gets speech therapy at Line Creek 2 days a week, which we love.  It is so hard to spend home school days at speech therapy all day along with the homework.  This setup is so great for our other children's schedules. We LOVE his teacher again this year and can't wait to see him grow this year!

We decided to keep Joshua at Faith Christian Academy this year for fourth grade.  Our main reason for this was for him and I to have a similar year I had with Ashlyn last year.  He is the only child home with me on Tues/Thurs and we hope to talk about many things together this year.  He has not had much school attention from me in the past because Caleb has required so much of my time those two days.  I am excited to be able to sit with him and teach him things that are not even taught at FCA like I did last year with Ashlyn. He is so smart and loves FCA.  So far, he says he enjoys our time together (especially our lunch outings) and looks forward to being the only child home with me two days a week! Of course, I love writing the tuition checks this year - only one child again!!!

Ashlyn really grew up last year!  She has grown to be a very strong woman.  I am so proud of her discernment gift and her ability to know right from wrong.  She has come out of her shell a little this last year and was able to tour the public middle school house near our house in the Spring.  After much prayer, we have decided to send her there for one month.  After that month, we will decide if we stay there or home school for 7th grade.  So far, she LOVES it! They sure expect alot of the kids there and give them the responsibility she was needing to take charge of her school time.  She is behind in her computer class and a little confused in her Pre-Algebra class, but otherwise above average in her subjects. She loves Home Ec and having PE 2-3 times a week. And she LOVES rotating classes/teachers, although the 3 minute time frame still stresses her out a bit in between. She has made a few good friends and always looks forward to going.  My guess is she will want to stay after the month, but we will see.  The biggest difference between this wonderful school district and our private school is technology.  They are so advanced and we LOVE that! Of course the facility and extracurriculars are also a huge plus too! She continues to read her bible at home each day and participates in our family bible time each day.  That was one subject she will miss, but we continue to see her grow spiritually and socially while she is there.  I will keep you posted on that decision at the one month mark...and we will begin praying about what we will do next year soon.