Posted in Homeschool

Photo's first then I'll tell of the changes.  Oh yes, I must admit that I did see the room switch post that   Ginny did over at  Proverbs 22:6 Academy on Feb 4, 2008 .It motivated me to get this done and to share it on here. Thanks Ginny  By looking at the photo's on her post you will see in her finished pics that she is much more organized than I am .   I am striving one day at a time. I am not a natural when it comes to being organized. I really have to work at it hard and pray that the Lord help me in this area because if i dont watch it, I can be a borderline pack rat. So if you think of it, pray that I will be able to be more organized not only in the classroom but in my life period. Okay, now on to the picture show.

Old Classroom (above)

Between Room switch (above)

New Classroom Before (above)

Yes this room was very messy. Maybe not this bad all the time but pretty bad. We had already moved one bed out with two to go when I took this pic. The boys DO not do a very good job with cleaning and this is another reason for the room switch. I only went in every month or two and cracked the whip made them deep clean the room. This was always an all day event. The larger room was just too much area for them to keep clean. There were just way too many places to "store" unwanted junk, trash some of their things.

Making the switch we threw a lot of the old things that were broken away. I must have given away 5 bags/boxes of clothing that no longer fit either of the older boys or was just too worn out to hold onto and pass down. They went from four chest of drawers and a two long dressers plus a walk in closet that was filled with clothes and junk to only two chest of drawers and one closet that is not even half the size of their old one. We also got rid of the king and queen sized beds and went to two twin sized beds instead. The smaller room should be a bit easier for them to keep clean. So far this week they are doing a good job. No after pics of that room  as it is not the way I want it yet. The switch happened last week.

On to the new classroom pics. 

My new desk area (above)                           High School Student desk  & small resource area (above) There is a very large walk in closet in this room that is now the Library/Resource Center. It houses the book shelves, arts and crafts supplies, paper supplies and such. This is so much bigger then the other room. I sit back and wonder how in the world we (I) fit so much into the other room! We do have a few more desks in the new classroom now.

Today I started with a new Pre-K student, we will call him "J" he is 4yo. His aunt approched me and asked if I would consider homeschooling him three days a week. I decided to give it a shot and told her we would try it out and see how he likes it here. He did GREAT today. Having this play area with the toys in the classroom for him and my little one "Z" who is almost 3yo made a huge difference in how the day went today. 

J and Z started on a lapbook today ( D is for Daniel) I got from www.lapbooklessons.com . I found it on Little Blots of Faith under the Lapbook Lessons. I am sure I will share it when they finish. You all know how I love to share pics.  I wasn't sure what the new child would or would not know. He is coming from a public pre-k, Head Start Center.  I am not really sure of where to start but I think the lapbooking will work out great for now.

So anyway this is our new classroom. What started out as just my four has now become my four plus three more . The room change was very needful due to the growth. I am working on another schedule although I find it very hard to stick to a routine. One day at a time is what I keep telling myself. I enjoy doing this more than I could have ever dreamed I would.

Each day is a new begining and another shot at doing this homeschool thing right. Seems each time I get a little weary someone comes along and somehow, someway lets me know this is Gods will for us. When and if I think of doing it any other way I get butterflies, my heart starts to beat too fast and I feel sick to my stomach. Believe me there have been those moments with my oldest who really wants to go to PS that I have felt like throwing in the towel, raising the white flag and giving up and giving in. There was even a day I bought uniforms!!! Yet they are now used for church pants and extra shirts. I can't do it any other way. I must go on. I must perservere. I know in the end it will be worth every moment  to know that I was willing to stick with what God has intended for me to do as the mother to my children. The rewards are evident even now in my children. The pay off for this is much greater than one could ever imagine.

 There are many mothers/fathers out there with the desire to do this (homeschool instead of public) with their children  yet do not have the means, time, or some would say patience (mine runs very thin at times. LOL) to be able to.  The private schools can be very costly and in todays world let's face it, money is a bit harder to come by. The job market isn't so great at the moment. We all know that the public schools are really becoming a place that many christian parents and even those that are not are reluctant to send their children to due to many issues surrounding the public school system and the morals of our society .

I have this feeling that this class is going to grow more and more as we go along here.  I would like to think that maybe I can help by opening my door to be able to help those that want to do this and can't. I do know the parents or aunts or nanas of those I have now and will probably keep it that way. But really, who knows what may be going on here. Oh yeah, I know who....God ! He knows all things.

Well now that I have just rambled on and on and on... I will say Good Night and as always Be blessed.

Stacy