Our Homeschool Space

I call it our "homeschool space" because our great room is a multi-purpose area for our family. We've managed to make it our dining room, living room, office, homeschool room, and exercise room.

The white armoire contains labeled plastic drawers for each subject. The children place their workbooks and other school materials in the appropriate drawer when they are finished with their assignments. I have my subjects color-coded. This makes it simpler to find materials quickly and allows my non-readers to participate in retrieving their school materials and also replacing them once they are finished for the day.

The lower drawers in the white armoire hold craft materials such as construction paper, a box of scrap cardstock papers, coloring books, markers, crayons etc.

We have a bookshelf to store our books and a small basket near the bookshelf to hold the books we borrow from our local library.

 

I also posted 

rules for our 

"classroom". 

[Really, rules for our family...] 

They are simple and few: 1. Word hard, 2. Be kind.

I love our magnetic white board! It is so handy for visuals.

My mom gave me the smaller white board/chalkboard. This is wonderful for use at our dining table. I often post the children's handwriting assignment on the board for them to copy.

I have made dividing boards for each child. These are useful when we work together at the table. There are those moments when the kids are easily distracted by one another - or other activity happening around us [such as younger siblings playing, or a parent cleaning up in the nearby kitchen etc...]. The boards provides a focus space and serves to remind my students of what they should be doing. I added some binder clips, string and paperclips to hold papers on the boards. My son likes to have our school schedule posted where he can readily refer to it; the divider sits on his desk and serves as a perfect place for information such as his schedule, assignments, calendar or other materials specific to his current projects.

We have a fantastic globe that we often use in our studies of history, geography, science and social studies.

One of my huge projects over the summer was our giant 5ft. USA wall map. That was far more ambitious than I realized, but SO worth it! The map is laminated, so I can use dry-erase markers on it, and easily remove taped papers [for repeated use in years to come]. I'll explain more about how we are using the wall map in a later post.

My littlest one asked me a few days ago if I would "move that dinosaur". After much confusion, I realized that she was talking about the map. It kind of looks like a dinosaur. I'm glad we had the opportunity to talk about what it actually is; I kind of feel bad that all this time she's been concerned about the huge dinosaur in our room. 

We printed out this very fun and functional Weather Station. The kids have fun checking the weather throughout the day and adjusting their weather station appropriately.

I also posted the Pledge of Allegiance, which the children are learning.

My desk is a mess, which really just means that I am actually accomplishing things - although that's good, it is still embarrassing to admit my workspace usually looks something like this... 


I love my desk. LOVE it. I found it on Craigslist and had to put up a bit of a fight for it. I'm really glad I did. The lady I had arranged to pick it up from called as we were leaving to tell me that she decided to sell to another person. I said, "okay" and hung up the phone. I was so disappointed and as I sat there trying to absorb her words, I realized it was actually not okay.

We had an agreement and I had rearranged schedules and furniture in preparation to meet her. She told me she would have it ready for me in the next 30 minutes - I'd spoken to her over several days...and only a few minutes before to tell her we were heading out shortly. So I called her back, expecting that the desk was already gone, but I just needed to tell her [for my own sake] that it was actually NOT okay and that her inconsideration was disappointing and frustrating - maybe she would make a different decision in the future. When I called back, her whole attitude was different. She went from "too bad, so sad...suck it up" to "I'm so sorry. I actually have not handed it to the guy yet and you're right, I did already make an agreement with you. Come right now and it is yours. I will not sell it to the other guy." We hurried over, paid her, loaded it up and brought it home. I'm glad I called her back that day. It is the perfect desk for me.

It is very deep, so I have drawers sitting on the back half of the surface, where I keep printer paper, cardstock, scrap papers, laminate sheets, magnetic visuals and other school/craft supplies. I also use a majority of that deep space to keep the school materials that I am currently using easy to access. Books I am referencing, textbooks we are working from, and folders with assignment pages and schedules sit on the desk between bookends.

Well, that's our school space at the moment. It seems like this space is always evolving, as needs change...but for now, this is what we have set up and it works well.

What works well for your family? I'd love to hear what others have tried: what has been successful and what has not.

A few of my thoughts and our summer nature adventures...

This summer felt like a whirlwind of warm days spent collecting bugs, butterflies, frogs, and even more exciting: new experiences.  Stormy nights brought lightning storms to delight or stir our souls to wonder and contemplation - depending on what work God was doing in our hearts at the time. It has been for us a season of intentional enjoyment of life and of one another - and also of unexpected disappointments and wrestling with deep questions. To sum up my thoughts on our summer, I would say it has been a lesson in being; of accepting the moment that I am in...and living there.

I don't want to speed things up or slow them down. I want to learn to be in the moment I am given and do the best I can with it. Sometimes that moment is best spent just breathing in the fresh air and feeling the kiss of sun on my skin as I watch my children explore the nature in our yard. Other moments are best spent busy washing dishes, preparing meals or folding laundry with a thankful heart. Still other moments are to be spent in stillness, laughter, concentration, kindness, patience, or grace. I don't always, or even often, truly know exactly what I should be doing with my time. I fumble. I waste. I wish I had been wiser as I consider my yesterdays. I imagine I will forever be learning in this area. But when it all boils down, what is valuable and lasting is how well I have loved; how well I have loved God and how well I have loved the people that God has placed in my path in life. In comparison, nothing else is of any great significance.

If I provide my children the best possible education, but have not modeled love for them, I have truly failed in my role and position both as a parent and as a teacher. Let's not loose sight, Moms & Dads, of what is truly important as we school our children. Knowledge is a useful tool in the hands of the wise and upright in character; likewise, it can be a weapon of destruction in the hand of a careless fool. Our moments spent enjoying them, loving them, determining to be patient, and gentle and kind with them - those moments are investing not only in their development of character - but of our own.

Here are a few photos from our summer. A highlight of these months was our visit to a butterfly room at a science museum. We all loved the enchanting experience and returned home dreaming together of how we could create our own butterfly sanctuary.

From then on we have been learning about caterpillars and butterflies, chasing butterflies through the yard, raising caterpillars and watching in wonder as they venture through metamorphosis and emerge in color and flight.

We have more recently discovered dragonflies, which are much faster than butterflies and more difficult to capture and observe.

Frogs have played happily in our water table with us on a summer day or two [until they'd had plenty enough attention and escaped quickly into a nearby bush]. 

My daughter has grown especially fond of worms and collects them often, loving each and every one of them dearly, then returning the sweetly smothered creatures to our garden.

Grasshoppers are plentiful in our yard and so much fun to catch.








Slugs are easy to find, though not as delightful. They are, however, fun to watch from time to time: their shape and movement is so unique.

 

Our latest [and most vile, in my opinion] "guest" to our bug home is a large praying mantis. I don't have a picture of him here, because I am truly afraid of him. [The one pictured above was far friendlier toward us.]

He is vicious. I cannot bear to watch him eat, although my son is always very impressed by the whole event. I even like spiders a little more after having witnessed this insect devour a meal. I was going to post a video, but I couldn't handle watching it myself. So if you are curious, read up on it - or do a search on YouTube [but really, don't - it's awful].

We also planted and harvested a garden with zucchini, peas, carrots, green beans, and a handful of pumpkins that are deepening in their brilliant orange color.

 

We watched the spectacular meteor shower last month and spent many lovely nights listening to cool rain fall hard as the lightning lit up the sky and thunder crashed in symphony. I stand amazed at the power of our God.

It really was a beautiful summer filled with lots of adventures, both life-altering and of seemingly little significance. But perhaps the most adventuresome of it all has simply been living those little [and big] moments side-by-side, together as a family and loving one another through it all.

This is truly the focus I need to have as we continue into our school year. There are times when I feel overwhelmed as I look at what is yet to be accomplished. I need to just focus on the moment before me. There are times when I am so frustrated with a child who refuses to comply. I need to keep perspective of what lessons I am truly teaching by my response to that situation. Life is an experience of learning, isn't it? And whether we homeschool intentionally or not, we learn at home. Children learn from their parents. The question isn't whether we are teaching them, the real question is: "What?"

Hey - speaking of the question "what?"...
What is this??
Does anyone know? We found it hanging from the gable of our porch.

New School Year...

Oh! It has been so long since I last posted here!!
Life is busy.

But, I do plan to post more often now as we begin school again.
My daughter is learning at a kindergarten level, my son is 2-3rd grade.
My littlest one is learning colors and shapes and counting and playing and being generally adorable.

Monday is our big day.
The kids are excited.
I am nervous. [Can I really accomplish it all - and do it well???]

2012-2013, here we come!

Learning about Leaves

Cool, crisp mornings,
Warm, sun-kissed afternoons,
The taste of pumpkin, the scent of spice,
And bright colored leaves dancing in the branches...

It must be Fall.

This week my children and I studied leaves.

We went for a walk and collected leaves.

We made leaf rubbings and leaf bookmarks...
and today we read the book, Why Do Leaves Change Color, written by Betsy Maestro.

Then I gave my son this test to reinforce what he learned as we read the book together.

You are welcome to use the test for your own personal educational purposes.
You may not redistribute it or use it for any commercial purpose.

Here is the answer key.

Happy Autumn!

Book It!

If you have not heard of the Book It program...it's time for you to hear.

Book It is a program that works with Pizza Hut to offer reading incentives to children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Although Book It is only offered through participating schools, home educators may also enroll their children ages 5 through 12 into the program.

You can learn more about the Book It program here...or follow this link to enroll as a home school. The deadline for enrollment is September 1st.

Happy 4th of July!

In need of a last-minute Independence Day project for your kiddos? [...like I was...]


Crayola has some fun coloring pages.

Color the flag of the USA.

Color in a picture of fireworks behind the Statue of Liberty while you talk with your kids about why we light fireworks on the 4th of July. 

Learn about past and present flags of the United States of America, then color them in.

Learn about and color the Statue of Liberty.

Color the flag and map of the United States of America.

Whirlwind...

Life is a blur as of late...

Spring has sprung and everyone is restless, longing to drink in the sunshine. My kids grow bigger; and along with their increase in size comes an increase in appetites, a wider disaster radius post-playtime and continued development of independent thinking - consequently: more frequent arguments both with each other and myself. My husband has been diligently studying, excelling in all his classes; I am so proud!

L., my youngest, has started walking and is quickly graduating from that mundane skill to more exciting techniques for mobility...such as climbing. [Really, who wants to walk when you could just climb stuff, right?]

A few days ago I caught her sitting in the middle of the living room talking to herself, "No. Nooo. No. No Ma. No Mom. No. Mom. No no. Noooo." She was practicing telling me no. My heart was filled with delight at her sweet voice, pride for her working so intently to enunciate her words correctly...and slight trepidation as I considered the implications of her resolve to clearly communicate her defiance.

My oldest daughter is learning important and difficult lessons about the ugliness of lies. Meanwhile, her father and I are being tested in matters of patience and grace. She is also rapidly learning to read and write. She enjoys writing letters and often I find random letters on her schoolwork or art pages. Occasionally, her random letters happen to form words, much to her older brother's astonishment and delight. He is very impressed by her "skill" and they celebrate her accomplishment together with cheering, laughter and expressions of recognition: "Great job!" "Wow...you wrote ________!" "You are such a great speller!" This warms my spirit. I love to see my children loving and encouraging one another.

I am considering what to do for my son's education in the fall. Boarding school has been an attractive thought from time to time. New, unpleasant and frustrating phrases have been surfacing during our conversations lately; "It's not FAIR!" "I wish I had a different mom!" "Why do I have to...?!" I really dislike the attitude I see him developing and find myself praying often for an extra measure of love and grace to respond to it. While this new "big kid" personality dampens my excitement about home-educating in the coming school year, it also deepens my resolve to guide him, to instruct him, teach and correct him so that issues of character, discipline and integrity may be swiftly addressed and corrected, deterring poor attitude from developing into bad habits and unpleasant personality in later years.

I am just taking it all in. At moments, reminding myself to pause to breathe or to resist the temptation to react. Other times, digging deep to find motivation to tackle the dishes and laundry, or to mom-up and confront the arguing coming from the kids' room [instead of hiding in the pantry with a bar of chocolate pretending not to hear it]. Occasionally, ignoring those tasks that seem so pressing and important, but will still be there tomorrow and just holding my baby a little longer while she sleeps, or sitting on the floor playing dolls, or pulling out a messy art project to do TOGETHER or attacking my children with kisses and tickles while they still enjoy it - I know it will not last forever.

This season is full of unique joys and difficulties...and so will be the next. This is a sweet sort of whirlwind to be caught up in.