First Day of Homeschool 2013-2014
I did this once a couple of years ago, but things have changed so much since then that I thought I’d do another ‘day in the life’. This is our first day of homeschooling for the Fall Semester, in our 4th year.
Keep in mind that I wrote the above paragraph before today (being Monday, August 5th), with grand plans. In reality, I got a couple of pics early in the day and gradually kinda forgot about it after lunch. Also, the kids went to help Grammie move some things while I ran a couple of errands (which would have been boring to photo-document anyway), and since they weren’t with me, I figured you didn’t need to see me get gas and go by the bank.
My morning started off bright an dearly (7:15 AM) with Loverly Husband getting up for work. I got the kids up to say bye to Daddy; early, but with the caveat that they could get back in bed until 8 (their normal school day wake-up time). Fortunately for me, they both decided to stay up, so they had breakfast whilst Mommy mainlined caffeine.
After brekky, instead of answering 9,000 questions about ‘what are we doing this year??,’ I put the kids new books on the floor and we went over everything from which books we’ll be using to the new schedule. I introduced them to Daily Oral Language, the Morning Board and their Thoughtful Journals, and the various other books – old and new – for this year.
We started our ‘actual’ day a tiny bit late – about 9:15 rather than 9 on the dot, but by lunchtime, they’d made it up and we were back on schedule. Pizza for lunch, then a break and back to the books… well, folder. Their weekly research paper, which we’ve been doing for a couple of years now. LBB chose to research jello moulds (having found some in the art supply drawers), and PeaGreen chose to learn about guitars this week.
After the schoolwork was done, we had a ‘daily review’; something new we’re instituting this year, over tea. Tea Time is at 3PM, as usual, then reading for an hour before being 100% done and able to go do other things. In this case, other things meant going to held Grammie whilst Mommy ran some errands. Here’s where the picture takin’ drifted off; after school was over, I sorta forgot about that part.
The following morning (2nd day of school), I took their school pictures for this year, and made their ID cards for the new school year and had them laminated.
We’re currently in our 2nd week of school. So far, things have gone along quite well. The morning board is working very well – minor tweaks and changes as we’re moving along to help it work better, but it’s a really good addition for us. We’ve also started watching CNN Student News each morning, and they are even trying their hand at writing opinion pieces based on current events. We’ve also been using our Thoughtful Logs – OMG, that is such a great idea! Having all of Grammar, Writing and Literature in one lesson works very well for us.
How’s your first week going?
Warmly,
~h
School Supplies Shopping
It’s my favorite time of year – school supplies sales! I just love the bins and bins full of pencils, crayons, erasers, pens, post-it notes, composition notebooks, binders and other things that we consider ‘essentials’ for starting school.
You might wonder if, since we’re not in school-school, we may needs school supplies. Well, I’ll tell ya… just like any other school-child, my kids go through plenty of paper, pencils, binders and notebooks. We use some of the same things, but different things as well. Since we lapbook, we use file folders by the box. We also use a ton of construction paper and glue. Pencils probably top ever student’s supply list, and notebooking in our house only can go in composition notebooks, so we go through several each year. Pocket/brad folders also are prime real estate around here.
So, on my list was:
@ Target
- pocket/brad folders (22 @ $.15 each; = $6.60)
- page protectors (1 pkg of 50 = $3.79)
- glue ( 5 – Elmer’s school glue; $.52 =$2.60)
- markers
- post-it notes (4 @ $1.00 = $4.00)
- colored pencils (2 @ .75 ea = $1.50)
- dry-erase markers (pack with 6 black & 4 colored = $5.00)
- snap cases
- construction paper (heavy weight) (2 @ 3.99 = $7.98)
- pencils (2 packs of Ticonderoga @$3.99 ea = $7.98)
- clear slick contact paper
- loose-leaf paper (reinforced; wide-ruled = $2.00 per pack)
- composition notebooks (5 for $3.00)
- packing tape (clear)
- page dividers $4 @ $1.00 ea, = $4.00)
- page dividers w/ pockets (1 pkg. @ $2.29)
- 2″ binders (2 @ $3.50 each = $7.00)
- mechanical pencils (pkg. of =$3.79)
- BIC sharpwriter mechanical pencils (pkg of =$2.74)
- crayons (4 @ .50 ea. = $2.00)
There are still some things left to get, and some things I will need more of (like page protectors… they should make those in packs of 500, not 50), so I will be heading back to the store sooner or later, but for now, we’re good to go!
What about you? Hitting the sales, or minimalist homeschoolers?
Warmly, ~h
This Adventure Life 