Back to School

Since there is a "little" football game currently being played, and my husband's eyes are glued to the television (and I am choosing to ignore the fact that once again Alabama is playing for a national title--gross), I decided to do a quick blog post.

Today was the official get back to school day at the Moore house.  And with that, came the official beginning of The Writing Road to Reading.  I was a bit nervous about it because it's a very involved process, but the research behind her method is fascinating, and I am eager to see if it works for Ada.  Basically, as Ada learns to write, she learns to read.  It's all integrated into one.  I'll tell you more about it as I figure it out myself.  We are learning as we go. 

 I thought Ada did really well for her first day.  The goal is for the child to learn from the beginning how to write correctly on wide-ruled notebook paper, with a normal-sized pencil.  As you can see, Ada had trouble remembering to stay on the "base line," and her letters would begin to droop.  But with a little reminder, she got back on track ;)  I also emphasized making the letters small--only to the midpoint--and in response to that, her letters got a little small at times as well.  She was really excited about writing like a "big girl," though, and after each letter, she would do a little fist pump thing while saying, "oh yeah!"  Apparently she learned the phrase from the movie Despicable Me.  It really cracks me up when she says it.

Ada's pink bear joined us at the table, and after I reviewed the sounds that each letter makes (ex.  she is learning that the letter A says, a (at), a (lake), and ah (father).  After repeating it to me, she would turn to her bear and teach the bear.  I decided to go with it because I thought it would reinforce what she was learning.  Ada had to help the bear write his letters ;)

Once we moved on to reviewing her memory work from last semester, Ada's baby needed a little rocking.  The following picture is very blurry, but I loved it because she looks just like a new mom holding the baby for the first time.  I love it.  (or maybe holding a baby sister?  Ada nightly prays for a baby sister.  When she asks me for one, I tell her to go to God about that ;) )

As every mom knows, multi-tasking is an essential aspect of motherhood--Ada reviews her bible verse and rocks that baby.  That's a great way to get bible study in with a new baby, right? ;)

So, I feel encouraged by how today went.  I am glad to have last semester under our belt, with a better understanding of what needs to get done each day and what I can let go.  Plus, my schedule is much more open, so I have the time to focus on school.  I'm excited.

In other news, I did, in fact, join L.A. Fitness, and I am so thankful and excited to be able to do it.  I love spinning.  I loved it in highschool, I loved it in college, and now, in this season of life, I am loving it again.  It is the best thing for my brain (not to mention my physical health).  And, praise the Lord, Ada and John really like the kids club at the gym, so that makes it easy for me to leave them while I work out.  Spinning is the one form of exercise that I don't, at all, have to talk myself into doing.  I just love it.  Makes me think I need a bicycle.  I wonder if would have the same effect.  Which, now that I think about it, I think the class is now called cycle.  I might be aging myself when I call it spinning.  Hmmm...  Anyway, I am just very thankful that God allowed all of the details to fall into place for me to be able to do this.  It's no small thing in my book. 

So, that's us.  How's is 2012 starting off for you? 

And, any other "spinners" out there?