History is back as we reorganize the resource room

I spent most of yesterday purging in the resource room and then today did some more. I realized we haven't worked on history much lately and need to get back to it, so I am going through some online resources and putting History as a focus for a while. The beauty of this is that our Grammar, Writing, Math, etc... will all have a History based theme.
I am using Truthquest History as well as Story of the World Volume 1 as the base but adding in some Lapbook/ Notebook options, Sentence building and story writing options, and digging around for Math problems that fit into the Ancients.
Here is a list of things I will be pulling together to make sure they are on the shelf.

1. gathering the boys' Playmobil guys that fit into the Ancient Category to mix in to our Playmobil Writing box, to  mix it up a bit and incorporate activities they already enjoy.
2. Roman Numeral dice games. I made a set of Roman numeral dice for Cameron last year while we were reviewing Math Mammoth, I will bring those out and put them on the shelf along with some task cards.
3. Creek Edge Press Ancients task cards in a box that will give them an optional activity they can work on.
4. Clay (I have several activities that involve clay activities)


This list along with several websites I have found are pushing me to finish the reorganization of the resource room including the addition of a second Montessori shelf. We currently have 1 that is low and only 2 shelves. This new one is actually an old bookshelf that has 3 shelves the boys can use and 1 shelf plus the top that I can use for Teacher bits and pieces. We still have our cubbies , although they are about to get a good clean out and reorganization as well.
Since we aren't focusing on traditional math and Language for a little bit, the boys have a little more freedom as to what they are going to work on and also where they will work on it.
I'm still looking for more ways to incorporate Cameron's new found computer interests but that will come. (by the way stay tuned this weekend for a new review of a computer science program we have been using)

Our new Blog button shows off the Montessori Shelf set up. It will change slightly once I bring in the second bookcase but you get the idea.

Our cubbie system (aka Mommy's old scrapbook cubes) is also changing slightly We know longer use the cubbies for workboxes so Mom get those back for her office, but the cubbies are awesome for trays of hands on activities.

Can't wait to remove the old file station (huge monster thing) so I can move the bookcase in, of course that means I need to purge some of my  books, guess I should go get started.

Homeschool Computer Center

We are in transition right now, but the boys needed their own computer center set up
Outside my husband is lowering the floor in the loft to create the office/ man cave so in the mean time the office soon to be bedroom for N is on hold and the office (still to remain office just becoming Mommy's) is the center of all things computer and networking.
Two weeks ago I moved the bookcase from the bedroom to the office to start setting up books in a more organized fashion. This past weekend I realized I needed to get the boys' computer center up and running , so quickly converted the middle of the bookcase to a computer station. The monitor and speakers are sitting at the center most spot on the bookcase, leaving 2 shelves above for Mommy's Bible study shelf and Teacher's manuals on a shelf with a 3 drawer piece to sort loose papers in for now.

The end table setting in front of the bookcase include a drawer where I hope to store the keyboard (not the one pictured) so we can use the top of the table for the music keyboard as we begin a new music program with the boys. Thankfully there is also a shelf on the bottom to hold some school books, making it easier for the boys to find some of the community books. Since the whole set up in very short, I added a wooden step stool as a temporary chair. The Computer itself is set up next to the bookcase out of sight but still accessible.

I am hoping to set up a small desk for their computer once I have the layout of this small room figured out, but for now this will work.

There is hope for the future of education in this country. #readmissionpossible

My blog is usually focused on homeschooling, but I know some of my readers are also teachers so I try and share educational information that can be valuable to everyone, that is why I am so excited to share this book.
I love reading books that give me ideas to improve my teaching not just in our homeschool but also in our co-op so this book was received with an open mind.
The Title of the book alone says it all for me. "How the Secrets of the Success Academies can work in ANY school"
Mission Possible by Eva Moskowitz and Arin Lavinia takes a hard look at what is wrong with the public school system but instead of beating a dead horse, they show just how stepping out of the box and getting the kids really excited about learning with teachers that are excited about teaching can really help everyone.  I love the idea that things happen at a faster pace and the kids are excited about school.  I remember being excited about school but also being bored often, I know that at home we have to be careful to keep the excitement level alive.
Several sections of the books really drove the Success Academies ideas home. Peer Reviews are done quickly with issues being addressed the same day so they don't become a bad habit. I LOVE the idea that more reading is key, having even the young Kindergartners are reading books.  I love her idea the students "are short but not stupid".
Teacher training is a huge key and as a homeschool Mom I am always reading and learning more to add to our homeschool. We school year round and usually only 4 days a week of formal "classroom" time, however I want to instill a love of learning in my boys and encourage them to "learn" all the time, that can be shop time with Daddy, helping the neighbor with her fruit stand during the summer, exploring the garden or the pond, any number of non-traditional activities. While they are learning outside or playing and creating their own learning activities I try and get some additional learning in myself, things like online conferences, reading blogs, articles, or books on a subject or style of teaching, any numbers of activities to improve our homeschool. I understand the hours are hard, but I see the value in my boys' smile and excitement when we try and succeed at something new, or when we spend that quiet time together reading a wonderful new book and talking about the charters or the theme, or simply enjoying the story being told.
The included DVD is filled with examples in live classroom which I love. I feel like I can actually put some of these things into action even in our 2 student homeschool. I also love the examples and the raising the bar for everyone.
Here is an interview with one of the authors.



Would you like to read this book? You can win your own copy of the book and included DVD by entering the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and giveaway although all opinions of the book are that of the page owner.

Classroom reorganization

Mike and I reorganized the classroom last week while the boys were staying at Gamma's house.

Here are the results (I'm still tweaking as we settle into the new environment but that is half the fun of homeschooling)

Cameron at his Desk in the Classroom

Set up more Montessori Style with hands on learning activities

the grey drawers moved from the other side of the room.

Garage Sale Find and Classroom Organization

I promise I will finish posting my SchoolHouse Planner review this evening , but for now I have to share our awesome Garage Sale (free) finds from this past weekend.

Sorry about the side ways photo, I'm still learning my linux computer system. The huge metal drawer thing is awesome. 30 drawers! On the far right (bottom of the photo) we have our games (magnet letters, clothespin games , etc..) The center section holds activity center things (file folder games, flash cards, etc..) and the left side (top of the photo) holds worksheets, templates for lapbooks, composition books, etc..  On the top of the drawers are 8 letter sorters stacked 4 x 2. Each of the boys has a side. 1 box per day plus 1 box for projects that are done and need to go into notebooks (waiting for glue to dry,  corrected, etc..). Our weather board hangs above it and yes that is a laundry basket next to it, our classroom is the laundry room.

We rearranged the room a little after settling into a rountine of sorts. Still need to find a teacher chair for Mommy but the boys each have a chair and the table is working better now.



Under the table are their apple crates with their art box and notebook. We will add things to the crates as we need them. We haven't finished our olympics unit yet so the rings moved to the wall (they were on the door during the games.) The large chalkboard above the table is Mommy's board for lessons. The boys each have their own, Cameron's is the big one in the photo.  The table , a vintage 1950's formica table has 2 leaves that pull out from the sides. We pull those out for school time and put them away when we are done. If only 1 boy is working we don't have to pull them out...

We are off to lunch and the library. See you all later.

Lapbook Work Day

Today we worked on our lapbooks about Cars and Route 66.

Nathan decorated his TOT Book  and Cameron worked on a couple word puzzles from his CARS activity book  that we will add to the lapbook.[gallery]

This was also our first day of school in the "Classroom". I found a couple things I need to tweak.. The biggie is a chair or something for Mommy to sit at the table with the boys.  And I still need to work on finding homes for supplies and such... But, overall I think it will work.

Organization and the "classroom"

As we are working out the kinks in our homeschool, I decided to move us to a new "classroom"... Since I needed the wall space for the chalk boards and the calendar and the weather station we needed a new spot... So, we are rearranging the laundry room to do double duty... Keep in mind the room was originally a kitchen when the house was first built in the late 40's so the room is good sized... We also have access to the backyard via the "mud room" so it works out great...

Here are some photos of our organization and the "classroom.

[wp_caption id="attachment_10" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Cameron can draw or write on his chalk board"][/wp_caption]

[wp_caption id="attachment_11" align="aligncenter" width="477" caption="Lapbooks and file folder games"][/wp_caption]

I will post our complete lapbook photos tomorrow... we have our Dragonfly Lapbook done and wanted to share it...  Still working on our "cars" books with both boys, hope to finish up next week.