New School Year 2017-2018–Our curriculum

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged, I’m still happily working for VIPKID, but I often refer to my “Our curriculum” posts from previous  years, so I thought I would go ahead and make one for this year too! 
We ended that last school year with some ice cream at Menchies

and then kicked off the new year with a trip to Assateague Island!

We don’t have a lot of ‘school’ planned this month, we have a LOT of field trips and other funning learning adventures though.  We will dive into the ‘books’ next month.

This is what we are using this coming school year:

6th grade

History – Pandia Press History Odyssey Middle Ages 2
Grammar – we are taking a short break from IEW Fix-It Grammar, but plan to circle back around to it.  We are currently doing sentence diagramming from The Critical Thinking Company.  I felt that sentence diagramming will give my son more of a visual to better identify the parts of speech. 
Writing – IEW themed based writing – Medieval History
Science – Real Science 4 Kids – Geology and Astronomy
Spelling – Phonetic Zoo, still trucking along at level A
Handwriting – Cursive copywork
Math – CTC Math and Life of Fred (for review)
Chinese – LingoBus
Critical Thinking from The Critical Thinking Company
Art – variety
Music – piano and church choir

3rd Grade

Geography – Highlights Top Secret Adventures
Spelling/Phonics – Dyslexia Gold and Explode the Code online
Writing – copywork and we will start IEW this year
Reading – Readers from the Sonlight list at my sons level (about 2nd grade)
Math – CTC Math
History – Pandia Press History Odyssey Middle Ages I  and Veritas Press (finish New Testament and Rome, then start Middle Ages)
Science – Pandia Press REAL Science Odyssey Earth Science/Astronomy
Critical Thinking from The Critical Thinking Company
Art – variety
Music – church choir and music appreciation

1st Grade

Geography – Little Passports
Handwriting – Handwriting without Tears
Critical Thinking from The Critical Thinking Company
Math – CTC Math
Reading – Readers from Sonlight list at my sons grade level (Kindergarten)
History – Pandia Press History Odyssey Middle Ages I
Science – Pandia Press REAL Science Odyssey Earth Science/Astronomy
Art – variety
Music – church choir and music appreciation

Circle Time

Scripture study
The Friend magazine
Sassafras Science
The Etiquette Factory
What Would You Do?  Moral Dilemmas
and Red Herring Mysteries (both from The Critical Thinking Co)
IEW Poetry Memorization
I wish you all an awesome school year! 

Our School Room #Homeschool #HomeschoolRoom #Organization

So, we have this large room downstairs that is dedicated to homeschooling, yet, towards the end of last school year we really stopped using it!  it’s become a big mess and it was hard to keep things straightened up down there, and it was a distraction.  So, it has now become school storage room! 

I have moved our workboxes up stairs to the living room, where we were doing school anyways! 

The nice thing is the laptop is up there, so I can be there to help with computer assignments and other assignments.  It is also away from the toy room, which is great, because the MESS in there always got me off on the wrong foot every morning! 

Since it’s our living room, it gets cleaned up every night (as opposed to just the door shut).  It’s been really great so far, and  am think it will continue to go well.  

The only issue is bringing stuff up and down the stairs for the younger kiddos workboxes, but that’s only weekly, so not a HUGE deal.

This is our set up:

Workboxes for the older two, I color coded them this year, the two bottom boxes (different color) are just supplies.   On top are books they need for the subjects in the boxes below (mostly my oldest son), a magnet/dry erase board for spelling and a device charging station.

Workboxes for the youngest two, on top are supplies and resource books.  To the left of the boxes are books and supplies for upcoming units, I have since moved this next to the bookshelf in the living room.

This cart from Ikea, has teacher manuals on the bottom, circle time materials in the middle and on top is a file box to file work for their portfolio.  The baskets on top are places in front of the workboxes each day for them to place finishes work for me to check.  Of course, there is the laptop there at the desk too!

It’s very plain and simple.  I also just purchased a few lap desks to share, and the kitchen table is just around the corner, should they choose to work there (most of the time they do not though). 

I love how simple the set up is, and how there is no clutter to stress me out (until I go down to the school room to get something, YIKES!). 

I have the workboxes for the older 3 (K, 2nd, 5th) assigned by subject.  So they do not change much, and for my almost 3 year old, I do change up the activities I put in there (see more about that on our curriculum post). 

So you don’t really need a big homeschool room (unless you are like me and have WAY to many supplies!  I REALLY need to sort through that stuff!).

We do have A LOT of bookshelves not pictured here, there are 2 in the Living Room, and a lot more downstairs.  Most the stuff dedicated to homeschooling, however, is in the room formerly known as the school room.

Our #Homeschool #Curriculum–2016-2017, 5th Grade, 2nd Grade, Kindergarten & Preschool

5th Grade

History – History Odyssey Ancients Level 2
and
Veritas Press Old Testament and Ancient Egypt (with 2nd grader)

Math – CTC Math and Life of Fred

Language Arts – IEW
Themed Based Writing, Ancient History
Fix Grammar Level 2
Phonetic Zoo Level A

Chinese – Rosetta Stone

Science – REAL Science 4 Kids, Biology, Middle School Level
Notebook Pages (for human body and more specific animal work)

Handwriting & Art  – Draw & Write through History, Volume 1 and Volume 2

Tinker Crate and other STEM activities

Piano

2nd Grade

History – Ancients – History Odyssey Level 1 (with Kinder)
and
Veritas Press Old Testament and Ancient Egypt (with 5th grader)

Math – CTC Math and Life of Fred

Handwriting & Art – Draw, Write, Now Book 1

Geography – Highlights Top Secret Adventures

Spelling – All About Spelling Level 1

Reading – Life of Fred and other beginning reader books

Science – R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey by Pandia Press, Life Science (with Kinder)

Piano

Kindergarten

Science – R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey by Pandia Press, Life Science (with 2nd)

History - Ancients – History Odyssey Level 1 (with 2nd)

Math – CTC Math with additional hands on activity

Handwriting – Handwriting Without Tears

Geography - Little Passports

ABC Mouse

Reading – we are working on reviews for a variety of reading programs and have not picked which one to stick with just yet!

Preschool

ABC Mouse

Preschool Life Science Themed Workboxes

Koala Crate

Family

IEW Poetry Memorization

CHSH Character Traits (review on CHSH-Teach.com coming soon!)

Scripture Study and Monthly Friend Magazine

Sassafras Science, Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3

Co-op (one day, every other week)

Swimming

Brain Pop and Brain Pop Jr

Flexibility in the Curriculum (5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents)

So, I totally jumped the gun last week and forgot that this series was coming up and posted Choosing Your Curriculum last week. 

One great thing about Homeschooling Year Round that was briefly mentioned in my last two posts is that you don’t have to be a SLAVE to your curriculum.  There is more Flexibility and Less Stress when you have a year round schedule. 

For my own sanity, I need somewhat of an outline, but I find that with a year round schedule I can allow for them to explore areas that interest them more, and fly through topics that don’t. 

As previously mentioned, I can allowed for a bit more of an unschooling, relaxed approach, because I don’t feel tied down to the time line. 

THIS is the type of stuff that can happen when you let go and aren’t a slave to your curriculum!

I’m not perfect at it, but I have learned to let go a lot more!  It’s amazing what can happen, when you allow it too.  Honestly, our best homeschool days have been the days I let go, and let learning happen more naturally! 

Check out some of my crew friends at their blogs!

Melissa @ Grace Christian School
Michele @ Family, Faith and Fridays
Missica @ Through the Open Window
Monique @ Mountain of Grace Homeschooling
Rebekah @ There Will Be A $5 Charge For Whining
Renita @ Krazy Kuehner Days
Sarah @ Renaissance Mama
Sasha @ Such a Time as This
Tawnee @ Adventures in Homeschooling
Tiffany @ The Crafty Home
Tina @ Desperate Homeschoolers

For a more comprehensive list that includes all participating bloggers click on the image below!

Why Homeschool Year Round?–Flexibility (5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents, Day 2)

When we first started homeschooling I was not sure whether or not I wanted to do a year round schedule, or to do a typical school year schedule.  We sort of just landed in a year round schedule, and I’m loving it! 

There are many reasons that I recommend year round schedules, I will be blogging about them this week.  The first of which is Flexibility (as the image above so plainly points out!).

We can take our vacations when other people can’t!  This is one of the great things about homeschooling in general, but by using a  year round schedule, we don’t have to stress about fitting it all in  while we do so!  While other kids are spring breaking and summer breaking and Christmas breaking, these are the weeks you will find us most often at HOME! 

We like to hit up the museums, the beach, the amusement parks, etc… when the rest of the crowd is IN SCHOOL!   This also tends to award us discounts!  DOUBLE BONUS!

Also many of our family members do not live close, when we lived in Hawaii… none of our family lived close.  This allowed them to come and visit in off season (cheaper flights) and the kids were able to spend just as much time with them!  We can also travel and visit family off season as well. (Though many of the cousins are in public school, boo!).

We can take field trips on a weekly basis!  We can take time off for illness, new babies (though we won’t be doing that again… at least no new babies are in the future plans).  Hubby has time off, we take time off too! 

We only have to school a few days a week!  This leaves more time for flexibility in the curriculum.  (I’ll talk a bit more on that later).  It greatly lessens stress (more on that later too). 

Lucky for us, we don’t have to count days or hours for our reporting, but when I have (just to see) we always get in way more days the public school system (because I count field trips as school days, I mean public schools do!), and even if I didn’t there are still plenty of at home learning days!

If you feel like you can’t fit it all in, and there are not enough days to enjoy life and get homeschooling done… consider a year round schedule! 

There are a lot of ways to incorporate it.  Some people do 3 weeks on,  1 week off.  Some do 3 days a week, and a field trip day (so technically 4 days a week).  (That’s us!).  Some take  a month off every so many months. I mean there really is no rule how to do it.  If you are required a certain number of days (on average it seems most public schools go about 180 days a year). 

Do you homeschool year round?  Why or why not? 

Check out some of my crew friends at their blogs!

Dawn @ Double O Farms
Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool
Debbie @ Debbie's Homeschool Corner
Desiree @ Our Homeschool Notebook
Diana @ Busy Homeschool Days
Diana @ Homeschool Review
Elyse @ Oiralinde: Eternal Song
Emilee @ Pea of Sweetness
Erin @ For Him and My Family

Don’t forget to stop back here tomorrow!

For a more comprehensive list that includes all participating bloggers click on the image below!

5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents–Day 1

The Schoolhouse Review Crew is having a Blog Cruise this week!  I will only be posting 3 out of the 5 days (I just could not get 5 posts in after hurting my finger last week). 

BUT, while you are waiting for my first post to go LIVE tomorrow…  go check out some of my crew friends at their blogs!

Annette @ A Net In Time

Brandy @ Kingdom Academy Homeschool

Brenda @ Counting Pinecones

Carol @ Home Sweet Life

Cassandra @ A Glimpse of Normal

Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses

Cristi @ Through the Calm and Through the Storm

Crystal @ Crystal Starr

DaLynn @ Biblical Womanhood

Danielle @ Sensible Whimsy

Don’t forget to stop back here tomorrow! 

For a more comprehensive list that includes all participating bloggers click on the image below!

Choosing Your Curriculum

After making the choice to homeschool, the next biggest decision you will make is what curriculum to use. There are many types of curriculum available, and the large number of possibilities can be very overwhelming. First and foremost, you should answer the following question – “Why am I homeschooling?”. Your ‘why’ will greatly help in choosing your curriculum.

Why’s can vary from homeschooler to homeschooler, but why you homeschool makes a huge difference in what type of curriculum will work for you. Whether you are homeschooling because you want to just have your child home safe from bullies or other threats or you want to have to be able to best meet your child’s learning needs and style…or bits of reasons across the spectrum.

Once you have a list of why (and these can easily change or be added too over time), the next is to consider your child’s needs. What is your child’s learning style? Despite your reasons for homeschooling, the formula for the best success is to also consider your child’s learning needs (even if this is not the primary reason you choose to homeschool).

I recommend the book by Cathy Duffy, titled The Top 102 Homeschool Curriculums. It has a test at the beginning of the book to figure out your educational philosophies and your child’s learning style. It then gives suggestions based on those findings of various curriculum rated in the top 101. This is a great place to start!

Many homeschoolers choose a boxed style curriculum, by boxed style, I mean a curriculum company that sends you everything, Reading, Language Arts, History, Science…you make one order to one company and you get everything. It is fine to use a boxed curriculum, and it is also quite convenient, in that all the plans are done for you. You just open it up and go! However, if flexibility and adaptability is what you are aiming for, a boxed curriculum may not be the best fit.

Several companies put out curriculums, many only a subject or two. It isn’t too difficult to piece together a curriculum from multiple sources. Planning may be a bit more involved, but the lesson plan for that subject is still usually laid out for you. You only need to mesh the multiple lesson plan outlines together to make one plan. This is mainly what we do for curriculum. I get science from one company, history from another, math from another, etc…

Then there is the completely piecing it together on your own method. This method does require more planning, but is the most flexible of all choices. Homeschooling in the face of technology is amazing! There are so many resources available online for multiple areas of interest and topics. All you need to do is search for ideas! Pinterest is quite handy for weeding through and organizing the wide array of ideas on the web. There are also many books that can serve as topic guidelines for you, The Well Trained Mind is a favorite of mine.

Just remember that there really is no right or wrong way to homeschool. What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another (even within your own family!). My best advice for choosing curriculum is to

1. Be Flexible

2. Don’t be afraid to change it up if it’s not working and

3. Remember WHY you are homeschooling!

See what curriculums we use and have used HERE, scroll through the posts, as here are more than one.

You can also see the many REVIEWS we have done of a wide variety of curriculums.

What Life is Like NOW at Chestnut Grove Academy–A Day in the Life of Post

Our Homeschool is constantly changing, kids get older, their interests change, what curriculum we use changes, reviews, new things that work, old things that no longer work, etc…  So, it’s fun to post updates. 

This is part of a TOS Blog Cruise, that will go live on Friday at 9am EST.  You will find their links to older “Day in the life of” posts from us linked there as well!

So here is what life looked like for us TODAY (Tuesday 2/16) -

This is not a typical Tuesday, though the only days that are fairly typical from week to week are Monday, Wednesday and Fridays….though at any given time they can change too!

Today is a great example of how things just change!  Currently Tuesday is the day that my oldest has Art History Class through the local Parks and Rec.  However, today it was rainy/icy and since the county closed schools, class was cancelled!  (2nd week in a row!).  We would have most likely just taken a light day, but since we had Monday off for President’s Day (hubby was off), I decided to have a school day!  While he is at Art, we generally go to the library and I do ‘school’ with my 6.5yo there. 

Hubby also had a delay at work, didn’t have to be in until 9, so that threw our morning off a bit as well. (Which means I got an uninterrupted shower to start my morning, always a BONUS!)

The day generally is suppose to start with C (my 9 yo) doing his computer school work.  He is the first one awake most mornings, and this keeps him busy and quiet (and I might add, out of trouble).  It’s not fool proof, most days he doesn’t do what he is ‘suppose to do’, but regardless of when he starts it, computer school work is first on his school agenda.  The day typically starts with C getting spoken too about not having done his school work yet.  He has a check list, and this worked really well for a while, but lately… not so much.   I feel like as soon I think I have found what works, it doesn’t work any more… anyone else in that boat???  I think there are some underlying issues (ADHD inattentive) and we are addressing those currently.

His computer school works consists of CTC Math and Rosetta Chinese daily, Veritas Press History 3 days a week.  It doesn’t take him very long to finish it… 30-45mins depending on the day, and most days it’s usually less time.

At 9 o’clock (after everyone has eaten, including myself), we do family devotional/scripture study.  This is followed by individual scripture study for the two oldest (9 and 6.5yo). 

Then Z (6.5yo) does his computer school work, while C heads downstairs to start on his other work. Z’s computer work alternates between Reading Eggs/Math Seeds and CTC Math/Reading Kingdom, then he typically does ABC Mouse as well.

The littlest one typically hangs out with Z, and I allow it as long as she isn’t bothering him (too much). 

My 5yo (c) typically gets on the kindle and does his ABC Mouse, or some days I have stuff to offer him to do, he will also work on handwriting on the iPad, or just play with his sister.  It varies from day to day, and I never force him to do anything.  His interest levels vary.  Today he had some supplemental worksheets from co-op last week that he worked on, he also had some color pages from scripture study that he cut out and turned into puppets (He wants to help teach FHE (Family Home Evening) next week). 

I usually am all over the house in the morning, checking in on each person.  Tuesday is laundry day, so I’m throwing loads into the washer and dryer throughout the day, offering assistance when needed, and today I even made lunch!  Chicken Zucchini poppers and pumpkin bread! (Most days it’s just PBJ for the crew, and they are perfectly happy with that!)

After lunch Baby Girl went down for a nap.   C finished up what had not been done before lunch (most days he gets down before lunch, really it depends on how efficient he works, on a good day he is down well BEFORE lunch.  He had one subject left to do after lunch).  Z came down stairs to do some writing and reading.  Then we all gathered for History and Science.  We do this 2 afternoons a week, typically Tuesday afternoon and Friday afternoons, but it varies.  We only do morning schoolwork 3 days a week (typically Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, and Wednesday). 

For History today I did a lot of reading from The Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia, the 2 younger boys colored some color pages that corresponded, and C looked up a few words and wrote their definitions.  Then we watched Building the Great Cathedrals, Season 6, Episode 5 of NOVA on Amazon Prime. 

Afterwards the kids were inspired to build their own pointed arches, like those of the Gothic Cathedrals

Then for science we listened to the Periodic Table of Elements song, and watched the watched one video each about two elements from Periodic Videos channel:  Hydrogen and Helium.

This was followed by piano practice for the two oldest

They played around with their dad for a bit, then on to dinner!

A little more play time, then C was off to Cub Scouts, and Z tagged along with hubby for their date night to Rita’s.

I stayed home with the littles, and we played a game, got into jammies, brushed teeth, had stories in my room and then they went off to bed.  I did some blogging and still have some kitchen clean up and laundry folding to do! (Yeah, that laundry will probably not get folded)  Phew!   But I did manage to get the special blankets dry before bed time and get the kids beds made!  SCORE!  However, I just realized as c is asleep in my bed, that I DID FORGET to send him to the bathroom before bed!  As luck would have it, I may be washing sheets again tomorrow :/  UGH!  (He usually is good, but we always send him before bed!).   I will DEFINETELY be moving him to his bed and SOON!  Just in Case! 

A Typical Week currently consists of:

Monday and Wednesday:  MMA

Tuesday:  Art History class (but only for a few more weeks)

Thursday: Co-op (but only every other week)

Friday: Piano and Swimming (We start back up this week after a small break).

MMA is a great time for me to run errands with only ONE kid in tow, as long as it’s right around town.  I generally make my post office, grocery store and other runs like that during the hour they are there.  It is a BIG perk for me!  We also do our Costco runs on co-op days since we drive right by on the way home!  We schedule Field Trips on Tuesday or Thursday (non-co-op days) typically, though Swimming runs in sessions, so on off weeks we do field trips on Fridays as well.  I like to get one in a week, but it’s not always possible.  The local library offers great classes and things too, that are typically in the afternoons.  We try to hit those as often as we can, FREE is always great! 

See what other Homeschool Days look like for Crew Members by clicking below!  Link goes live on Friday 2/19 at 9am EST.

bloom: (re)Discover the JOY in Homeschooling #bloomhomeschool

Homeschooling can be hard!  Just last week I posted in a Homeschool forum, “Have you ever thought to just through your hands up and give up?”.  Some days are so frustrating!!  But, there is a reason we chose to do this.  Your reason, may not be the same as my reason, but we need to remember that reason(s) and hang on to it.  Bloom is a breathe of fresh air, and reminder to “bloom where you are planted”. 

I’m so thankful for this course and the insight it has given me.  I think sometimes we just need reminders that we aren’t alone, there are many like us and we all just need to refresh once in a while! 

As the school year comes to a close for some (or not for those of us that homeschool) many of us are feeling the burn out!  (I know I am!!!). 

bloom is an amazing and inspirational series which includes:

• 8 online video teaching sessions (each about 20 minutes long);

• 8 At-Home Discovery Packets (a total of 88 pages of charts, exercises, journaling prompts and more); and

• A private online Facebook group.

“bloom” participants develop practical, customized solutions that address the biggest stealers of homeschool joy. These strategies include everything from:

• facing the big lies;

• managing ever-changing routines;

• discovering everyday true soul rest;

• dealing with perfectionism, comparison and anger;

• handling the ongoing needs and (seemingly relentless) outside opinions;

• discovering lasting joy (even on the toughest days);

• and more!

I know Perfectionism and Anger are my biggest joy stealers, how about you??

Free Bonuses for Participants: (more than a $82 value)

Yes, you read that right! Along with all that you receive for the “bloom” course (8 pre-recorded online videos, 88 pages of resources and access to the “bloom” Facebook group), participants will receive more than $82 in freebies and discounts! That’s a more than $130 value for only $49!

These are exclusive resources and offers crafted JUST for the “bloom” launch.

Click here to see all the great freebies and discounts from top homeschool companies!

Check out “bloom” for yourself with this FREE class!

This is an actual class from the “bloom” course–a 22 minute video and 17-page At-Home Discovery Packet–entitled “Needs and Opinions: How to Not Drown in the Tidal Wave”!

Be sure to download the At-Home Discovery Packet below so that you can experience how “bloom” personalizes the learning experience.

“Class 7: Needs and Opinions: How to Not Drown in the Tidal Wave” At Home Discovery Packet

You can also download other free resources from the course here, including a snippet of another “bloom” class and a downloadable preview of more At-Home Discovery Packet resources.

How Much Is “bloom”? (and Other Questions You May Have)

We want to make these resources available to as many moms as possible. That’s why“bloom” is extremely affordable: only $49 for the 8 videos, 88 resource pages and access to the online community!

“bloom” Registration Only Open June 16-20

As a “bloom” participant you will have lifetime access to the materials (yes, you can go through them again and again!).

But registration for the course? It’s only open for an extremely short window.

The doors for registration opened on June 16 at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (3:00am EST), and we close the doors on June 20 at 11:59 p.m). Pacific Standard Time (6/21 2:59am EST).

That means you won’t be able to get access to “bloom” again until sometime in 2016.

You can also search online using the #bloomhomeschool hashtag to see what others are saying about “bloom.” You can even see what some top homeschool bloggers are saying about “bloom” here!

With summer right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get replenished, revitalized and to come up with new strategies for the upcoming school year.

You don’t want to miss this limited-time opportunity to discover your fullest, most joy-filled homeschool life!

Review: Successful Homeschooling Made Easy (TOS Review)

Successful Homeschooling Made Easy Course is an amazing resource for new homeschooling moms by Successful Homeschooling Made Easy.  Being a homeschooling mom myself I know how overwhelming it can be to start the journey.  This course really helps you implement homeschool step by step, a little at a time to help you get your feet wet and not just dive in and drown!

 

 

Successful Homeschooling is an e-course.  You receive one email a week with the course material for that week.   You can spend just a small amount of time each week preparing for homeschooling, and while homeschooling at the same time.  This course is set up by baby steps!  It really eases you into a routine! 

I downloaded each lesson when it came via email and saved it to my OneDrive, then opened it on my iPad.  Some pages from the lesson are for printing and taking notes. 

I have been homeschooling now, going on 5 years.  I wish this course had been around 5 years ago!  My first year of homeschooling I WAY OVER SCHEDULED, this book would have helped me to make realistic expectations.  I love that the book asks questions to help you find your homeschooling goals.  It helps you make a realistic schedule.  It starts you off slow, with reading, writing and math, then has you add in other elements bit by bit.  It helps you pick curriculum for other subjects after helping you find your method niche.  It reminds you to keep learning fun and schedules flexible.  It has one entire lesson with advice from Mom’s who have made the public to home transition.  It reminds you to take time for you!  It gives simple suggestions for adding in Music.  It helps you minimize extracurricular activities (these can take over FAST if you aren’t careful).  It gives several reading suggestions for YOU about homeschooling.  It helps you set goals, and MORE!  I only viewed the first 8 lessons for this review, but the most important thing that these lessons do is, they make homeschooling not seem so overwhelming!  That in and of itself is PRICELESS! 

Even though I have been homeschooling for 5 years, this course gave me some ideas and helped me rethink a few things in our schedule.  Even if you find later that not all of her tips work for you, this course is a great jumping off point to help the very overwhelmed mom who has just ventured into the homeschooling realm!  I will be recommending this course to any and all homeschool moms who feel like they need some guidance!  (Actually I’ve already recommended it to several people!).

Do, however, keep in mind, this course does not address specific requirements for your state.  It would be important for any new homeschooler to research the legal requirements and be sure that those requirements are being meant in this system and tweak things if need be to make sure they are meant!

The cost of this course is $10 a month for 5 months or you can pay outright $48 and save $2.  You receive one email a week for the duration of the course. 

Learning to homeschool has never been so easy! 

Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/TheBroadRoom

Homeschooling isn’t Always Rainbows and Roses…

Okay, Homeschooling can be rough sometimes, I mean lets face it…it’s not always roses and rainbows (or put in some other awesome thing that you really love and is magical).  I feel like our homeschool goes through phases; phases where things are going really good and I think to myself “We’ve got this!” and other times where I feel like I’m constantly saying (and feeling horribly guilty about it) “Would you rather just go to school?  Because I can send you!” (hoping deep inside they don’t call my bluff!)  Honestly the thought of sending them to school is gut wrenching, I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to threaten to do it either! 

I’ve really been trying to see what the pattern is, or if there is any rhyme or reason to the good v/s bad days.  I think I have found some patterns, and I wanted to share them with you.

Sleep – Getting plenty of sleep, not just the kids, but me too!  I know this can be a hard one, my littlest one is just recently sleeping through the night and I have noticed night and day difference in my attitude!  I can really see the difference now on days that I don’t happen to get enough sleep too.

Get up Early – I don’t get up at the crack of dawn (though some of my children do)…but I found that I was laying around in bed long after I woke up.  I felt like it was the ‘me’ time I needed before starting the day, but really it just led to me dragging my tail, which usually resulted in us starting late, and me stressing about getting done in time, etc..  I also realized I felt more “blah” on the days I did that.  So now I aim to be out of bed within a reasonable amount of time after actually waking (like 15mins).  I get up, get dressed, showering is a bonus!  

Protein for Breakfast – I have noticed a considerable mood change in my kids and myself after having a protein breakfast.  It doesn’t have to be fancy, but I try to work in eggs, cheese, peanut butter or Nutella into breakfast somehow.  It really makes a huge difference.  If I didn’t get motivated enough to make a protein breakfast, I give them a protein snack mid morning. 

Essential Oils – I have been using EOs for several years and always meant to get a diffuser for the school room, finally one day I put one in there!  HUGE DIFFERENCE!  I fill it up and put some citrus bliss in there (or similar) and the positive attitudes come!  Actually I notice a much bigger change in my own attitude with the oils, and my 5yo is usually positively affected as well.  I find when we are having a rough day that I look up and either I forgot to turn it on OR it ran out of water!  I also use InTune focus blend with my 8yo.  If I remember to put it on him first thing in the morning, there is a HUGE difference in how smoothly the day runs!  PMS days I really slather on the Clary Calm! 

Scriptures – We typically start the day with a prayer, and scripture study.   C does his own study and I sit and read as well while he is doing his.  Sometimes I get busy with other stuff and don’t sit down and take my scripture study…I can see the difference when I don’t!  It’s no joke!  I don’t always read a lot, nor do I even remember what I read half the time (I only get interrupted a zillion times in that 5-10mins I read)  BUT, I can feel the Lord bless me in my efforts!

Classical Music – Pandora has a great station Classical for Studying Radio. It’s great!  If I don’t use that I put some other type of classical or easy listening (without words) music on. 

Exercise – I have recently been turned onto these 7min workout apps.  Many are free and it’s been a quick, easy thing to do to reenergize myself in the afternoons!

Pick Your Battles – This one is probably the hardest one for me!  I’m trying, I’m really trying.  I am constantly re-evaluating our ‘game plan’ and changing things that I feel is not working.  I try not to push, but I feel like there are still expectations that should be met.  There is such a fine line here, it’s hard for me.  But I find if I do all else above, I have less battles to pick (if that makes sense).  The kids are always throwing me curve balls though and just when I think I have it all figured out, I have to rethink it all again. 

Now we still have some rough days, but I do find that most of those rough days we didn’t do one of the above things. Just this morning (Wednesday) I had a battle with my almost 6yo.  This week has been a rough one for him.  I noticed the EO diffuser was off…so I sent him from the room to get into a better mood (this usually helps).  I turned the diffuser on and rubbed him down with some citrus oil too.  He never did come back (usually he does).  But I did manage to get him to do some computer schooling for the day.  He is only Kinder, so I don’t stress it too much, but even then it’s hard. 

It’s hard as a homeschooling mom…I feel like there is even more responsibility on our shoulders than just being a ‘mom’.  We are responsible for their education!  We are 100% to blame or praise if they make it (or not) in this world.  As mom’s we tend to worry all the time if we are doing a good job, but as a homeschooling mom I have never worried so much or had guilt as much ever before I started ‘schooling’.  I always felt like I was one of the few moms that didn’t have ‘mom guilt’.  Well, I guess I joined the club!  I think it’s all just part of being a mom!  I try really hard to work on myself first…I find that working on myself and being a better me goes a LONG way in being with my kids!  I still have a lot of imperfections, I’m working on them. 

It makes me really uncomfortable with other mom’s put me on somewhat of a pedestal (or so it feels) when they admire my homeschooling abilities….it’s not always easy, it’s a constant struggle (though be it more so internally).  I’m not any better than any other mom…we all have our strengths and weaknesses.  I’m constantly conversing with other mom’s for their wisdom.  We all have something to bring to the table!  I hope what I have to share can help you, and I’d love to hear what works for you too!

I think my kids are really catching on to what helps the day run smoother too and do their part to help it.  We are all happier when we have good days! 

Here’s to more GOOD Days!  It really is such a blessing to be able to be home and teach our children.  I want to embrace that more and show my Father in Heaven how thankful I am for that blessing!

Getting Organized: An Eclectic Curriculum

This year my goal was to eliminate the weekly Seek and Find, and the forgetting about resources. 

Using curriculums heavy in literature means LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of books, and then with netflix and other videos, it is just hard to keep track of everything. 
Then you add being eclectic into it, and well you just have lots and lots of stuff! 

So this year, I arranged all the books we will be using and put them in ONE place in ORDER of when they will be used.


I then utilized sticky notes!  I put sticky notes with the science and the history to make note of any additional resources I wanted to use (ie videos, lapbooks, additional books to the CORE curriculum).

Then I have a milk crate (I used this system last year as well) with hanging folders numbered 1-36 for each week.  The number system allows for flexibility!  I put the printed lesson plans (from ebooks) and any other printed items I have for that week in these file folders.  I use this for preschool items too.

I used the Schoolhouse Teachers ‘Big Mama’ Planner to personalize a few weekly planner sheets.  This way I can plan what goes in the workboxes each day for the week, and what we will cover in circle time each day.  I can also make note of any supplies I will need for the week, and have it all in ONE place, easy to access.  This sheet will go in that weeks folder.

I use pinterest as a HUGE organization tool.  I pin ideas throughout the year, and then as I plan out the week, I reference my pinterest boards.  I’ll make note of the ideas on the weekly plan sheets, and print off any materials I’ll need, which I store in the weekly folders. I spend Sunday evenings setting up the workboxes for the week, laminating and cutting out printed items, etc. 
What to do with those printables we’ve used in the past?  As you can see on my blog, we use printables each week, especially for preschool.  I laminate them all so that they are reusable, topics are revisited on a normal basis.  To solve the clutter issue, and to make them easy to find in the future…I decided to put them in manila envelopes and store them labeled in a bin.  All easily accessible for future use.

I used milk crates bought at Wal-mart and these magazine holders to organize the books and files:

matching document and cd boxes are also available. 
Now I just need to finish putting my Preschool Curriculum together! 
Linking up at Weekly Wrap Up – Curriculum Edition