Snapshots of Homeschool

The question was posed by this week's Carnival of Homeschooling host, Sprittibee; "What does your homeschool, schooling room look like?" and I just had to answer!

Most articles I read on this matter give an in-the-box answer with one room and one way of getting things done... just last year I gave an in-the-box answer to this question!  But something changed.

I have an ADHD child, a Dyslexic child and a child who LOVES to learn the traditional way.  My teaching style has become very eclectic to accommodate all of their needs and see success as a result.  I would love my homescool to look like this:

(I love old school houses and the thought of teaching in one!)

I so wish I could fit three of these desks in my house!!

But it doesn't... it isn't even close.  I do still have our "school room" ...

But it is in our dark, dank, no windows, basement and after a while... it gets kind of depressing!  So, it has been converted to rec-room now.  The maps are still up and the corner with table is the same only its main use is as art and craft area (all our lovely messes blend in with the dark carpet!!)

First day of Fall art this past week!

Bulletin board in our arts and crafts area with pictures we did during a study of Uruguay last fall

Our actual "learning area" is everywhere now! For example, kitchens just aren't for cooking anymore:

 Ok, so this looks like cooking... but it isn't!  Above, we are practicing spelling words in flour... it has helped my visual-spacial learners do better on their tests!  Although... it does make more mess to clean up!  But worth it!

Below, they are practicing math facts with quizzing calculators while I make french toast for breakfast.

The dining room table is often used for homework...

... and therapy

However, the couch, the coffee table (the living room in general!), and even the picnic table on nice days can make lovely work areas as well!

The kids made "stores" and went "shopping"!

Garden planning and seed charting

And field trips.... God has given us such a marvelous classroom in His creation!  Our favorite was after reading The Secret Garden and we went to some public gardens near by to sketch and observe

Although, winter field trips for some P.E. at the ice rink are always grand!

I do miss the 'traditional' classroom set-up we had when we first started homeschooling, and I do have certain areas that are set aside for homeschooling materials, but as you explore my blog and get to know me, you will quickly learn that, in as much as I miss the traditional, we have a lot of fun learning in the eclectic, out-of-the ordinary ways and places!

May God Bless you and your homeschool classroom today... no matter where it is!

When the Guilt Monster Growls... Just Growl Back!

My week fizzled... just-like-that!  I had ambitions and, sick daughter aside, the other two children and I were pursing them quite well until Wednesday!


We decided to tackle this school year with 4 day weeks.  Something I have read about over the years with some homeschools and I felt it would be worth a try in our own.  The kids are older, the curriculum is meatier, we could use a day without "work".

Originally this day off was going to coincide with the weekend to allow a 3 day break before working hard again.  That worked wonderfully for week 1... but each week since has just gotten crazier and crazier!

Through our missions work we recently answered a calling that pulls us out of the house on Wednesday.  It used to be just for the evenings, but as of this week, we will now be gone from first thing Wednesday morning until bedtime Wednesday night!

We do consider it a blessing to serve and we are excited about our treks into town to do God's work.  It just mixes up the homeschool schedule in an unexpected way!  And, as my darling 7 year old lamented at the beginning of this school year... we love our schedule!

This weekend I will be sitting down with that bless-ed chart and praying over it.  Then, I will formulate a game plan of sorts to give us peace AND progress in our busy weeks of homeschool and volunteer work.

I must confess, though, I temporarily lost hope after spelling today.  I realized that I did not go over their words with them... not once... since Monday when I issued them!  Oh, the guilt monster just wanted to sit down and have a good growl at me.  But then I glanced over at an article from a spring issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, (Yes, I take FOREVER to get to reading magazines in their entirety!).  The article was, "That Guilty Feeling", and I was reminded that I am not alone and I am not a bad teacher/mom for dropping the ball.  With all we had going on (our new Wednesday schedule, a missions retreat, and my one public schooled child's open house) in the last two days... even if we were trying to keep up in public school they would have been unprepared!

So now, with the guilt monster pushed back, my only regret today... I didn't have the camera when my 7-year old darling daughter decided to do an art project while cuddling her pet rabbit!  Normally it is her stuffed rabbit she is hugging while she works, but I looked over and it was our live one that she was sharing her project with!  Oh, how I love homeschool!

Brooke's usual companion, Blueberry

Brooke's cotton tail rabbit, Peter (named after Beatrix Potter's fuzzy friend!)

WWJD?

My 12 year old is sick today :-(  Actually this makes two days in a row.  However, she is old enough now to catch herself up on schoolwork and my other two diligent students have plenty they can do to keep  busy and stay current on their studies! 

This is the first year I have been able to do this and, well, I kinda like it!  It use to be; everyone was so tightly knitted together and their dependence on me was so ingrained that having one kid down was no better than having all down... and heaven forbid they took turns getting sick over the span of a week or more!

The only area I had to adjust in our schedule today was Bible study.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, we are working on a study of the heart, kindness, and doing what is right and good.  Our reading and the activities I have planned with Ephesians (and more of Solomon's early rule) needs to be done as a group.  So I used a fall-back I have owned for years:  "WWJD For Kids".

I used this book to form the base of an entire summer curriculum for elementary level Sunday school one year.  It is a wonderfully illustrated book with short stories, pertinent questions, prayer, memory verse, and an activity.  All which can be completed in its simplest form in under 10 minutes.  However, you can add extensions and draw out the studies.

Brenden and Brooke picked the story of the Boy King (Josiah) and the moral question of, "What do we do when others are doing bad things?"  After the story and questions, they were challenged to think of TWO things that are good and right they can do for a family member today.  We wrote these answers in our Bible study journals and Brenden added some pictures :-)  Needless to say... one of the tasks on their lists was to help their sick sister ;-)

What WOULD Jesus Do?  Well, if you need a great Bible study book, snag one of these and find out!