Posted in Lessons from Our Humble Homeschool

Homeschooling is a challenge in our family.  I learn a lot by trial-and-error (don't we all?).  I would like to share some things that have helped our homeschool days go more smoothly with 3 toddlers "underfoot" during school hours.

* "Interruption" is the name of the game!  Expect to be interrupted -- many, many times!  If you're expecting interruptions, it is much less frustrating when they happen.

* Flexibility is a must!  Very, very few things will go according to your plans. 

----Practical application 1:  I have learned to write my lesson plans in list format rather than by the week or by the day.  (I write lesson plans only for core subjects math, phonics, grammar, etc.)  For instance, I type a list of all the lessons in our Saxon math program and keep it in my lesson plan binder.  As we complete a lesson, I highlight the lesson on my list and write the date next to it.  This way if we only do 3 lessons this week instead of 4, I don't have to adjust my plans for next week.  I just continue on in the same list.

----Practical application 2:  I have changed the way we do unit studies.  I guess its more of a "living books" appproach.  I allow my 2 older children to choose the topics we will study, alternating between the two of them.  I order a handful of non-fiction books, a dozen or more fiction books, and 2 or 3 educational DVDs from the library on each given topic.  We read the books and watch the DVDs as a family.  I log the books and videos on their reading list.  During our reading, either the children or I will be inspired to do a project or two on the topic.  (Sometimes projects are suggested in the back of the books or on the DVD.)  These projects are logged in their notebooks.  Sometimes they will conduct an experiment, put on a puppet show, copy a poem, draw a picture, create a sculpture....  The possibities of learning activities are endless.  The point is, I don't plan these ahead of time anymore.  Planning for oodles of projects took a lot of time and led to disappointment if we weren't able to get to all of them.  Instead, we are inspired as we learn.  I just log our work afterward.

* Involve the little ones whenever you can.  In the mornings, the toddlers are full of energy.  This is when we do our living books studies.  The toddlers are able to sit with us while we read or watch a video.  Often, they are even able to do the projects with us.  For example, big brother and big sister may put on a puppet show for the little ones.  This reinforces what the biggies are learning while entertaining the littlies at the same time.  Many times, the littlies will color a picture while the biggies are drawing or writing.

* Use butcher paper.  My toddlers love when I pull out a long sheet of butcher paper and spread it across the floor.  I hand each of them a crayon or a pencil and let them draw to their heart's content.  (I'm always nearby to be sure no one eats the crayon or pencil. )  This will buy us 15 to 20 minutes.

* Take advantage of quiet time.  After lunch, I put the youngest 2 down for a nap.  My 3-year-old no longer naps, but he will ly down on the sofa near us and watch a movie.  This is when we do our core subjects which require more concentration.

* Utilize novelty.  For the purpose of controlling messes in our home, I took all toys out of my children's bedrooms a couple years ago.  I organized them all by type (Star Wars, Strawberry Shortcake, kitchen, sports, blocks, etc.) into plastic, lidded tubs.  I keep them in a storage room in the basement.  Each child is allowed to have 1 tub in his/her room at a time (which means 5 tubs can be upstairs at once).  If someone wants a new tub, he must make a trade.  All of this to say that when a "new" tub comes upstairs that hasn't been there for a while, it is like brand new toys to toddlers!  So when we are doing a detailed project in the morning or when a little one just won't go down for a nap, I am able to pull out a tub of toys, set it in the middle of the room, and let them play.  They are usually content for 20-30 minutes.  If we're not done but the toddlers are bored with those toys, I help them clean it up and trade for a new tub.

I will add to this list as I come up with more ideas.  So far, these things have made a huge difference in the success of our school days.

~ Layla