It only took me 6 months to think of this!

Remember how my parents forced me to accept an ipad for my birthday?  Well since I couldn't very well give it back to them (that would be RUDE), I've been enjoying it.  For the last three months I've mainly used it for reading the Bible.  Since finishing my most recent 90 day Bible challenge, I've had a little extra time for surfing.  I bought some cloth diapers from Amazon on the ipad a couple of nights ago.  (I was trapped in my bedroom with two sleeping babes, because BigD had the men over for Bible study and they go late.)  Then today I was about to get on my computer to look up a recipe for leftover oatmeal cookies, but my husband was on the computer.  I almost asked him if he could get off long enough for me to look up a recipe when I thought, "Hey, I could use my ipad for that."  Sitting in the computer room, I looked up the recipe then left the ipad there and walked into the kitchen to write it down.  No, I'm not kidding.  I'm that slow.  (I even thought, "Bummer, no printer."  Then just as I'm about to write down the recipe I thought, "Why don't I just bring my ipad into the kitchen with me?"  Oh my goodness, I cannot believe it has taken me 6 long months to think of this.   I must be blonde on the inside : ).

Needless to say, my ipad has found a new home.  Well, at least a new home away from home, since I guess its true home is the car.  Cooking will never be the same again in my kitchen!  (I hope I can't say that about my ipad.)  Now, will someone please remind me why I need that crowded shelf of cookbooks?

Day 4- Success!

I think those laminated checklists did the trick!  Or could it have been that I put breakfast in the crockpot the night before?  (Overnight oatmeal, which then led to leftover oatmeal cookies!)  Or the fact that I got up at 5:45?  Certainly those things didn't hurt, but mainly it's the Lord graciously answering our prayers for a productive, joyful homeschool day.  The kids were finished with all their work by lunch!  I'm so proud of them.  We've been talking about diligence in the mornings and I can see the Lord working in their hearts, ok some of their hearts. 

Here's what Monk (12) had checked off by noon!

Bible reading
Scripture memory (say 5X)
Bible study
Math (Algebra II !)
Reading
Greek (2 pages plus flashcards)
Eastern hemisphere explorer assignment
Language arts (Today he had Wordly Wise, Keys to Good Language, and a Sonlight writing assignment)
Computer programming (Python)
Typing
Piano

Twinkle Toes' daily checklist looks almost identical to her brother's, but instead of computer programming, she's continuing with handwriting this year.  They both also had reading time, spelling, and science with me.

Measle (8) still needed some help reading her Instructor's Guide to discern her Language Arts assignments for today.  Other than that, she did well.  Progress.

We're schooling on 4 days this year, a first for us.  Normally, we'll make Wednesday a light school day with math and science only since we go to Community Bible Study for 2.5 hours out of that day.  Since CBS hasn't started yet, we've already finished our four days this week.  I think I'll make tomorrow project day.  I know I should work in my "office" all day, but I think we'll make soap.  I've been wanting to try that for so long, I might just have to give it a shot.  You know what I say about everything.  If I can do a cell migration assay, I can make soap.  (Cell migration assays really are tricky!!)  And thanks to a recent experience of my friend Dawn at Olive Plants, I'll be wearing eye protection.  Dawn sells cool decorative soaps, by the way.

Tame the paper monster? 4 Moms Discuss Large Family Logistics

Paper monster?  Is she talking to me?

Oh, and don't mind that cook top in the corner there.  This is just its temporary location.  The paper stack I've been working on off and on for about two months now.  Ok, so it's been more "off" than on. 

Kim Brenneman in Large Family Logistics suggests assigning a certain day of the week to tackle the major jurisdictions of our lives, such as laundry, kitchen duties, etc.  I have to admit, the idea of having an "office day" never crossed my mind.  Maybe that's why my "office" looks like it does!  I've been inspired by Kim to finally tame this paper monster.  Umm- if I don't get back to you, be sure and ask me how it's going.

To a certain degree, I think assigning a day for particular tasks is intuitive.  For instance, I run errands on the days that I have help at home, such as my husband's day off.  That way I can take one or two kids along for special mom time, but not have to tow everyone all around town.  And certainly, Sundays are different around here.  We prepare for worship before church by saying some Psalms together and praying.  We eat with my family.  We have worship with two other churches one Sunday night a month.  And last Friday was my "kitchen day" and it just about finished me off.  Maybe if I consistently spent one day each week on the kitchen, I wouldn't ever get so far behind.  It does feel good to get ahead in the meals department!

A gardening day?  What's that?  Big D does the gardening around our house and maybe that's why we have vegetables coming out our ears and one big flowerless flower bed.  I know I need to work on it.  Should I really give it a day?  I think I just might.

Check out how the other 4 Moms are implementing Kim's ideas from Large Family Logisitics.

Kimberly at Raising Olives

Connie at Smockity Frocks

Kim at In a Shoe

The Headmistress

Kim of Large Family Logisitics

Day 3- Starting to get into the groove of things.

Yesterday went much better.  Today was even better still.  Not only have we implemented the changes in Bible, which have been helpful, but we now have two days of science under our belts.  I was hoping that easing back into our school routine would make for a more successful transition.  The kids have done really well, but every time I turn around one of them is asking me, "Am I done?"  By the end of school today, I'm exhausted from running down a mental checklist a dozen times per student!  So, I borrowed an idea from Roan at Joyful Always and laminated checklists for the kids.  Hopefully, this will help our days run more smoothly.

I didn't include every subject on each student's list, just the subjects they complete on their own each day.  I even made a checklist for myself!

And no, mine is not a comprehensive list, either.  Wouldn't it be nice if this were all I had to do each day?  No interruptions like breakfast, lunch, dinner, laundry, etc. etc. : ).  I usually read to Prince and Queen each day, as well, but it isn't technically part of our school day.  I bought some wet-erase markers so the kids can check off their independent subjects as they complete them. 

I always hesitate to publish a schedule, because inevitably as soon as I do, it changes.  Here goes:

6:30 Wake up kids.  They read their Bibles, shower, dress, and make beds.  Ideally.
7:00 Breakfast
7:30 Morning devotions- Prayer (Operation World) and character training (currently IBLP Diligence booklet).
8:00 Read-aloud Sonlight Core B World History part 1 (Meanwhile, Monk and Twinkle Toes are working on their independent subjects like math, reading, and Language Arts.)
9:30 Read-aloud Sonlight Core F Eastern Hemisphere (Meanwhile Measle is doing her math, reading, and Language Arts.  And Queen (2) is doing things like stamping her sister's American Girl Bitty Baby doll with permanent ink.  Just tryin' to be real : ).
11:00 Science
11:30 Sequential Spelling
11:40 Lunch

At this point, I'm finished with my role in the homeschooling process.  The kids continue working until they complete their work.  It looks like Measle is going to get finished by 1:30 or so and Monk and Twinkle Toes will probably (not sure since they haven't started math, yet) finish around 2:30 or 3.  Nana gets the kids to practice music each afternoon and swim team will start at 5:15 for the next couple of months leaving the kids an hour and a half or so of free time each afternoon.   

Who needs Home Ec.?

Actually, I do.  What I mean to say is that without any formal classes or instruction, my girls are amazing me with their skills- and with their desire to learn more!  I bought the girls this book of knitting projects for kids that I saw on Ann Voskamp's blog a few weeks ago. 

Measle knit two bows today!  Aren't they cute? 

As soon as the girls finished their school work today we went to a local craft store so Measle could buy more yarn (she's currently working on a hot pink scarf for her little sister), and Twinkle Toes decided she wants to learn to crochet.  Twinkle Toes was SO excited when she saw that her learn-to-crochet kit includes instructions for lefties!  She was crocheting in no time.  I think she's making a dish rag.  I need lots of them, especially now that I'm trying to do without paper towels!

And on the cooking front, Twinkle Toes "helped" Queen (2) make apple bread for her Learn your Letters, Learn to Serve week "A" service project.  Actually, Twinkle Toes did all the work and Queen got a little distracted by a slice of Daddy's yummy garden cantaloupe.

  



My sweet girls are such a blessing to me!  They're already light years ahead of where I was at their age!  I don't think I so much as peeled a banana until college!  I'm making up for it now : ).

Day 1- Lots of tweaking to do...

This is why we started a couple of weeks early.  I knew there would be some trial and error, so tomorrow we'll do a few things differently.

1.  Bible-  This is the first year we've attempted two Sonlight Cores.  I love the Bible, but I felt like I was reading different passages of the Bible to different kids all morning.  (All of us at 7 then just Measle at 8 then Monk and Twinkle Toes at 9:30).  We have to streamline Bible.  Previously, we've done Bible together, but now the kids have different assignments.  I think we'll continue our catechism, character training, and prayer together, but have the kids do their own Sonlight Bible reading independently each morning.  There was some dead time this morning while some kids were showering and others weren't.  Tomorrow we'll try independent Bible reading until everyone is showered and gathered in the living room for corporate devotions and prayer at 7.  That will save me a lot of time later in the morning plus help the kids establish the good habit of starting each day in God's Word- on their own.

2.  More on Bible-  I had decided Monk and Twinkle Toes would work through Sonlight's Core F Bible program, Remembering God's Awesome Acts by Susan Mortimer.  When I started reading through the teacher's guide and student notebooks last night, I was really confused.  It took me a long time to figure out what we were supposed to do and I hadn't realized it involved art and creative writing, etc.  It's really not what I was looking for in a Bible curriculum at all, plus it completely overwhelmed me.   It just so happens, though, since I'm reviewing for TOS this year, that I received a wonderful Bible curriculum a week or so ago that fits perfectly with what we're studying this year!  The emphasis is on forming Christ-like habits and each lesson introduces a new area or group of people with emphasis on world missions through prayer (review upcoming).  Do you think the Lord is trying to teach us something this year?  First Operation World, then Sonlight's Core F Eastern Hemisphere including biographies like Torches of Joy and praying through the 100 Gateway Cities, and now this Bible curriculum?  I think God is trying to touch our hearts for the lost around the world.  And I'm really excited about it!

3.  Everything else went pretty well.  I'd read some horror stories about the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer pack and the kids had no problem with that- so far : ). 

I had blocked an hour and a half for Measle's Core B and we spent about 35 minutes on it today.  I've heard it starts light and gets more time consuming as the year goes on.  Perhaps we should allow for an hour.

4.  We haven't added math and science, yet, so we have that to look forward to : ).

5.  I couldn't believe my ears.  Monk must have said four or five times today how glad he was that we started school and how much he disliked summer!  We all thrive on schedules and the kids did great- no one complained one bit.  The little kids were at loose ends and I did have to pick a big piece of orange out of Calvin's mouth as I explained to his two year old sister that she just couldn't feed him her Cutie- even if he did seem to want it.

The kids had lots of free time today.  Monk mowed the lawn, practiced piano, played DS, etc.  The girls played school with their younger siblings, tried out some new knitting patterns in a book that arrived today, played outside, practiced music, and even watched a movie with their dad tonight.  We'll see how it goes after adding math and science.  Hopefully everyone will still be loving school!  Tomorrow is take two.

Not Back to School Blog Hop- Schoolroom

I know I unveiled our schoolroom just a few weeks ago, but I thought I'd re-post as part of the Not Back to School Blog Hop.

I love that our schoolroom is right in the middle of our house.  It's next to the kitchen and the living room.  Most of the members of our family can usually be found in one of these three rooms.  The lower cabinets hold curriculum not currently in use. 

These shelves hold our current year Sonlight books and Instructor Guides. 

More homeschool books.  I have the books organized by category in these brown shelves and the yellow cabinet has our Sonlight books from previous cores.

The cubbies house the kids individual subjects like Math, Wordly Wise, and Greek.  Each kid has one or two cubbies and a couple are shared.