Co-op Program

Once upon a time 3 best friends all decided to go on a journey called Homeschooling:) So glad we decided to do this as a team. It was not only beneficial for our kids but it also became a necessary part of us being moms. The three of us looked forward to getting together to most of the time vent, but also to just talk about life and get each others opinions and advice. Which most of you moms know it is so key to have friends like that! I love these girls so much and it has been amazing to watch all of us grow as moms this year!

We decided that the kids needed to have a school program so they could show our families what they have all learned through out the year. The kids have worked so hard and not only had fun but learned a lot! We wanted them to be able to show it all off:) We decided that we would have the kids tell about each field trip we did and then sing the song that pertained to that month. One of us narrated and the kids would come out dressed up for that particular month and then they sang their songs. It was so cute to see each of them so excited and how much they would get into their songs:) Afterward we had fellowship over cookies and drinks:) It was a perfect night!!

We set up tables to display their work and pictures and then we each had a slideshow with pictures from each event and just the overall school year. 

He is so handsome!!!!

My beautiful girl!

These were their big art projects that we did the last month of Co-op. 

This is Tenlee's

Mr. Koop's

Koop did school with us a lot. He had his own book and he would sit right along with sissy and do his work and he was always so proud of each page..so he had to have his own board to display:) 

Getting ready to talk about our first field trip-Apple Mill

Our Thanksgiving feast

Our Valentines party and going to Debrands for our trip...not sure what Koop is doing but he holds his lips like this...A LOT!

We learned about the weather the last month so they sang a song about the different types of weather that we see. They also kept a weather journal and had to guess the weather each day. 

So very proud of my two kiddos!

The "Gang"-Love these people so much!!! Our second family:) 

Year 1 of Wind Dixie School

Our first year of school is done! It has been the absolute best year, it was more than I ever imagined. Yes, there were many days I didn't want to get out of bed and on top of all housework and editing of pictures...do her schooling! But it really became a habit and she just knew how our morning would roll each day.  

Last day of school-minus 4 teeth:) 

My mom and I took the kids to Bender's Apple Orchard. They had so much fun picking their own apples and learning about the different kinds of apples and how they each taste. 

We brought our apples home and made a homemade apples crisp and our first freezer crock pot applesauce...both turned out amazing and we will definitely be doing it again!

 We celebrated Dr. Suess's birthday! The boys enjoyed being Thing 1 and Thing 2:) 

Tenlee dressed up all crazy to celebrate the day and made "green eggs and ham"

 S-A-M...this word gave us so many tears and fights. She could not for the longest time figure out how to blend these letters together. I never thought she would grasp it and then one day it just came so easy to her. Now we laugh together when I ask her to spell Sam. She always tells me that was her first word to learn to spell. 

Every week she had to blend together a full page

 of words and she always looked forward to it. 

 This was the worst part of school at the very beginning. She would pout and throw a fit every morning when I told her to get her school stuff ready. After threatening, praying and more praying she stopped with the pouting and did great. There were a few times that she whined but other than that she was great!

 We prayed after every school day and I loved hearing her pray for specific things each day:) 

  We went to Papa Bills tree farm and Tenlee, Kooper and Grandpa drove the 4-wheeler around and collected all kinds of different leafs for her leaf book she made. Grandpa knew each kind and taught her all kinds of things about the trees in his woods. 

 Our amazing co-op group! We met a few times a month and did classes at each others houses and then did one field trip a month. The kids have not only learned so much, but they had a blast and have become best friends. (Just like their mommas) 

 Apple Cider Mill

Roberts Farm

Gingerbread Festival

DeBrands Chocolates

Learning about bugs:) 

We had a really long day and she was so tired...but way more tired than I thought. She went in after supper to finish up a school project and we went in about 10 minutes later and she was sound asleep on her school work. The picture is so blurry but I am so glad I captured this:) 

Her first book to read all by herself!

Her end of the year project that tied into her last few lessons was a butterfly project. She received 5 caterpillars in the mail and than about 20 days later she released 5 beautiful butterflies. 

One of my favorite parts of doing school at home. We finished up our last few weeks of school outside and the kids loved it! It made the day go so much smoother being able enjoy the sun and warm air. 

At the beginning of the school year I was nervous, excited and just worried that we were making the wrong decision. And now after completing our first year I am still nervous, excited and still worried about this huge decision to continue. But we have seen so many amazing benefits and opportunities and we love being able to teach our daughter a Christ centered curriculum. But as we said at the beginning of the year...this is a year to year decision:)