The long overdue update

So, Ingram School has Wi-Fi now... I guess that means I should update this blog since I don't have to worry about how much data usage that will take!
It's been quite a year here at Ingram School.  We have been super busy working our way through Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd grade while trying to figure out how to distract a toddler all at the same time.  As we hit Spring Fever and turn the corner toward the end of the year, here are some things I have learned:
1.  Toddlers do not remain distracted when it is time for Science or Social Studies.
2.  Begin your day with chores or they'll never get done.
3.  Begin your school time with instrument practice or it will cause tears in the afternoon (that is, if you ever get to it)
4.  School goes a lot smoother if you work with one child at a time, mostly because it takes at least one other kid to keep aforementioned toddler distracted for you.
5.  Sometimes Science means going outside and just looking at what lesson Mother Nature is providing that day!
6.  Some days are just about surviving, especially Mondays.

I do feel like the kids have learned a lot this year, but some days I question what they've actually absorbed into their brains!  On a day-to-day basis I don't always feel like a stellar educator, but when I look at the big picture and see how hard they work and how far they've come, I realize that they truly have learned a lot.  Rachel, Ford, and Ruby are all avid readers and, honestly, that will take them further in life than anything else I could ever hope for.  We make weekly trips to the library, but probably go through the drop-off drive-through at least 4 times a week to return the books they've finished.  Baxter loves to hear stories and it is so cute to hear Ruby read to him.  She is so proud to be his big sister!
Here is where each kid stands in his/her schoolwork:
1.  Rachel-- multiplying double digit numbers, learning many literary terms, learned a lot about the Civil War, Westward Expansion, and now Civil Rights, completely fascinated with the human body and how it works, has two Science units left (simple machine and insects) which should both be fun, avid violinist, loves ballet, super excited to be playing soccer this season, and already ready for art classes in the fall.  Oh, and is now responsible for our six chickens.
2.  Ford--subtracting with regrouping, loves any chapter books he can find, knows all about Lewis and Clark and the American Revolution, getting ready to learn about the states of matter and animal habitats, has learned many songs on the ukulele this year, still loves soccer, and has lots of new art work hanging in our play room.
3.  Ruby--working hard on her subtraction, reads (and tries to comprehend) chapter books, loves learning about the Presidents and Native Americans, completely aced all things Science and Social Studies related because she had already heard the material twice!, loves ballet, has really enjoyed playing soccer with the big kids, and really improved her art work this year.
4.  Baxter--can almost spell his name, knows most of his colors and lots of the alphabet, wants to play in the sand box as much as possible, knows how to identify tractors based on color, can count to 5 most of the time, thought he might start using the potty, but changed his mind, wants to play soccer with the big kids.

We are going to start Keyboarding tomorrow and see how that goes.  All the kids want to learn to type because they have MANY stories that they have written and want "published".  We have about 8 more math lessons for each kids, two more Secrets of Droon books to read, two more Science units for each kid, and then Ingram School will close for the summer.  It's been a long, fun, hard, tiring, exciting, crazy year!!!