Our First Homeschool Day // Curriculum Choices // Large Family School Day

[@annikaminina7670]

Beautiful family and I love your videos. May the Lord bless you 🌺💓

[@dougzwife]

Aw, thank you so much Annika!

[@Rofamily6]

Fun to watch your Homeschool day! We have a similar family as well. We had a girl, then a boy, then five girls and now I'm expecting our eighth, a second boy!

[@dougzwife]

That's so exciting!!! 💕Yes, so similar! LOVE your KZbin name, unless that's your real name, that's even better! 😊Thanks for watching!

[@TubbsOfLove]

Cinnamon rolls look great!

[@dougzwife]

They are! I make them the afternoon before, let them rise, and then pop them in the fridge. Ready to bake in the morning!

[@abbyb4277]

Whew, busy busy! I love how you make it almost like Christmas morning with a special breakfast and then opening their "stockings" (aka school baskets) 😂 I'll try to remember that for next year!

[@abbyb4277]

I also love dollar tree workbooks for littler ones 😊

[@dougzwife]

haha yup! We do light school through-out the summer....so if I want them to be excited about a new year, new grade I need to step it up! lol

[@abbyb4277]

@@dougzwife I need help figuring out how to store our school! Do you have a shelf you keep the baskets on, or where do you keep it all? What about shared items like dictionaries, math manipulatives, etc? And how to keep toddlers out of everyone else's stuff 😛

[@dougzwife]

@@abbyb4277 I'll send ya a pm...and a picture of the cupboard we keep the bins in.

[@janetsways4176]

I always enjoy visiting with you and your precious family. The kiddos all seem excited for school. I love how purposeful you are with your selection of what you’re teaching. As always continued blessings to you and yours. 🍁💗

[@dougzwife]

Thank you so much Janet! I try to be purposeful...it's going to be a very full year! :)

[@rachelsearls6452]

Love your videos! So excited to see my notification for your video! May God bless you momma! You have a beautiful family and home!

[@dougzwife]

Thank you! That's so encouraging to me! Many blessings to you as well!

[@emilypanko2434]

Hope you are all doing well! We used to love watching your channel..im sure as a busy mom it required a lot of your time! I was wondering what you all might be using this upcoming year homeschool wise..Blessings to your family!

[@dougzwife]

@emilypanko2434 Hello! Thanks for your message! I miss making vids for KZbin! My mom keeps telling me to make a video, at least per season. Maybe I'll try, but yes, it seemed like a lot at times! I've even had another baby since I need to introduce! :) We are still using Abeka for the most part. I love supplementing with some Good and the Beautiful. And recently I found the Story of the World history books at Goodwill for cheap, so we have sitting on the porch reading those lately and the kids are really enjoying them!

[@emilypanko2434]

Congratulations! I'm due in October with our 6th baby! Thank you for the message..I've started ordering some books for when we start back up in August..I love some of The Good and The Beautiful too! I've wondered about The Story of The World..good find! Enjoy your summer!

[@dougzwife]

@@emilypanko2434 Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well!!💕

[@reallife.realjoy.9555]

Those cinnamon rolls look amazing!!! Have a great year.

[@dougzwife]

They are! I just make them in the bread maker. And when rolling them out just throw in some tiny apple pieces and raisins. I let them rise in the pan and then stick them in the fridge for the next day... pop them in the oven the next morning.

[@lisab6437]

Hey I love this video! I can relate to schooling with a baby tagging along everywhere, so sweet. Could you tell me where you got your awesome bins for the kid's curriculum?

[@dougzwife]

Thanks!! I got the bins at Target about 3 years ago...but I am pretty sure they still have some similar. They have held up from daily use well... and haven't cracked even though the kids use them as foot stools at times😊😊

[@MissToMrsLife]

Aw you are a boss mom!!! Having a newborn and doing home schooling! I am so impressed!!! You seem so organized! I would love to be friends. If you ever get the chance, I would love for you to come and visit me. I’m sure you are super busy LOL. But I would love to be friends and grow together.💕🥰💖

[@dougzwife]

Thank you! Yes, I do not have as much time for watching KZbin, but I would love to be friends! :) Thanks for the comment! I try to be organized...but it can fall into chaos quite quickly around here at times! :) I just try my best!

[@MissToMrsLife]

Doug's Wife ps you have a very calming voice, just wanted to let you know that ha ha. You have a life long friend here 💕

[@2bihim]

Love your videos! We are homeschooling too and it’s our first official year. We have twin 4 year olds in pre k 4 . And 2 year old twin assistants 🥰

[@dougzwife]

2 sets of twins! 😍😍 Busy momma! Nice that you can school the 2 together in the same class. You'll love homeschooling! Many blessings!

[@2bihim]

Doug's Wife 🥰 Thank you!

[@ericcawith2cs11]

Loved this. We added a new litle one July 31 this year and we had a delayed school start too. Any tips on homeschool with babies would be helpful, you clearly have experience. This is my first year trying to teach with a baby in tow, as we have quite a gap between child #3 and the baby. Also, could you do a tour of where you keep everything and organization tips? Stacks everywhere aren't working here anymore... Lol. I'm wanting to centralize everything. We do school at the table and don't have a school room.

[@dougzwife]

Congratulations on your new little one!

[@DelmaHole]

You have a beautiful family. Nice sharing. I enjoyed watching your video my friend. Full view ✅ support✅ & 👍🏼 See you! 😁528

[@dougzwife]

Thank you!

[@crystaljordan7318]

Hi there! New to your channel! ❤ I would love to know your thoughts on switching from Abeka to Master Books. Also any tips on schooling multiple kids with Abeka. I feel a bit overwhelmed trying to get it all in.

[@dougzwife]

Hello Crystal! Welcome! 💕I have not liked the Master Books Language that we tried this year, there have been several times I have thought of running back to Abeka's. lol Maybe that's just what I'm used to. I don't use Abeka for everything though. I think it would be too much if I tried to do that. Over time I have just figured out what has worked well for us. I don't order the complete Abeka course though, I just pick and choose which ones I want, if that helps. I can't imagine going full with them!- My son has so much work to do just with one science class I enrolled him in!

[@crystaljordan7318]

@@dougzwife yes! We tried a full load of Master Books this year coming from all Abeka last year. It was not what I was expecting. Like yiu I did not care for language or math. I plan to return to Abeka, but haven't decided how many subjects to do. Also, we are adding our 3rd official student in the fall. We have 4 kiddos (8b, 7b, 4g, 2b). The older boys are in the same grade which helps a ton! I admire your peaceful atmosphere. ❤

[@melcanseco1022]

Are your kids always calm or do hey have moments of arguing ? They always look so calm 🥰

[@dougzwife]

My kids are fairly well behaved, but there are times!! LOL The oldest kids don't fight much. (there are some spats when they do chores together lol) I have the most trouble with my 3 & 5 yr. old. They fight over toys and such.....my 3yr. old can be quite a stinker at times!😏

[@Michelle-by9fp]

How do you balance keeping up with your household stuff as well as homeschooling? I wish I could homeschool my oldest (he is 8 and repeating 2nd grade). He has trouble focusing with other kids around and I know he would thrive in homeschool. But my husband says it's not an option since I cant keep up with the house and, plus caring for our 4 and 1.5 year old. Its discouraging because I want to be able to do it all but I dont know where to start. I know I need routines, my kids need chores and routines, and my husband is a sheriff's deputy so he works long hours and isnt able to help at all with household stuff or kid stuff. On his days off we try to spend time as a family, especially since he has only about 1 day off a week.

[@dougzwife]

In the morning we straighten up the house, and it's a mess usually. We don't do this in the evening because we need to spend time with my husband. He works a lot of hours. And most weeks he doesn't get a day off at all. I can relate there with you! (We have family businesses in the line of farming and the work is endless!) So it is important for me to have the kids & I do chores in the morning, and dishes after every meal to keep up on things. Routines are amazing and help so much.... so find one that works for you! Also think about what is taking up your time that you could let go throughout the day. For me it's definitely the internet! I have to turn notifications off my phone, and be sure to keep my focus. You have to set aside the time for extra things you want to do, so instead you can keep going on what is most important through out the day, without getting distracted! I can't not be popping in and off online all day...and it's a constant struggle for me. There are many great books out there about time management. (I have one called 'Say Goodbye to Survival Mode' by Crystal Paine. I haven't read it in a long time, but I remember liking it.)~~Maybe ask your husband to just try homeschooling for just one year, your son could always go back to school the next! Maybe even just a half a year if you started after Christmas. ??