• Aug. 7, 2007
How hot is it??
Whew, it's hot outside....and super humid. The heat index today is about 110 - nasty! Way too hot to do anything outside, so I decided this afternoon to deep-clean and organize our den/computer/schoolroom. This is something I like to do every year to get it ready for the upcoming school year. It's a good time to pack away curriculum the older boys are done with, sell anything I won't need again, and just start getting ready. I always feel better after this task is done. There's lots of bookshelves (and books) in this room so it really tends to collect dust. This small bookshelf is what I use to keep current schoolbooks in, math manipulatives and a bin for our library books. Talk about dust!! It all had to come out.
Cleaned-up, reorganized, in with the new and out with the old:
Then I worked my way around the whole room, doing basically the same thing. Not all of this year's books are in there as some are still on order. Once they arrive I'll need to dig in and get some lesson planning and scheduling done.
All of which got me thinking about Randi's "Back to Homeschool Week" over at her blog. (if you couldn't care less about homeschooling and you're here only for goat pictures, skip this part 
) The topic for today is "how do you homeschool." We'll be starting our 11th year of homeschooling this year. The "how" has changed and evolved over time as the children get older. When I had little ones, I kept to a pretty structured schedule which enabled me to keep a baby, then a toddler, then a preschooler happy and still have teaching time with the older ones. (not as hard as it sounds) Now I have a high school, a middle school, and an elementary school student. The older ones are more responsible for their own schedule these days . Everybody gets an assignment sheet with their week's work on it. The boys can easily work independently while I'm helping each of them separately. It's kind of hard to summarize, but after all these years we've just got a rhythm we've fallen into and it works. (And a big part of this depends on me taking the time in the summer to pre-plan.) As for educational philosophy, I guess you could call me a combo of Charlotte Mason and classical. I've never used just one all-inclusive curriculum like Abeka. I avoid heavy use of textbooks and seatwork when they are very young. We use narration techniques and nature journals. We study history chronologically and use living books as much as possible. As they've gotten older, textbooks become more and more prominent, naturally. Most of their work is done at the kitchen table, although they do their reading all over the house. It'd be easy to write lots more on this topic, but that's pretty much it in a nutshell.
Back to crafting: I still haven't quite finished the baby blanket. I couldn't go to the shower as it was during the sheep show, so I figured as long as I have it done any time before baby arrives mid-September, it's all good.
I'll go back to the blanket once I finish this little guy, who's being done "on commission" for my mom, who wants to give him to someone with an August bday.
Gnome-in-progress:
Hope everyone's staying cool. The boys have another small fair to do this Friday & Saturday so I really hope the heat breaks before then!
Comments
• Aug. 8, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Good day to stay inside where it's cool! And I'm sure it feels great to have the homeschooling materials gone through and organized! I only homeschooled one year, but have great respect for those who do it well. Sounds like you do!
The gnome is coming along nicely.. can't wait to see him in his final state!
I'll be praying for the heat to break for the weekend! Don't you hate how hard this is on the animals???
janice
• Aug. 8, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by Danielle
You're boys are super lucky to have you as a mom:) You'll always cherish the fact that you've had such an active role in their lives by homeschooling them. It's so neat to read about it, because of course my kids are in public school. They go back pretty quick, Aug.21st. I've just been getting supplies together from around the house that we save from the year before, and thing we might already have on hand. Nothing so labor intensive as what you've been cleaning through! Lesson plans just sound way beyond me too LOL.
I feel for you about having to sit under a log cabin blankie while it's THIS hot out, at least you've been taking a break to knit one of your cutie-pie Gnomes. I love those guys, they always make me smile:) Btw, I asked a couple of people on ravelry about the red heart mcintosh yarn and where they got it, so I hope to hear back from them soon. I'm gonna hopefully be able to check a few stores this week, wish me luck in finding it. Boy--this was a humdinger of a long comment. Sorry!!LOL ;)
• Aug. 8, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by woolwinder
I need you at my house. I still have closets to clean.
Homeschooling is not something I ever considered doing, but I found it interesting to read how you go about it.
I love those little gnomes.
• Aug. 8, 2007
WooHoo!
Posted by Thimbleanna
Now you're looking all spiffy and clean! I keep thinking I should tackle my dust and corners, but stuff just keeps getting in the way. Although I come here for goats and sheep and knitting and sewing and INSPIRATION ;-) it's very interesting to read about your home schooling. It sounds really cool and fun. I often think how different our lives might have been if I'd chosen that path. We'll be whizzing by you on I-80 tomorrow -- I'll be waving out my window! ;-) That gnome looks cute -- can't wait to see him done.
• Aug. 8, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Karen, what fun! Are your boys looking forward to being back to school? I didn't know that you homeschooled on top of everything else. Color me impressed!
~Kelli
• Aug. 8, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by SimpleFolk
I stayed inside to clean, too! It really IS too hot! I just wanted to let you know that my homestead blog is having some major tech problems, so I'll be hanging out here in my "schoolhouse" until it gets fixed! (Oh, how I hope I don't have to start all over..) Thanks for visiting--I'm glad you liked the duck, LOL.
Amy
• Aug. 10, 2007
spring cleaning
Posted by psalm127
That is what I came in here to do, but I have gotten side tracked by reading blogs. I need to put my stuff in order because I should be getting my books in about a week or so......I hope. I really need to rework my schedual. Summer has made everything go to pot.Oh Well. Looks good.
• Aug. 15, 2007
Gnomes
Posted by Tee
I Have been trying forever to get my hands on a copy of that gnome pattern, to no avail. Is there any chance you would be willing to let me have a copy.
Yours in desparation
Tee
