Mama meant business last week.
And everyone knew it when I headed into that space to get it together.
The kids retreated to the back for a full on game of Mario Kart, lest I ask them to participate. And even the pups were in hiding, while Jamin mysteriously decided it was time to head to Publix.
There’s just something about workout clothes, good music, coffee and a candle that are my super powers. I feel like I can conquer anything. It’s this delicate combo, the spinach to my popeye that says: You can do this. Conquer the world! Even if you don’t really want to.
I know. We’ve been kind of heavy on the school posts lately. In fact, we’re probably totally bumming you out. I think we’re bumming ourselves out.
I’m really just ready to go back to the beach.
Because the space looked organized, but it really wasn’t at all. And because we will be relocating at some point this school year along with frequent trips to Nashville, we decided to start today… just to make time for all the other stuff. I was determined to divide and conquer in the world of pieced together curriculums and organized chaos. It was time to scratch that itch.
Even if halfway though {only half of the mess pictured here} I kind of lost my steam. It’s oh so easy to lose that steam.
A little a-la Monica and Chandler. {Refresh if it’s not loading}
For what it’s worth: This is totally Jamin and me every time I try to get him to go for a run. I try. Points for trying.
If you gathered from our previous posts, last year was kinda rough. But just when we were ready to call it quits, we turned a corner.
I found one little actually reading to another little, on her own. It’s been a struggle for us, and we seriously considered putting them back in once we relocated. But we haven’t relocated, and so almost by default, here we go with round three, and I have to remember that there’s a big plan with all of this. Something that we will laugh at, looking back at it all in five years. Something that’s clearly the best for us, right now. I’m supposed to embrace right now, no matter what. It’s year to year with us, and just like all the pros and cons with any school choice you make for your kids, it’s supposed to be. So we know that this is it for us this year.
Cue sparkly angel lights and choir and me doing a happy dance from behind the door. We really can do this.
So this year is about reassessing what’s not working, thinking through what is, and problem solving with functionality in the space. We know that our kids need structure, and the best laid plans are those that actually have, well, a plan.
I think that every year, it’s time to come back and reassess, and I think the biggest challenge for us, is facilitating a place for learning, and managing all the great resources… without it becoming a total wreck all the time. We actually rotate all around the house, for different subjects. But for us to function in a learning environment, for me to be their {sane} teacher, it’s important to keep it in working order.
What’s working and what’s not… Here’s a few things we’re changing with our classroom systems and management this year:
For binders and books:
These have been a great way to provide space, and organize all their stuff. We shared our curriculum choices last week, and to make the school day more manageable, we have afternoon work to make sure they’re getting a few more lessons in with independent learning.
One classic mistake I made was trying to use only one basket per kid. If I’ve realized one thing, it’s that too many items in a basket is counter productive, and we didn’t have enough space. Yay clutter. So each child now gets two: One for morning work, and one for the afternoon. It helps keep things orderly, with easy, at-a-glance access for all those workbooks and anything else they’ll need. It seems like something so simple, it’s ridiculous for me to share.
Also, this is a total nerd update: We got the kids character trapper keepers this year to a. pump them up because duh, trapper keepers and b. store most of their subjects in one easy-to-access place. It’s the little things. PS. Trapper keepers are still totally rad.
PPS: we’ve moved all their art supplies and educational magazines into this space. {The crate on the bottom} We hope it keeps fostering more independent work in those after hours. Nothing makes us happier than finding them creating in this space when school isn’t even in session. It took them a while to get past the dining room stigma. But it’s their room, and we want them to use it.
For readers:
This shelf sits just outside the space, and since we made our entryway an official “part of the room” it’s helped in expanding the actual square footage we use. This houses most of our readers, but the books, over time, became a big jumble last year, so we decided it was time to divvy it up on the appropriate levels.
Each kiddo gets their own shelf, with plenty of books to choose from on their own reading level. We’ve pretty much outgrown this little bookshelf, and nothing makes us happier.
We just want easy-to access reading on their level, up for grabs at any point of the day. We’ll continue to add to it, as the year goes on. {Thanks, Amazon Prime.}
Don’t worry – we’ll visit the library, too. There’s just something about our own little home library that makes me happy. #bookloverforlife
For supplies:
We’re still loving this little place to access all their pencils, crayons, markers, and whatever else they could need while still sitting at their desks. It’s been a great tool for our little space without things getting out of hand. It started out as a centerpiece for our dining room table, and kind of evolved into this with little mason jars for all their pieces.
Incentives:
Education 101, but we listed the rules here… the kids actually requested them. We’re starting on the right foot this year, with clear expectations and common goals.
Positive reinforcement and all that jazz I learned about with my post graduate work in art education {who knew I would glean something even though I ended up (surprise) prego and starting a blog instead-irony} we’re sticking with our star incentives this year. It’s simple: work hard and get a star. Cause problems and have a bad day: lose a star. Stars for us = the golden achievement for any child… screen time.
We just need to make sure we stick with it.
Charts:
You can grab these up along with our free 2016 planner here. But we laminated these little charts, and with a permanent marker, filled in their subjects for the year. We felt like keeping up with them on a weekly basis {with a dry erase marker for them to check off their subjects, daily} gives them a sense of accomplishment, and helps them take responsibility for their learning. And a full day with successful checks = stars.
Words of encouragement:
One of my favorite little finds was this vintage Playskool mailbox at the flea market. We know we can use more positive words in our family, and with each other. We thought this was a great place to have a little station of sorts to leave encouraging words for each other. And they’re left in that mailbox. From parents to children, and sibling to sibling. The more love letters, the merrier.
We plan to make our first day back fun, by a refresher course on a few things, and getting them excited about the school year.
For what it’s worth: Target alert-Hello dollar bins. We took the kids on a little pre-school shopping trip for things they didn’t really need… but that will excite them in the world of supplies and getting pumped up. We loved the little stickers, pencils and more in their dollar bins… and from pencil cases to character notebooks, it’s the little things. I found them in here later, getting everything together. So fun!
Here’s to putting our best foot forward, and finding our passion again.
For more in our homeschool series, check them out here, but here’s a few of our faves:
• things to consider before homeschooling
• tips for back to school organization
• find all of our sources for the space, here.
And we did a little impromptu tour on Periscope last week {@handmade_home} but we saved it, and you can see a real-life tour here on our you tube channel.
What are some of your very favorite school room policies and systems you’ve used? We would love to hear what works for you and your family. Thinking of everyone as they start the new school year, with every possible avenue out there! As always, let us know if you have any questions… have an inspired day!
That cabinet full of books just makes my heart happy. And that entire room, really. Yo guys totally got this!!! <3
Awe, thanks Tania!
This is perfect – you guys are so organized! Makes me want to go to school there! Love reading about all the things you guys use. Thank you for sharing it’s so helpful.
Thanks so much, Anna. You’re welcome to join us! ;}
I just wanted to say thank you for always being real- it’s so refreshing to hear your take on all this since we are seriously considering doing that crazy, against-the-grain thing with homeschooling. And ps you’re hilarious.
Thank you, Janet! You’ve got this! ;}
Ok, for what it’s worth, I’m totally not sick of the homeschool posts. Keep ’em coming! I’m now seriously considering homeschooling my little guy and I love reading about others’ experiences. For that matter, I’m head over heels in love with your homeschool space. Thanks so much for sharing and have an awesome week!
Awe thanks so much, Cristi! I feel like we’ve been in overload lately, and it’s just where our heads have been! ;}
The only school room rules that I am a stickler for are “clean up after yourself” and “speak to people the way you want to be spoken to.” I’m a little too flexible and flighty to keep track of much more…and I get a bad temper if I make a bunch of rules and have to stress out keeping track of them.
Hope you have a wonderful school year!
Definitely! We’re just using our little bundle to keep them on track this year – we will see how long those last! HA!
Don’t read my blog because it’s a year overdue for an update which is something I always thought I’d like to do but, apparently, I like to do other things better than blog, as I haven’t done it 🙂 how’s that for Logic? Anywhoo… LOVE this post as I get our home classroom ready and I wanted something “fresh” as my daughter starts 5th grade which, although not technically middle school, seems to be a big transition maturity wise. I may order classroom lockers (one for each kid) as I think she’s super excited about the concept of decorating a locker so, we’ll move our ugly scandinavian bookshelf office unit blach up to the master sitting area for daddy to use (poor hubbs gets our homeschool leftovers) and put in lockers. I LOVE your books everywhere!
I am actually geeking out on going through their book baskets with them to see which books we need to relocate to basement bookshelves (we just can’t seem to ever part with books). We have decided to discontinue Kumon (which we’ve been doing for four and a half years) and I have NEVER been more thrilled with graduating from something!! This will give us more time to dig deep into their natural curiosities and save us $400 a month!
I also want to get a baby grand piano, as they love to play and my parent’s old sweet upright has many keys broken and my duct tape/paper towel rigging is losing efficacy :-).
Congrats on your journey and I’ll definitely pick up your mailbox idea!
xoxo
AnneMarie Anderson
homeschool mom unexpected 🙂
How smart with the locker idea! I’ve been itching for some for a while. That’s awesome! We will be in 5th next year, and that seems so GROWN to me! I can barely handle 4th! You’re in good company! ;}
Target has locker type shelves
Sorry that would be Ikea.
It so funny that I can see pics of your homeschool room over and over but notice different things each time. I can’t for the life of me figure out how I missed that adorable rug that looks like loose leaf (trapper keeper) paper! I love it. Did you guys make it? Buy it? Can you tell me where/how to get one? It is the cutest!
Hey! Thanks so much! The rug is from land of nod, and we have all our sources in this post here! Hope that helps! ;} https://www.thehandmadehome.net/2014/04/home-school-style-the-evolution-of-a-space/
What a great blog! I love this inspiring post. You have such a great homeschool space.
Thank you, Abby!
We are using Sonlight this year (first grade), and I know you used it in the past. Any tips, things you loved, things you hated, things you threw completely out? Any reasons you didn’t continue with it this year? Just curious about your thoughts 🙂
Hey Jacque – I am hesitant to answer, because I don’t want to influence anyone either way. That’s kind of decision you really have to make for yourself and your family because it will be so different for everyone. ;} We have some posts in our homeschool series about streamlining and pulling from it, to make it easier, because there is a LOT that goes into it. In short, it was great for us the first year, and after that I just wished we’d used something else because it simply didn’t suit what we were trying to accomplish for our family. With each child, assessing their individual needs, I am now able to control exactly what they’re learning based on their strengths and weaknesses. I became more familiar and comfortable with that as we went along. For example, Pros: Love the books and building up a library to reference, so that has been great. But we also have Amazon prime, and plan to continue doing that on our own. Some of their readers at our oldest sons level were duds and I like being able to pick and choose. One of our main complaints {and this is different for everyone, so grain of salt here} is that I wished there was more to their reading program. My children needed more. It’s just little stuff here and there that prompted us to try something new and geared individually to each child this year. We do suggest the streamlining thing if you’re teaching more than one -it’s a lot! Again, it was a great fit for the first year. It will vary year to year, and we are so glad we used it. It’s just different for everyone. Probably clear as mud it’s just hard to explain.- hope that helps!
I started homeschooling for the first time this week…yikes! I have a pre-K and second grader, and although I know it’s right for us, I was terrified to get started. I find your post on homeschooling so encouraging and refreshingly honest. So, thanks! Also I lived in Franklin,TN for five years before moving a tiny bit south to Spring Hill. It is such a wonderful place to live! I hope your (eventual) relocation goes well!
Hey lady! We are looking in the spring hill area as well. Thank you so much for your kind words! If I could be nosey- would you mind sharing with me why you chose homeschool in your area? I’m sure it’s for lots of reasons- just like us… I’m like a sponge trying to soak it all up right now 🙂 feel free to email me obviously only if you have time ([email protected]) would be so grateful for any info you could/would be willing to share! Thanks so much!
I love Deep Space Sparkle for online Art classes! She’s awesome! I do all the work he hates first, the I make sure at least one subject has a art project attached to it.