Building Blogs Eighteen

Almost half a year has come and gone once again.  I will admit, this year has been a bit of a struggle.  Bryanna hasn't had the same enthusiasm this school year, as she had last about completing her work, and I've used every bit of energy left in my bones to build her up to complete it. 

Understand though as you read this, that our lack of energy has nothing to do with the school itself.  As a matter of fact the staff and academics are still outstanding.   Bryanna is standing at a great 98% overall and looks foward to playing the new game that the staff at OCA has introduced to the students.

As a matter of facet, she absolutley flies through every game she plays on their website.  I think it's wonderful she's doing so well with it and to be honest, am amazed at her technological abilities to be so young. I do however wish she would learn to love and accept writing as much as her mommy does (wink). 

I am learning throughout this year that her passion for animals still remains strong.  Now if only her passion for writing were the same as it is animals.. wishful thinking perhaps. :) As much as I love her,only one thing comes to mind when she gives me that long drawn sigh when she needs to write, "You must get this from your father" (haha!).

Building Blogs Seventeen; Countdown!

We are on the countdown until school starts!  That's right, one more full day and then it's the big day.  I logged into the school yesterday and got to see the profile for my kiddo's homeroom teacher.  A bit dissapointed that there was no picture, but nothing I'm sure we won't find out soon enough. :)

As for her name, I can't pronounce it.  How funny is that?  So I guess I will find that out on Monday as well.  In the meantime, I shall call her how I see it is spelled.  In the meantime, we will be keeping busy with a birthday party and a wedding this weekend.  Thank goodness for that, because now we will be able to keep occupied until it begins!

Building Blogs Sixteen; We made it!

So here we are, making our way into first grade.  Yes, we are still with O.C.A.!  We are super excited!  I know we dissapeared from our blog during the last half of the year, so I will get caught up.  Kiddo graduated kindergarten, and was on the A honor roll for the year! Yipee!  Since then, we've kept busy buying a new house and moving.  It was a rough start for the first half of the year, but it later paid off in our favor.

As we get settled into our new home, we are getting ready to being school.  As a mtter of fact, we are not the one that we know personally in O.C.A. anymore, my kiddo's cousins now go there as well.  How exciting it has been, to watch the children excel in their grades and have more pleasant attitudes toward themselves and others, by having went to this school.

I highly reccomend this school to everyone!  It can work, if you let it work!  Definetly looking forward to this comming school year.  Check back for more building blocks!

Building Blogs Fifteen; So here we are..

So here we are into the second half our the school year with OCA.  Things are going great.  We are where we should be with assignments and grading.  We are actually now even to the point where I hear "Mom can we do school already?" in the mornings before breakfast is even over!

We just had a Valentine's party recently, with cookies, valentine's and crafts.  All the fine celebration ammenetities.  We made a bag to keep the Valentine's so that we can later distribute to all her little friends.  We also are in the middle of our Black History Month celebrations.  Learning about the past and all of those who made incredible inpacts in our history.

I think about how many months ago, I was stressing about what school she would go to and if it would work out okay.  Now she is typing, reading, writting, adding, subtracting and even doing some of it in Spanish.  So today I can safely say, we made the right choice with this school.  Now we patiently await for spring, and more field trips to come!

Building Blogs Fourteen; It's contagious!

When we first began with Connections Academy, the online school was a fairly new thing to my community.  Homeschool in any manner was not the typical idea, but my family was determined that there were better options to suit our needs out there.  Finally we took the plunge with OCA.

I must say, even I was nervous in the beginning.  I was not about to breathe that to anyone however.  Confidence was key to making this go well, and the staff at OCA made everything easy for us.  We got our materials, looked over the site and immediately started to brag. Yes, we had bragging rights!

Here we are going into the second half of the year.  We have our schedule down and know our routine.  We are comfortable with the school and yes, are still very pleased with it and it shows.

We have now recruited other children to OCA as well.  My hope is that they enjoy the school as much as we do.  I will be there for support of the parents, as in our community, criticsm still exists, as unfortunate as it is.

So cheers to the second half of the year and may the kids who have joined have a great school year!
Our OCA spirit is contagious!

Building Blogs Thirteen; Wow what a break!

I haven't wrote here in, well what seems to me as a long time anyway.  The holidays are always very busy for our family.  We celebrate many different times, as we have a long distance family.  School was on break for us and we are currently finishing up the middle of the year finishing grades. 

Now for the hump!  It seems with all of the excitement that has surrounded us previously, it's hard to get back into the swing of things again.  Today was a bit rough.  Paper work is no fun, for anyone.  We have found a way to make it fun however.  For every good day that she does her paper work with no complaints, we have a reward bag.  She gets to draw one, very extra fun thing for us to do.  Now she excited to do the paper work, woohoo!  Let's hope the excitement lasts!