Reminiscent

Your Turn!!

Now, you know I would love to hear from my fellow homeschooling mamas, what do your days, weeks, months look like? Post it on your blog and let me know, I'll link you up to share YOUR experience too. This is an incredible wealth for us to share...don't hold back!!

A Year in the Life

I know a lot of my friends are entertaining the idea of schooling their kiddos at home. I've been getting a lot of questions about our schooling lately. I thought I'd give you a little picture of what our school days are like.


An Average Perko School Day

7-9 am~ Boys up, get dressed, make beds, teeth and breakfast.
9-10am~ School for all the boys, mostly the smaller two preschoolers.
10-noonish~ The younger boys play, color, cut, paint, play with toys at the table, playdoh or sometimes watch Sesame Street while I school with Scooter.

Noonish~ lunch
Afternoon~ I do household chores, run errands prep dinner while the boys play around the house.
Some days I run after Ralph finishes work


Thoughts on schooling;

Every day is different. Some days we do afternoon school, always on Tuesday when I have am Bible Study.

Some days the kids are more anxious to get going and start without me before breakfast, especially if they know there is a play date or activity coming. Some days I have to do a lot of motivating.

I try to stay home at least 2-3 days a week in order to get household stuff done.

Each year I get excited about organizing and scheduling. I write up the ideal schedule and then I amend it about three weeks in to the year, if not sooner. The days need to be reevaluated every couple months, weather and holidays given allowance.

We usually school at the kitchen table, but it's not set in stone. Sometimes Scoot takes his work to his room if he's distracted. He's much more productive down at the table with me though.

Sometimes when things are quiet I crochet or read while I sit with the boys. They are ALWAYS more productive if I'm present. I always have a cup of tea, they often do too.




The mess is part of schooling. I usually let the papers, pencils, scraps, toys, whatever- just be while we school. Afterward I clean up, I need to have the boys do it more too.

We work at the kitchen table. I try and organize my school stuff but that is still something I'm trying to perfect. I would love to have that homeschool room, but it's our dining area that has posters and seeds, charts and markers everywhere. It's our life, so I don't mind (as much as I used to. ) I'm still pulling for that house with a school room- but then again, there is something cozy about the kids working on math while I fix dinner or empty the dishwasher. Maybe I'll be content. :)

Our home never looks quite like the family that has three boys that go to school 6 hours a day. We live, eat, school and play here so the house looks accordingly. I'm finding ways to employ the boys more and more, Critter made lunch for us all the other day. Kids can help out with chores- a lot.

All days look different. A school home is still a home that deals with illness, bad days, sleepy days. Some days I sleep in a bit, some days we nap. Some days we do less work, some days we're on a roll and do extra. I do have the kids all do something each school day, education is a discipline*.

Most of this is idyllic. Our days aren't perfect, I get grumpy and impatient and uninspired. I get tired of the mess and frustrated with our space in Winter. I work hard at staying inspired and motivated to make this learning fun for not only the boys but myself. I never, however, am sorry to have a full, noisy, messy house. I never regret having more rather than less time with our boys. This job is so, so worthwhile. I'll take a fingerprinted home over the magazine model any day...


An Average School Week:

Extracurricular activities are a big part of our weeks. None of us are homebodies, so we like getting out. Our regular outings include;

• library
• Bible study
• grocery shopping
• friend visits
• music class
• sports
• reader's theatre
  
• field trips occasionally
• park dates
• nature hikes

All of these outings can be learning.




Craft & Science Projects

These two areas are some of the areas that the average mom dreads or avoids the most. I'm speaking from experience...my own and that of what I have observed. I have finally found peace in this area. It's been a compromise.

Hands-on experience is vital to learning. Especially in the early years, kids take in so much from getting their hands on or watching real life projects happen. Obviously, I need these things to happen...but I don't want to do them all the time.

Some days I don't get out the paints and brushes and all that because I know I just don't want to deal with the mess. Some days I don't mind a bit, am happy to leave the room and let the kids paint everything but the dog, knowing that I can have it all cleaned up in a 1/2 an hour.

Then there are discipline days. (Didn't I say 'education is a discipline?') Moms have them too. When you're studying weather and it's time to make your own anemometer you just have to pull out all the stuff and do this so that your little one can understand how this stuff works...hands on.




Games....GREAT hands on.

Read a great reminder article about hands on schooling here at my TeachAble blog.


Some other thoughts on schooling at home;

One big concern for lots of parent teachers is "Will I be able to teach everything my child needs?" I struggled with this a lot, finding grade appropriate lists making sure I could check off everything I was teaching. "What if I miss something?"

A kind teacher-friend told me a wonderful secret that released me from this fear.

Teachers miss things. NO teacher is perfect and hits everything on the curriculum.

I will say that I breathed a sigh of relief when I was handed a complete curriculum, and I think that will be the best route for me for some time. I LOVE not worrying about whether we're getting all the bases hit, and knowing that I can just add what I want (books, books, Bible and books).

Another thing I've learned is that learning can really be an upward spiral. If you talk about the human body in 1st grade science, it's likely that you'll hit it again in say, 3rd and 4th and 5th grade science...just in a more detailed manner. Missing small things here and there just isn't the end of the world. You'll get a chance to redeem that missed topic in a month, six months or a year. No sweat.

I know that not all folks care about whether they hit all these milestones. If you lean more toward unschooling it's the last thing you're thinking of. I also know that a lot of my friends are thinking of these things.

Whatever you're headed for in the next year I hope that you have a great adventure in learning ahead for your kiddos. Schooling never looks the same around here year to year. Expect that there will be change and learning for you as well as for the kids.



*Charlotte Mason

Quest

This month,

*I will print this post out for a personal reminder and hang it where I can read everyday these ideals I want to implement into my daily life.*

In my quest for peace;

i will keep the media off a little more
i will play a little longer with the boys
i will linger over tea and conversation with my man
i will go for more walks, slow down
i will leave myself wide margins, not planning too much in a day, week or month

In my quest for joy;

i will laugh out loud at three year old knock knock jokes, again
i will look through old photos and remember that I have all worth treasuring
i will play more games with my kids
i will spend more time with friends who help me laugh and spur me into happyness

In my quest for wisdom;

i will read the bible each day
i will meditate on what i read
i will listen to others I respect
i will do some research on good books for kids so we can get some more for spring, summer, next fall

In my quest for order;

i will make a trip to goodwill
i will clean out the linen closet and organize, maybe the pantry too- spring clean
put photos on snapfish and order a few to put in frames for the boys
write up some info needed for AGC
i will continue to work on forms for school next year
i will be careful about time spent on the computer, not how much really, but when

In my quest for beauty;

i will keep the surfaces in the kitchen decluttered and pretty, even only a bowl of fruit
i am washing all our bedding- it looks and smells so fresh
i am slowly scouring our walls and baseboards, so much work and so worthwhile

In my quest for nature;

i will run a couple times this week
i will try and get out (even in the cold) and work on planting plans for our spring (in June)
i will try and get those birdies closer to our house so we can see them
we will look for signs of spring- everyday

In my quest for health;

i will drink lots of water,
i will excersize,
i will eat only when I'm hunger,
i will snack on fruit,
i will cook up more veggies, more often
i will travel with good snacks

In my quest for contentment;

i will thank God daily for all the good things I have
i will take notice of all the little good thing in my day: flowers, the sky, the wind, giggles, favorite books and blankets and people
i will give more, think of what I want less

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Monday Delight

Make your own, or see more of Happy Homemaker Monday over here!!

On my bedside table:
water
my Bible


On my TV:
Nada, just settling in.


On the menu for tonight:
Menu? Dinner? Oh shoot! I'd better think about that....


On my To Do List:
Five year old check up- and shots for Critter today
Call a friend
Sew badges on Scout uniform (still)
Laundry
Read a bit
Menu making/ Grocery Shopping


New Recipe I tried last week:

Didn't have any new ones...we ate out a bit, Ralph baked his yummy pizzas, Kristin cooked a couple yummy meals too.

In the craft basket:
Still finishing new baby blanket (no baby yet?!) and started a pink, pink and brown one for my niece. I got a lot done at the beach.


Looking forward to:
Getting thehumpty-dumpty house all back together again. Who needs all those kings' horses, and their men? I just need a few days.


Homemaking Tip for this week:

For travel, books and books on tape seem to be be the best entertainers for long car trips. When the kids get a little antsy a story out loud is soothing for their ears.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I haven't been reading, but I love my boy pics from last week.


Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:

As wonderful as it is to leave for vacation, I LOVE coming home back to routines and 'normal' life.

the trees are beginning their bud and my crocus are up but have frozen. spring comes late to us...


On my Prayer List:

some sweet little girl
baby Stellan
friends that need jobs/ income
friends in potential transition; that their Wait on Him would be simple


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

^{Proverbs 29:25} Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Boy Pics Part Two

We still play with "Magic Beans." I have a blanket to spread on the floor for easy cleanup, and notice that they boys are playing in a tight little hallway so the beans can't get too far. This is one of those activities that gets better over time. The first few times you'll need to grab a book and camp out right next to the tub to be sure no one starts throwing beans or sticking them up a nose. Any nose. After the kids know the rules, the kids will play for a LONG time in those beans. They love 'em.




Here are the boys on their way into get their annual haircuts. No really, I only make them wait 6 months. Armed with books and expecting lollipops, here we go! And no, I haven't taken a formal after photo. I love all their hair on the longer side, the hair cuts mostly took hair off the back to get those snarl monkey's out. Yikes!




A little school time at the table. No, my kids don't wear pj's all day. Only Peanut. At least he's wearing a shirt this time. And yes, I see the snarl monkeys (Perko for bedhead).

These photos were all taken at a Scouting event last Saturday night. No, I didn't swim, but acted as a lifeguard-mommy keeping an eye on all three boys. Scoot just swims all over without fear, or need of it. Peanut and Critter are best in life jackets, but not to be slowed down. It was a fun night, next time I'll get in because I feel I missed out. :)

I set these to post while we're on vacation, so the next time you hear from me we'll be back and I'll have a million new photos for you. See you then!!

Boy Pics...

...because I know you want to see them at work and at play!

Painting usually starts out like this;












And finishes like this.

Spring Break!!

(Daffy's I got at Trader Joe's for $1.25)

I just had to stop all the packing madness to share something really fun with all of my fellow Spring-break-happiness-moms. I found these links on a of of a blog friend of a blog friend of a blog friend. Make sense?

At any rate, if you're looking for a little something cute and fun for the kids to do...something anti-commercial & anti-crazy-noisy, here are some links for you.

First I looked at Poisson Rouge, or Red Fish Soup for all of you EFL (English as a First Language) mommies. This site is really fun and quite artsy. Littlest kiddos can play these games--and if you're wondering why on earth I'd suggest littlest ones even PLAY games online...remember that the three year old youngest Peanut of three will not be outdone, even when it comes to 'video games'. This site is artsy, colorful and there is even a little learning stuff.

Then I saw Build A Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers game. Do you remember colorforms? You get to create your own little farm, or neighborhood, kingdom. Very fun for litttler-biggish hands.

The last game, Orisinal: Morning Sunshine did an excellent job appealing to my soft side. The games are cute and simple-arcade-ish and entertained even my 7 year old. The appealing part, the colors are mostly soft on the eyes and the music is lulling. NOT that I'm suggesting by any means that you trade these games for before nap stories and snuggles (those are the best, NEVER trade them) but they're easy on the eyes and ears. Very nice to me. And yes, I was playing a few of the games.

So now that I've given you today's idea for helping to soothe the Spring Fever (and if you're in the sunshine you should have no reason to be inside, playing games....but it's still cold, cold, cold here.) I'd like to share a muffin adventure.

We decided to call these the Blue Soup Muffins. That's exactly what the batter looks like and somehow my kids are more apt to try and enjoy something if you give it an interesting name.



I mixed up these yummy muffins and I've been munching on them all day. They almost have the consistency of a power bar, not quite so solid. They are Y-U-M-M-Y and not too bad for the bod. I used 1/2 sugar and 1/2 Stevia...I've never baked with Stevia before so I only tried 50%. It seems to have turned out just fine. Give them a try and tell me what you think, the recipe is on a blog below entitled "happy"...