50 Days of Home School

Have you started school yet?  I made the executive decision to start my high schoolers but let my others wait until after Labor Day.  I needed just a bit more time to get organized.  After our family's summer of doctors, surgeries, and even a hospital stay, I wasn't quite ready to jump into school when I thought I would be.  My plan to start during Shark Week got all busted up when my husband developed an infection after surgery.

I have always preferred to start after Labor Day - that just makes the most sense for us - but since I have a senior this year, and graduation is in May, I kept telling myself we needed to start earlier.  Finally I realized he needed to start earlier, not necessarily all of us.  Duh.  :)

It's remarkable, the peace (and productivity) that comes from giving yourself the space you need - especially calendar space.  With this one additional week I've been able to get our school closet organized, finish the paperwork for our umbrella school, order some of the books the kids need, help our oldest get going with college, practice our new schedule, finish reading our summer book to the kids, entertain company three different times, catch up the laundry, and work on some projects around the house.  We will be in a much better place when we start school next week rather than if I had pushed and tried to start sooner.  (Plus the kids have spent their time visiting the library, reading, coloring and making art projects, doing some math practice tests, working on stuff for co-op, and learning verses for AWANA - most people would call that school anyhow.)

I wrote this sample of schooling a while back and I thought it might be useful to you.  You are welcome to it and can tweak it however you want.  There may be things your children already know or things they are not quite ready for.  Use it in a way that fits your children and your school.  I hope you enjoy it.

50 Days of Home School

1. Teach your children the difference between then and than.
2. Show your children how to write a thank you note.  Choose someone to thank and put it in the mail.
3. Pick a passage of scripture to memorize (large or small).  Begin learning it with your children.
4. Have the children draw self portraits.  Frame them and hang them in your home.
5. Bake up something fun in the kitchen.  Have the children double the ingredients for fraction practice.
6. Have the children learn The Pledge of Allegiance.
7. Begin reading The Boxcar Children.
8. Teach your children about to, too, and two.
9. Choose an insect and learn all about it.
10. Go on a run/walk with your kids today.  Drink lots of water when you get back home.
11. Teach your children the correct way to set a table.
12. Practice math facts today (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
13. Have the children pay for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner using play money.
14. Learn all about the Pilgrims.  Read a book, make a craft, etc.
15. Teach your children about they're, there, and their.
16. Visit a museum.  Have your children journal about something new they learned.
17. Have a Spelling Bee (with prizes).
18. Complete a jigsaw puzzle.
19. Have your children write a one page essay on what they want to be when they grown up.
20. Learn about the life cycle of a frog.  Get some tadpoles if you can.
21. Teach your children what a noun is, and a verb, and an adverb and an adjective.
22. Make sure your children can correctly write their full name, address and phone number.
23. Talk about Stranger Danger and come up with a special code word today.
24. Choose a President and learn all about him.
25. Read a book about a missionary.  Write letters to a missionary also. 
26. Visit a zoo.  Have kids journal about what they saw and heard (and smelled). 
27. Start memorizing Periodic Table of the Elements with your children.  It's fun!
28. Have a tea party and practice table manners.  (No elbows or talking with food in your mouth!)
29. Learn the names of the planets.
30. Plan and practice for a Family Talent Show.  Send out invitations if you'd like.
31. Paint pet rocks.
32. Teach your children about your and you're.  (You're welcome!)
33. Practice telling time with an analog clock.
34. Visit a nursing home.  Show love and compassion to the older folks there.  Bring smiles!
35. Begin reading Heidi.
36. Have the children make up a Math test for you to take.  They have to grade it too.
37. Read the story of Creation in the Bible.  Make creation posters.  
38. Choose a country and learn all about it today.  (People, food, clothing, customs, etc.)
39. Visit the Fire Department.  Go home and study all about fire safety.
40. Have the children write stories to read aloud after dinner.  Extra credit for illustrations!
41. Schedule a cleaning at the dental office and learn about teeth today.
42. Hike.  Have the children write about what they see when you reach your destination.
43. Teach your children an old hymn.  Together find out all you can about the author.
44. Begin reading Where the Red Fern Grows.
45. Study how Christmas is celebrated in different countries.
46. For today, put together kits to give to the people at stoplights and gas stations asking for help.
47. Spend the day outside with a magnifying glass.  Have the children journal about each thing they observe.
48. Have your children learn The Star Spangled Banner.
49. Bake muffins, share some with a neighbor, and read If You Give a Moose a Muffin.
50. Visit a Recycling Center.  Help the children set up a recycling station at home.

If you have any questions about my 50 Days feel free to ask.  I will be happy to help you in any way I can.  This is part one of three.  I will post another one in a month or so.  If you follow along you will have 150 days of homeschooling taken care of.  The only request I have is if you use this will you let me know?  (And if possible share it with someone - thanks!!)

Have a cozy home school year!

Fall Schedule 2014

It's Monday!  Yay!!

How was your weekend?  

Ours was wonderful!  If you don't count me breaking my crown and stuff like that.  (My $1500 crown ended up in my mouth in a different location than my dentist planned for it to be - but that's another story.)

Remember when I told you on Thursday we had family from Virginia come for a visit?  Well, we had another family member come for a visit on Saturday.  Three family members in one week- such a blessing!  We don't live anywhere close to our extended family so them stopping by for a visit is not an every day thing, but this past week it was an every other day thing!  We were so happy to see the ones we love so much.  I'm still smiling about it!  

Today, I've got our Fall schedule to show you.  It's pretty much finished except for a tiny bit of tweaking that may come when a couple of things are added.  

I've posted several schedules over the years.  We usually make one in the Fall (when we start school) and a new one for Summer.  I know everyone feels differently about scheduling.  Some mamas don't like a strict schedule, and I can understand that, but for me, there is absolutely no way I would get everything done that has to be done if I did not schedule.  We could talk for weeks about doing something but if it doesn't have a slot on the schedule it won't happen. 

Our kids are Colin (19), Ethan (17), Nicholas (15), Eli (12), Olivia (8), and Clare (3).  I do not schedule our oldest anymore.  He has a job and is taking college classes.  He's in charge of his own time now and actually does a great job with that.  Obviously, I don't schedule my honey's time either.  He works 55 to 60 hours per week at his job and I simply put things on the schedule as he requests.  My job is scheduling the remaining six of us.  

Here's the schedule I've got so far.  I'm still waiting to hear about soccer practices and piano lessons.

6:00   Mom shower, dress, make bed, start laundry, Bible time
7:30   Kids up, dress, make beds, chores
8:00   Breakfast, Read Psalms aloud while children eat
8:30   Clean up breakfast (Ethan), finish up chores, move laundry
9:00   Math
10:00 Writing (IEW)
11:00 Language Arts
12:00 Lunch
1:00   History/Science younger kids, Nic - Biology, Ethan - Personal Finance
2:00   Read aloud (Clare - nap) 
3:00   Rest/Read time younger kids,  Nic - World History, Ethan - Economics
4:00   Play time (kids), Mom - laundry/other chores
5:00   Mom - dinner prep, kids play (Eli/Olivia - set the table)
6:00   Dinner 
7:00   Dinner clean-up (Nic), younger kids - baths
7:30   Family Bible time
9:00   Bedtime (kids), parent time!!
11:00 Bedtime Mom and Dad

Every other Tuesday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. we have our home school co-op,  Thursday at 11 a.m. - guitar lessons, Wednesday nights we have AWANA.  We're still waiting to hear which nights will be soccer practice and which day we will have piano. 

Shoot me any questions you may have - email (7morans@comcast.net) or comment below.  I'd love to know about your schedule too.  Share it with me if you are so inclined.  :)

Have a happy, cozy Monday!!

Hello and Happy Friday!

I want to introduce you to some super cute dolls and also answer the question I mentioned the last time I wrote.  I didn't get to post regularly this week, or show you any trouble spots as I had planned.  Sometimes (a lot of times recently) things don't go as planned.

As far as my plan to "do less" in 2014...check!  I nailed that this week.

Back to the super sweet, handmade, adorable dolls my sister is making.

Here's a little peek...

 Aren't they just darling?  She loves to make dolls and it shows in every creative detail!

She will custom make a precious friend for your child to love.  You can find more information here.

Please go take a look at these cutie pie dolls and help me spread the word by "liking" KNIT KNACK PADDY CRAFT ON FACEBOOK.  Thank you!!



The last time I posted I shared with you my cleaning schedule.  I told you I would explain how I do my cleaning around our homeschooling.  It's not a big revelation and I don't have a special creative formula.  This is just how I do things and for us, for now, it works (most of the time).

I pick one thing to work on each day because I no longer have time to clean the entire house all at once.  I focus on one area of our home and aim to get that clean.  If I get anything extra done it's a bonus!

I'll take you through the week...

Monday is bathroom cleaning.  We typically do school work until some time between two and four in the afternoon.  Dinner is scheduled for six.  After school and before dinner, while the children are playing, I will clean the bathrooms.  We have 2 1/2 baths and by cleaning them lightly each day the deep clean doesn't take very long.  There are many Mondays when my oldest son and my honey help with this chore and we get it done in record time.

On Tuesday I clean the kitchen.  This is a big chore but I work on it throughout the day.  While the kids are eating either breakfast or lunch I will run a sink full of hot soapy water and clean out the refrigerator while chatting with them.  I throw out the old stuff and wipe down the shelves.  I wipe off the exterior too.  I can usually finish the fridge in the same time it takes them to eat their meal.  During other little calm spots in the day I will go into the kitchen and do 5 - 10 minute jobs.  I can wipe counters, or sweep, or dust the spice shelf, or shake out rugs, or a number of other things in those little windows of time.  After we finish up school for the day I will do whatever work is remaining.  I move the small appliances off the counters and wash them well.  I clean the microwave, and the stove, and the dishwasher.  I wipe down the outside of all the cabinets and I clear out the hot-spot of mail that collects on the counter.  Once every couple of months I run the self clean on the oven.  By the end of Tuesday I have the kitchen cleaned.

Wednesday I clean glass.  I use paper towels and a 1/3 white vinegar, 2/3 water mix.  I clean our front and back doors and the mirrors all over the house.  If I have time before the kids get up I will try to get a few things cleaned first thing in the morning.  I'll do a few more while the kids are playing in the afternoon.  I don't clean much glass after dark because I can't see it as well.  On days we are pressed for time I will give each of the kids a different place to clean after school and we will work together quickly.  I try to do a few windows here and there too but it doesn't always happen.  The front and back door are a must because they are covered in doggy nose prints and little hand prints and other UFOs.

Thursdays are when we dust and vacuum and everyone chips in on this.  We take one hour mid morning and divide up into different rooms.  Every boy has a dusting rag and works on the room they are assigned to.  The little girls are each given a rag also and they crawl all around the house doing baseboards.  We play music and act silly.  In the afternoon we take another little chunk of time and vacuum.  Only one person can vacuum at a time but he/she will usually have a partner to move stuff and put it back.  It feels so good when we get this job done.  By doing these jobs each week things never get too terrible.

On Friday mornings the kids know if it is their Friday to strip their bed.  I remind them, of course.  As soon as they get up, those whose day it is, strip off their sheets, comforter, pillow cases and pillow shams.  They pile it all in the laundry room.  The morning starts off with one overwhelming pile but as we work on it all day long we whittle it down.  By bedtime a bunch of beds have clean sheets and the huge pile of sheets and blankets has disappeared.  The next Friday we do all the other beds.  We flip flop every other week.  I put a load of laundry in before breakfast.  We get it in the dryer as soon as the washer stops.  I immediately start the next load and we just stay right on it between spelling tests and history quizzes, etc.  (I make good use of my timers on Fridays.)

At one point I didn't think I could ever get used to cleaning this way.  Now I prefer it.  For many years I had a cleaning day.  I cleaned the entire house, top to bottom, on one special day of the week.  I didn't think I could ever accept breaking up the cleaning over several days.  I believed the house would never feel completely clean all at once.  Over time, as our family grew and our homeschooling became more involved, circumstances forced me to start breaking up my cleaning day a little bit.  I eventually got to the point where I preferred to clean the way I do now.  This method enables me to keep the house more or less clean all the time.  The cleaning jobs don't take gigantic amounts of time because the cleaning is done in a cycle.  If I have to miss a day (or two or three like this week) it's no big deal because I know I will get to it the next week when that day rolls around.  If we have special plans I can double up on something or eliminate something and get it next time.  If you are homeschooling and you're having trouble figuring out when to clean house try breaking your cleaning into five parts and do a little bit each day.  There are all kinds of ways you can do it.  I hope this helps.

Have a warm and cozy weekend!

A Note about Homeschool Planning...

I meant to mention something about this when I posted our Education Plan.  I use what I call the "Trickle Down Effect" in our home school.  When I'm deciding what to do with my younger students for subjects like Science and Social Studies I always start with my oldest and "trickle down".  In other words, whatever the oldest child is studying in a particular year determines what I will be doing with the younger ones.  For example, my oldest (16) is studying Chemistry and U.S. History this year, so for Science the younger kids will have Chemistry, and for Social Studies they will study U.S. History.  It helps me to simplify things a bit if I am able to combine subjects.  Obviously my seven year old and my 16 year old will not have the same Chemistry book or the same tests and quizzes, but there are areas that overlap.  While I am teaching an older student a particular subject it is amazing what the younger students will glean.  I have found this method to be very helpful.

Happy Homeschooling!

Civil War Unit Study

We have thoroughly enjoyed our studies so far.  It's been an educational adventure for the whole family - the very thing I love about homeschooling!

I promised to give you the basics of what we are doing, so here it is.  Let me know if you have any questions.

We have read  The Civil War - An Interactive History Adventure by Matt Doeden.  This was a neat book for us.  The kids loved taking turns making choices and hearing the outcomes.  I loved that they always wanted me to read more.

We made a Civil War time line with index cards.  Everyone has been referring to this to help study for quizzes.  It's near where we eat so there are plenty of opportunities.  :)

We visited a living history day at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center and Historic Railroad Tunnel.  This we loved!

We've also read Civil War Cooking: The Confederacy by Susan Dosier.  We really enjoyed this book.  It's full of good stuff, not just recipes.

We are using a Dover Discovery Kit.  (The kids LOVE this.)

Right now we are reading US Kids History:  Book of the American Civil War.  

We are also enjoying an American History Playing Card Deck.

Up next we will be reading The Battle of Chattanooga by David C. King.

I just love unit studies!  Do you?

Tips for a Fantastic Homeschool Year

We have just entered our 15th year of homeschooling.  I jotted down these ideas this morning as I was thinking about what makes for a good year.

1. Less school, more learning.  Take nature walks and write in journals, read whole books, paint and draw.  Forget what you know about "school" and enjoy learning with your kids.  You will be surprised, I promise!
2. Go to bed early, or at least on time.  The early bird gets the worm and home school mamas really should be in the worm getting business, if you know what I mean.  A good night's rest makes all the difference.
3. Include some protein at breakfast.  An egg, some bacon, even a spoonful of peanut butter will help your learners focus (and will make you a better teacher too!).
4. Find balance.  You can't do it all, all the time, so use the W.I.N. principal - What's Important Now.
5. Make a schedule.  Schedules are not straight jackets.  You will accomplish more if you make a schedule and do your best to follow it.
6. Don't leave the house every day.  Stay home as much as you can.  Carefully consider extra curricular activities before becoming involved.  
7. Simplify.  Combine subjects, plan simple meals, don't take on too much outside your home.
8. Pray.  Make time each day to talk to God.  He loves you and your kids more than you can imagine!  31 Days of Praying for your Homeschool
9. Use your social skills carefully.  Talking, texting, facebook, instagram, blogs, twitter and the like can eat up a lot of valuable time.  You don't have to abstain entirely, but you do have to be careful.
   
10. Remember it's not all about test scores and workbooks and grades.  It's really about hearts.  "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7  
    
    
    
    
    Happy Homeschooling!

2013 - 2014 Education Plan

For the first time in a few years I will only have four students in our home school.  Our oldest has graduated and our youngest is only two.  The two year old gets to do her share of coloring, puzzles, and play dough but she is not an official student quite yet.

I'm often asked questions about who is doing what and which curriculum I like for this and that.  I thought today I would lay out this year's plan here.

Ethan (16) 11th grade:
Bible - Balancing the Sword  (Wolfe)
English - Literature of the American People  (A Beka)
Writing - Institute for Excellence in Writing
Geometry - Saxon
Chemistry - Chemistry Precision and Design (A Beka)
US History - BJU Press
Spanish - Rosetta Stone
Guitar

Nic (14) 9th grade:
Bible - Balancing the Sword  (Wolfe)
English - Themes in Literature, Grammar and Composition (A Beka)
Writing - Institute for Excellence in Writing
Algebra  - Saxon
Science - Science of the Physical Creation in Christian Perspective (A Beka)
World Geography - World Geography in Christian Perspective  (A Beka)
Keyboarding - Writing Skills/Keyboarding Skills  (King)
Health/PE - Health in Christian Perspective (A Beka)
Spanish - Rosetta Stone

Eli (11) 6th grade:
Bible - Studying God's Word  (Trulson)
Language Arts - Alpha Omega LIFEPAC Grade 6, Spectrum Phonics Grade 6
Math - Saxon
Science - Christian Kids Explore Chemistry  (Redmond)
US History - Notgrass
Writing - Institute for Excellence in Writing
Spelling - Alpha Omega
Art - Drawing Basics with Thomas Kinkade - DVD

Olivia (7) 2nd grade:
Bible - Jesus Calling  (Young)
Language Arts - Alpha Omega LIFEPAC Grade 2, Spectrum Phonics Grade 3
Math - Saxon
Science - Christian Kids Explore Chemistry  (Redmond)
US History - Notgrass
Spelling - Alpha Omega
Art - Drawing Basics with Thomas Kinkade - DVD

We are going to start the school year with a unit study on The Civil War.  This works nicely with the fact that it is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga and the fact that we live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  There are a lot of special activities and reenactments going on in our city this fall.  I had planned to do this unit study last school year but we ended up doing other things.  I'm glad things worked out as they did since there are so many things having to do with the Civil War that we will be able to take advantage of over the next several months.

Click here for more information.

What plans are you conjuring up for the new school year?

Passing It On...

A really good read on teaching the one room school.

Free Worksheet Set from The Happy Housewife

Our family will soon be making a trip to the beach so I was very happy to find these cool ocean themed worksheets from The Happy Housewife.  There is a reading comprehension worksheet, a pattern one, some math, and writing too.  I just love the cute graphics!  The worksheets are for K-2nd graders and if you would like to print your own just click here!

*Cute crab above from kpmdoodles.blogspot.com

Another Reading Recommendation

Good morning and happy Monday!  

Doesn't the weekend just get by soooo quickly?  

I spent the last few days soaking up the goodness that was the Teach Them Diligently convention.  I gleaned so much from the speakers and look forward to sharing with you in the coming days what I have learned.  This convention had major impact on our hearts.  Not only my husband and I, but our sons too.  Our boys attended several sessions on their own and each time we would meet up they would be excited to share with us their thoughts and their notes. It made for great conversations at meal time and on our drive home.  We were certainly blessed by our time at the convention, to say the least! 

We will not hide them from their children; 
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, 
His power, and the wonders He has done...
so the next generation would know them, 
even the children yet to be born
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God 
and would not forget His deeds
but would keep His commands.
Psalm 78:4, 6, 7

I will be writing from my convention notes soon, but for today I wanted to give you my reading recommendation (since it is Monday morning, y'all!).

Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson.  

I've had this book for many, many years.  I first heard of it when my boys were very little.  I ordered this book, read it, and loved it!  Several years later I was digging in the free bin at a local bookstore and found another copy!  I grabbed it out and it wasn't long before a friend was at my house discussing homeschooling and I was able to give it to her.  (By God's grace we've had some amazing finds in the free bin but this was definitely my best find ever!) 

The reason I am recommending this book to you...

The timing of this recommendation is very interesting.  Like I've already said, I love Educating the Wholehearted Child but also, I just spent the weekend hearing Clay and Sally Clarkson speak.  Much of what they taught came from this book and I was reminded again how powerful the home-centered learning approach is for raising godly children.  This learning approach provides a natural way to disciple and to educate your children and the Clarkson's book helps give parents practical ways to make it happen.  This is the first book I recommend when someone comes to me and inquires about homeschooling.  If a mom is considering home education for her children but is afraid she just can't do it, I always recommend that she read Educating the Wholehearted Child.  Reading this book will help you come away from trying to replicate the classroom in your home and will take you to a place of using whole books and real life learning instead.  

Here's what you will find inside...

Home Education...A Step of Faith Toward Home

Discipleship...Shaping Your Child's Heart

Education...Strengthening Your Child's Mind

Teaching Models...Learning At Home, Naturally

Teaching Methods ...Instructing Your Child

Learning Styles...Understanding Your Child

Home Management...Getting It Together

Lifestyle...Making It Work

Support...Keeping It Going

Inside the cover of this wonderful book you will find scripture, inspiring quotes, practical ideas, recommended reading, help for combining discipleship and education, lifestyle suggestions, teaching methods, reproducible forms for planning and records, and tons more.  Whether you are brand new to homeschooling or you have been at it a while you are sure to benefit greatly from reading the Clarkson's book.  It truly is, in my opinion, the handbook for Christian home education.

If you are so inclined, you can order here.

This Teacher's Appreciation

I can't believe I almost forgot the blessing of being my children's teacher.  I can't believe that I got so caught up in the work and the to-do list that I forgot what an honor and a privilege it is to teach school each day in my home.  I had grumbled about the grading that I was behind on.  I had yelled at the kids to move faster and do more.  I exchanged the freedom for a burden (temporarily) and I can't believe I almost forgot.

I took four of the children to the park today while the two oldest boys went to music lessons.  The gorgeous sunshine and fresh air were good for this ole gal who's been in a battle with depression.  I spread a quilt under a shade tree and we enjoyed a snack.  After our snack, we played.  My big girl jumped rope with her newly purchased jump rope.  I pushed a little one on the swings.  My boys had fun skateboarding together.  I couldn't help smiling.

Today I got just the reminder I needed.  All of those papers I have to grade are actually blessings from God to me.  Each day as I struggle to get through the piles and piles of laundry, I am blessed.  When it seems like I'll never get the kitchen cleaned (and when I do it's time to make the next meal) it's a privilege to be in my kitchen.  I've been letting all my work bring me down.  I've let other things I can't control bring me down.  And while I was down I almost forgot what a blessing it is to work in my home.  What a blessing it is to teach my children and to spend our days reading books and baking cookies.  What a tremendous honor it has been to be my son's teacher when he started kindergarten all the way until now as he finishes up his senior year.

I almost forgot, but today I remembered!  Thank you, Lord.

**An Update**

I can't believe I forgot these!

I've been using the Explode the Code books for six or seven years.  They are really, really good!
I should have included them in the First Grade post.

You can find them here, among other places.


Just this year I ordered Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  I read it with my little girls each day as part of our Bible time.  We love it!

You can order here.

That's all for now, unless I think of something else.  :)

(Truth be told you could teach First Grade with just a Bible, a phonics book, and some pencils, paper, and crayons.)

First Grade

My sister and her husband have decided to home educate their daughter {happy dance, happy dance} and my dear little sis asked me to give her a run down of what I use for 1st grade.  I figured I would post it here in case any of you would like to know also.

I've taught 1st grade five times now and the resources I'm about to recommend are my very favorite.  In fact, I've been using almost all of them since I started homeschooling.

Learning at Home - First Grade
Ann Ward

I love Ann Ward for the early years.  This book has everything you need to teach 1st grade all in one place (using the library as a resource).  All of our 1st graders so far have gone through this book and I love it more and more every time I use it.


First Catechism - Teaching Children Bible Truths

 

We usually start catechizing the children before they start kindergarten, but we continue to work in this book through the elementary years.  This little book is wonderful!


Teach Your Child to Read 
100 Easy Lessons

Whether you are teaching your child to read in kindergarten or first grade, this is in my opinion, the best book.


Spectrum Phonics
Grade 1

I like to use Spectrum for supplemental workbooks.  The Phonics ones are my faves.  :)

My husband is so pumped about this he is about to burst!  (I am too!)

  Click here for more information.

A Sweet Idea

Here's a little trick I use when math class gets a bit hard.  I handed my 5th grader a lesson with 40 problems to do.  It was a mix of word problems, division, fractions, and some algebra.  I promised him one M&M for every correct answer.

Some extra incentive goes a long way!  Try it moms, you will see!

School Room Before and After

I'm super excited to show you a little organizing project I have been working on.  I brought some before and after pics.  Here's the scoop...

Lately our school room has gotten out of control.  The thing is, our "school" room is also the dining room.  We do have a large school closet, and it is pretty well organized, but somehow every single day our dining room table was a disaster within the first couple of hours of school.  It was really getting to me.  It wasn't only the stuff all over the table but the floor too.  I realized we were going to need something in the room to hold some of what was spilling all over the place while we worked.

Before:

This is our school table and how it looks much of the time.  

Here's the chair I've been borrowing the last few weeks to hold some of the books we are currently using.

Remember I said the stuff in the floor was bugging me?  That's the pencil sharpener you see there in the back.

And, in another corner of the room there are Legos.  Ever stepped on one barefoot?

After:

I bought this cubical at Target and I kind of  LOVE it!  It's from Closetmaid.

I corralled the solution manuals and teacher guides into this basket.

I stashed away lots of supplies in this box and found a basket for the play money.  

Another basket for craft stuff and one for stickers.  I'm using a round basket with a lid for the little bottles of paint.

I picked up this cheery little flower at Hobby Lobby.  I love that it has a clip to hold notes, verses, or just about anything you want to put there.

I plan on changing this little note holder often to make sure I keep things interesting.  I think this will be a great place for a verse we might be memorizing.  For now I put a card that reminds us who we are in Christ.

See that lady bug on the leaf?  I've always called my little first grader "Lady Bug".  It's the perfect addition to our school room.

I gave up one of the cubes to house the girls' Legos.  We'll see how this goes but it sure beats having Legos scattered on the floor.

Here's hoping we can keep things neat and tidy!

What do you think?  It feels really good to get things cleaned up and cleaned out and organized.  The dining room table and floor are all clear now and there is more room in the school closet too.  (And I no longer need to stack things in the chair!) I've got lots more of these organizational type projects in my future.  I will keep you posted!

Lessons for the Teacher

I learned a valuable lesson the other day - Sitting down with one child and giving them your full, undivided attention for an hour and a half will result in more work done than hours and hours of work when mommy is distracted.  One would assume I had already learned this lesson in the 13+ years I have been homeschooling my children but I think now I realize it completely.

We have a child who has been struggling a bit.  Nothing terrible just a little trouble following directions, completing work, and so forth.  I sat down to work with this child the other day and I did nothing else.  I didn't answer the phone, help another child, unload the dryer, or make lunch.  It was amazing the amount of work we were able to accomplish AND how well he did.  It actually surprised me. We did two math lessons (about 60 problems) and none were missed.  We did a couple of Language Arts lessons and he did a fantastic job.  He followed directions, worked hard, and did not struggle at all.

~LIGHT BULB MOMENT~  I told my husband we must find this window of time each day for me to work alone with this child.  My honey sweetly suggested that we get up and work for an hour or so before anyone else is awake.  Yes, that will be hard but definitely worth it.  (Plus, this kiddo has never minded getting up early.)

Each of our six children need me and it's very important for me to be able to meet their needs in a balanced way.  My teenager boys do a lot of work independently but they need me to answer questions, grade their work, go over assignments, and sometimes they just need to talk.  My younger boy needs one on one time with me, and so does my 1st grade gal.  They also need me to make crafts, play with them, read to them, teach them their lessons, and check their work.  My little toddler needs me to love on her, feed her, read to her, and change her diapers.  It seems I am always learning lessons on how to balance my work and how to meet my children's needs.  God has blessed me with these children and He will certainly provide all that I need to take care of them.  I keep finding new ways to get everything done and I know it is God working in me to show me these things.  Our school is running smoother and it is because the Lord is doing a great work in my heart.  I have learned about my selfish tendencies and how that affects our school.  I've also learned quite a bit about distractions and how dangerous they can be to the home-school.  (It is very possible that I will write about those distractions and selfish tendencies in the near future - stay tuned!)

No matter how many years you have been teaching your children there is always more to learn.  I'm very thankful for the lessons my Heavenly Father has been teaching me.  I am a home-school teacher AND student!