yesterday

 

 

I don’t know what go into me yesterday. 

 

 

 

It was errand day. 

 

 

 

I am so blessed to have my mom (Grams) nearby and willing to help out any time I need it.  I don’t remember when…but sometime over the last year or so she started keeping the kids for me once a week.  Errand Day. 

 

 

 

And usually…that’s exactly what it is. 

 

 

 

Trolling aisles at BJs and Stop & Shop.  All business.  Bleh.  I can’t stand food shopping.   

 

 

 

But yesterday something got into me. 

 

 

 

I didn’t buy anything practical at all. 

 

 

 

Instead, my wardrobe is now enhanced with a couple pairs of super cute wide legged linen pants from Lane Bryant. I couldn’t resist that beautiful “thanks for everything you do” dress for Grams either.  Especially with the additional 60% off!  A long grey skirt, a cute little tank and a lightweight coat were 75% off scores from Target!  Oh…and I finally bought those adorable red polka dotted oven mitts that I’ve been eyeing forever.  I got my hair cut too (it’s been over a YEAR!).  Regis was having a $9.95 special.  And know what?  It really doesn’t look too bad!  I spent hours just walking the aisles.  Touching this.  Studying that.  Getting absolutely nothing important done.  Just blowing a whole day. 

 

 

 

Errand Day somehow morphed into Me Day.   

 

 

 

And it was awesome! 

 

 

Of course…now the fridge is bare.  But at least I’ll look cute in wide legged linen sweet-ness when I tell the kids it’s cereal for dinner tonight!     

 

 

…danielle

we’re gonna make it

 

 

Thanks to modern technology we had several days to prepare for Hurricane Irene’s debut. 

 

 

The most important thing on our Hurricane Survival List was making sure we had all of Trevy’s meds stocked up.  Because it’s worst case scenario to run out of seizure meds!  We stocked up on water and non-perishables.  Bought 4 pizzas, cause we all like to munch pizza even when it’s cold.  No soda though.  We’re trying to kick the habit.  Turned the fridge up to the highest setting.  Cleaned the cooler in preparation of being filled with perishables during the storm so we wouldn’t have to open the fridge.  Filled every jug we own with water.  Set the coffee pot for the wee hours of the morning to ensure we had our morning brew.  Batteried up all the flashlights.  Forgot to charge the mini dvd player.  But that just meant more game playing.  Games are so much more fun by candle and flash light.  We learned a lot about surviving power outages during our Tanzanian tour.  So we felt ready to handle whatever may blow in.  But to be honest, we didn’t think it would be much of much because most Hurricanes down grade to little more than gusty non-damaging winds by time the make up here. 

 

 

Hurricane Irene did down grade.

 

 

However, her gusty winds did not!

 

 

I’m happy to report that humongous tree across the way never so much as budged!  But we were still among the 270,000 who went dark for most of the day.  The kids never really knew the difference.  Except that maybe we spent more time playing games than normal.  But I think they rather enjoyed that part.

 

 

We made it through just fine.

 

 

…danielle

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids (a TOS review)

 

 

  A few posts ago I shared my TOS Backstory.  The one where I admitted it’s been years since I’ve read a parenting book.  Maybe even looked at one?  Not because I’ve got it all figured out.  Come spend a day with me…and you’ll see that’s not why!  But you’ll also get a pretty good taste of how busy Trevy is full life is at our place - which leaves little to no time for reading much of anything.  This past year though…things have started to shift.  Trevy will actually sit for 5 minutes in a row with his iPad.

 

 

For my first ever review, I felt drawn to this little book.  (Holy Spirit, is that you?!)  And let me just pause and say Thank You God it’s little!  I mean, it’s been years, people.  He knew I needed to start slow!   

 

 

I’m SO happy I requested to review it too.  It may be a little book…but right from the get-go it’s filled with nuggets of beautiful thoughts and inspiration and reminders about what this journey called mommy-hood is really all about.  I love Rachel Carmen’s style.  She’s very down-to-earth.  Very honest.  Very relate-able.  All things that are important to me.     

 

 

I laughed and cried and pondered and heart-connected my way through the pages.  You know a book’s worth reading when you’re thinking about something the author said days after you put put it down.  How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids is a book that will have you doing just that! 

 

 

If you’re like me and it’s been years since you’ve even thought about possibly maybe trying to sink your teeth into a parenting book…

 

 

I would definitely recommend How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids!  If your heart needs to connect with another mom and be refreshed…this is the book for you.  $13.00 plus S&H purchases a copy of your own.  Actually, I’m thinking Christmas gifts?  Make sure to visit Apologia Educational Ministries Inc.  (See, I’ve made it easy and linked it right in for you!) where you’ll find H.E.A.R.T and other wonderful resources.      

 

 

 

And I’m not recommending this product just because I got it for free either! Although I am required by law to let my readers know I did receive this book at no cost to myself with the understanding that I would provide honest and timely feedback.  The opinions shared here are mine.  Consider yourself disclaimed.  Smile.   

 

 

…danielle

the homeschool mother’s journal

 

 

In my life this week…

 

Well, let’s see.  Hurricane Irene is swishing and splashing her way towards us.  I sure hope that humongous tree our neighbors totally should have cut down last year plays nice.  Or at the very least falls on their house and not ours!  We don’t really get much Hurricane action in New England.  But it’s been awhile and we’re due.  In other non-weather news…our Special Olympics volunteer training was a HIT!  And we’re SO excited for our first game day!  School is peeking right around next week’s corner.   

 

 

In our homeschool this week…

 

We’re still summer breaking.  But I’ve been busy getting things organized and all set up.  Posters hung.  Workboxes loaded.  Schedule cards made, if not laminated.  Only one or two books left to buy.  So the other night I decide to call the kiddos in and go through their boxes one at a time.  Just as a refresher that, yes, you’re still school aged.  Also…I was totally excited.  The smell of fresh paper and new crayons makes me giddy.  I thought they’d share the enthusiasm.  Yeah.  Not so much.  But at least they’ve been warned!     

 

 

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

 

Ordinarily I’d feel like I have nothing to contribute here and I’d skip right over. But.  I found a great way to squeeze in a little PE plus eliminate The Uglies.  Seriously.  I should market this idea.  Cause it’s so working and that’s so wonderful!

 

Are your kids like mine and sometimes its seems like all they do is fight with each other?  The live long day?  Especially during summer…when there’s so much free-time!  Well…I finally (after gobs of other trial and error techniques) found a keeper mommy move to cure The Uglies.  

 

They have to run a lap around the house any time I hear them using an ugly voice with each other. 

 

I love it!  No more yelling for them to stop!  And then feeling guilty like they’re just mirroring me.  Now, all I do is say “that’s one”!  And away they go to run off the grumpies one lap at a time!  And as a side bonus…they’re playing together more.  At this very moment, they’re up to their elbows in legos.  Playing and building together.  Love it!  Hope it keeps working for at least another month! 

 

 

My fave thing this week was…

 

Gee.  I don’t know.  I’ve had lots of really sweet moments this week.  It’s hard to choose just one.  Every now and then I’ll have a sappy week.  This is that week. 

 

 

A photo (or 10) to share…

 

 

 

Now you know I’m such a sap!  Whose heart wouldn’t melt with those little faces filling it up everyday?!

 

 

Visit here for other homeschool mommy journals.

 

 

…danielle

I want to be hyper organized but…

 

I really don’t have a schedule set up yet. 

 

Or at least not a hyper organized schedule.

 

I want to be hyper organized.  I just don’t think it’s my style.  Slightly organized looks better on me.  Especially because it always stresses me out when I try too hard. 

 

 

 

Also…

 

 

I’m thinking it’ll take the first month just to figure out which subjects are going to require more intensive mommy help.  Those will need to be done first.  While Trevy-Monster is in school.  Because once he’s home…it’s all over!  

 

For the first week, I’m going to keep notes on how long each subject takes to complete.  That will guide how we set up our more organized schedule. 

 

 

 

Last year I had created a poster board center for Toby.  I really liked it and knew I wanted to do the same again this year.  So when I found these bulletin boards for just FIVE buckaroos…I was over the moon!  I knew they’d work perfectly instead of poster board! 

 

 

 

To make my subject cards I just bought some scrapping paper that I knew the kiddos would like.  Glittery for her.  Baseball for him.  I was planning to use cute white letters for hers but I made the mistake of taking her with me to Target.  And when she saw those super ugly bright and sparkly letters in the dollar section she beeeeegged to use them instead.  And even though I think it’s, like, way too busy…she’s in love with all the sparkle.  I try to remind perfectionistic self to chill out and let them have fun.  And who cares how gaudy her cards look anyway!  I mean, maybe she’s going to be a famous fashion designer or something when she grows up.         

 

 

 

The plan is to have the kiddos remove the subject card once completed. 

 

They’ll put their folder (I keep a week’s worth of work in a folder in their workbox) and the subject card into a bin.  Until at last no more subject cards are in those super cute little pocket charts.  Another Target dollar section goodie!  Last year I used a plastic dishtub for all the completed work.  I’ll probably use it again this year.  If I can clear all the clutter out of it!

 

My family has an aptitude for shoving “treasures” into any open spaces.  Drawers.  Workboxes.  Sides of beds.  Completed work tubs…

 

 

 

 

The Subject (to change) Weekly Plan currently looks like this:

 

Monday  

• Open & Bible (we do this together) 
• Math
• Language Arts
• Civics (or Social Studies if you’re still calling it that too)
• Geography
• Science
• Reading
• Piano
• Journal

Tuesday

• Open & Bible
• Math
• Language Arts
• Civics
• Science
• Reading
• Piano

Wednesday

• Open & Bible
• Math
• Language Arts
• Civics
• Reading
• Piano
• Art
• Journal

Thursday

• Open & Bible
• Math
• Language Arts
• Civics
• Reading
• Piano
• Typing

Friday

• Open & Bible
• Math
• Language Arts
• Civics
• Reading
• Piano
• PE
• Journal

 

 

 

And there ya have it.  But…like any good homeschooling mommy…this plan will slowly shift over the school year as we learn more about what works when and what doesn’t work…and all that jazz. 

 

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to checking out what other home educatin’ families are doing over at…

 

 

5th grade reading list and fun book report project

I was torn between purchasing a pre-packaged reading program (because I’m lazy) or just using some elbow greased internet researching and our local library. 

In the end…our budget made the decision for me!  Library and elbow grease it is.     This post is because I’m nice (lazy people can be nice too!)…and thought it might help another 5th Grader mommy out if I were to share our reading list.  Our reading list was inspired by other homeschooling moms at The Homeschool Lounge ,Sonlight catalogues, and narrowed down to which books are available at our local library.  Have I mentioned how much I love that our library is fully web-integrated?  I already have his reading list all set up.  Now all I have to do is log in and choose the book I want to request next!  I can even organize my lists by subject or child or whatever.  It’s SO great!  

Let’s start with Read Alouds.  What are Read Alouds anyway?  I actually googled that term and what I learned is that Read Alouds are any book one reads out loud.  Profound, right?  Typically, Read Alouds are fun and easy to read.  Last year, I already started trying (key word alert - trying) to read aloud to the kiddos for a few minutes each day.  We enjoyed several Junie Bs together.  This year I’m going to try alternating between a book he likes and a book she likes.  It’s an experiment. 

5th Grade Read Aloud List

Around the World in 80 Days (we’re already digging into this one during Trevy’s Speech Therapy on Weds afternoons)
Seabird
Island of Blue Dolphins
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Journey to Jo’burg
All the Small Poems
The Sugar Creek Gang Series    

  5th Grade Independent Reading List

Water Sky
Henry Reed, Inc
Call it Courage
The Cat Who Went to Heaven
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Silkworms
Just So Stories
Star of Light
Homesick
King of the Wind
Aladdin and Other Favorite Arabian Nights
Li Lun, Lad of Courage
Louise-Braille – The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind
Born in the Year of Courage

Really Cool Book Report Idea

While I don’t officially test him on the books he reads, I do have him write a book report after each final chapter.  While out cyber idea gleaning today, I found this really really really great idea all created into printables and everything for me.  Remember, I’m lazy.    Each part of a sandwich is used as a guide to share his thoughts about the book complete with color guide instructions.   Which means it can count as a little Art too!  Love that!  I probably won’t use this method for every book report…that might be a little over kill.  But popping it into his folder every now and then’ll be fun.   

That’s our 5th Grade Reading for this year! 

…danielle

meet other mommies!

 

 

I draw SO much inspiration from the moms I find in blog-ville!

 

Which totally explains the silly grin I’m sporting right now.  Well, also a friend is bringing me donuts.  Chocolate donuts. 

 

BUT

 

I’m really looking forward to blog hopping with this great link up too!

 

 

 

 

…danielle

peace of mind passing

I am a chronic fretter. 

No choice ever goes without a good round of second guessing.  The harder the decision – the worse the sleep loss!   

And the further into this homeschooling thing I’ve ventured…the more I’ve found myself worrying that I don’t measure up.  Especially as the core academics grow in intensity and difficulty.  Oh…I read all the encouraging articles and blog posts.  I flip through my HSLD magazine when I get a chance.  And I remind myself often that our choice to home educate isn’t entirely about academics.  I cling to the Scriptures.  And they help alleviate my symptoms. But ever so slowly doubt will creep back in.  Are we making a mistake?  Is this all wrong?  What if he could become more with a different choice?  The questioning flies despite my knowing that we’ve prayed and feel Peace over this decision.  Somewhere over the course of this past year, I decided for me, having Toby take a standardized test would help my heart immensely.  If he passed, I mean.  Although, Lord knows, I’ve fretted about that too!  Because, seriously, I’ve graded his papers!   

I don’t remember how, but I found this online version of the CAT (California Achievement Test).  Maybe it was the nostalgia of knowing that’s the testing I took during my school years?  Maybe it’s the ease of being able to schedule the test according to my availability?  All I know for sure is, I knew that I knew I needed him to take it.  Not for him so much, as for me.

Testing happened today.  And although I won’t go into specific specifics, I’m happy to report that he tested average or above in everything!  My heart is SO relieved!  Seriously, relieved!  And just in case some of you have battled similar feelings and think having your kiddos take a standardized test might help your heart too…here are some things I’ve learned.   

• Order the test beforehand.  Online does not mean instant!  It takes about 24 hours to process before you get the code.
• Remind your child that this test will have questions ranging from 1st to 12th grade and he should not be intimidated if something seems too difficult but should just do his best.  
• Make sure to have scrap paper and pencil ready for those pesky math problems.
• Speaking of pesky math problems, no matter how smart your student thinks he is make him check his work!  Toby is a mental math guy, which is great.  But he still makes mistakes and checking his work is important!  I let him calculate mentally and then check it on scratch paper.  
• Take breaks.  I didn’t realize we could take breaks between each section.  This is important!  Especially if you have a fidgety kid!  But hey…he survived. 
• Make sure to go over the sample questions WITH your student.  The timer will not start until the sample questions have been discussed.  However, if you have a less than patient child like I do, he may or may not try to get started on the next session without you and may or may not find himself totally lost which may or may not mean a portion of that section will cost precious time because he’ll have to go back and make corrections.  All of which could have been avoided had he waited to start the next section with his teacher!  Which is why you need to… 
• Stay with your student!  I tried getting him set up and then leaving the room.  This was to prevent either of us from being tempted to “cheat”.  The only trouble is…he gets distracted way too easily!  And he proceeded into new sections without telling me.  About four sections in, I decided I needed to sit in the same room for the duration.  But…
• Resist the urge to watch every.single.choice.  It will drive you bonkers!  And you don’t want to skew the results with frowny face encouraged do-overs.  If you start feeling frustrated go put on another potta joe.  Or make sure you have a book you’ve been itching to read on hand.    That’s what I shoulda done.  
• The Language sections are a little tricky.  They are a complete story but each line is broken up which can be a little confusing.  The print copy may be less so than the online version? 
• Lastly…try to relax!  The thought occurred to me after the fact - of course he’d do well!  Studies support the idea that the smaller the student to teacher ratio…the better the learning.     

I feel so good we may have to do dinner at Applebees (cause kids eat free) tonight in celebration!   

…danielle

with a face that cute

 

 

5th Grade.  Oh my.  Wasn’t it yesterday his daddy and I were desperately hoping the nurses would recommend another day in the birthing suite because we were terrified to bring him home?

 

 

I never intended to homeschool, you know.  It was only going to be for that one semester.  The one we made a last minute decision to come home (from The Bush)  for the birth of our youngest…never dreaming our whole life was about to change.  But change it did and here we are…four years later.  The crazy thing is…I’m still home educating!  And know what?  I kinda sorta love it!  Mostly.  I mean, I totally have those days where I wonder what the heck I was thinking.  Don’t we all?  But then we’ll have one of those moments.  The beautiful cherish-licious moments.  The kind I’m worried I’d be missing if he were off and away 8 hours every day.  The kind I get to experience inside and out because…he’s not.  He’s right here with me.  And I have the amazing gift of being his teacher.  I’ve had the joy of watching him grow.  Not just academically…but in the soul too.  This past year has been one of change.  He’s no longer my baby.  Or at least he won’t let me call him that anymore.  Suddenly he’s so tall and filling out his clothes.  His thoughts are complex and he’s articulate when sharing them.  He’s growing up.  Becoming a young man.  And I truly couldn’t be more proud of him!   

 

 

And then there’s her…

 

 

 

 

My (almost a) 1st Grader.  Dimples and sass.  Lover of anything crafty and convinced there’s never enough glitter.  She’s my nurturer by Design.  Always the first to sense if someone needs a cuddle and to make sure they get it.  And then some.  Loves to be tickled and help her baby brother learn new things.  Even if she’s not a fan of learning the academics herself.  But smart as a whip anyway.  A tender old soul.  I often wonder what her Life holds – with a heart that big…  Smile.  She attended our local PS for Kindergarten last year and enjoyed it.  It was only a half day program, otherwise I’m sure she’d have complained!  Especially because the thing she’s most excited about homeschooling this year is being promised we’d make sure to take lots of breaks (her declared favorite subject is – recess) and she can wear her jammies the whole live long day!  Unless we have somewhere to be.  But shhhhhhh…I haven’t broken that news to her yet!    

 

 

 

And we can’t forget the little guy.  I’m allowed to still call him my baby.  He doesn’t have the choice.  It’s written somewhere in the Mommy Rule Book.  Wink.  His therapeutic needs are intensive enough that we feel the best choice (for now) is the little integrated preschool he attends four days a week.  There his days are filled with Speech Therapy, ABA Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy…and lots of little friends to romp around and discover the world with.

 

But that doesn’t mean he’s off the learning hook at home!  Oh no.   He’s totally on my student roster for this year too! 

 

 

 

Participating in the…

 

 

 

…where this week’s topic is all about the inspiration!

My TOS Backstory (review & give-away coming soon)

 

As a new mom I couldn’t get enough parenting resources.  I scoured websites.  Devoured books.  Attended MOPS groups.  Craved opportunities to pick “been there done that” brains.  I was hungry.  Ravenous!  Especially because I felt mommyhood was WAY over my head.  I was in deep and needed HELP!  Have you ever chatted with a mom who said her first was a cake-walk…it was the second that threw her for a loop?  Yeah.  That wasn’t me.  Our first was(IS) a tough cookie right outta the shoot.   (Otherwise known as Strong-Willed for those fluent in Dr. Dobson-ese) Hence the passion for learning how to be his mom.       

 

 

My first plunge into mommy-ness.  Sigh.  I tell him often he’s lucky that face is so cute.  Smile.   

 

 

By time Little Miss Second came around (four years later) I was more comfy with my role as mommy.  Also…our life was full to the brim with preparations for moving to The Bush.  (We played missionary in Tanzania, East Africa until our lives were Providentially redirected)  There was zilcho time for books.  And besides…I’d already read them all.  It didn’t hurt that Bristel was easy-peasy from the get-go.  In fact, she was such a peach that when she was just beginning to toddle-waddle around I looked at her daddy with a gleam in my eye and asked how he felt about a third?  Three is the new two, didn’t you know. 

 

 

And so Blessing Number Three came along with his sweet soulful eyes, cheeky grins, and catastrophic medical needs.  Needs which again…left no time for reading (other than anything to do with a crash course in neurology).  The last four years have been about surviving.  Breathing.  Clinging.  Moment by moment.  And if I’m completely honest…I’m only just now feeling like I have my feet back under me.  Like I might have energy and room to think about things other than seizures and surgeries and toxic meds and all the very heavy and intensive information that goes hand-in-hand with loving a child with chronic, catastrophic needs. 

 

 

My first breath in this new air on the other side of survival (or The Healing Side, as I like to say) was when I chose to launch my homeschooling blog.  As a way to remind myself that there is more in my life than seizures and the havoc they wreak.  To remind myself that I’m a mommy of more than one.  I have three beautiful blessings.  Each with unique needs to study and learn.   The other two deserve to know they’re just as special even if their challenges are other than medical. 

 

 

My second breath was applying for the TOS Crew.  Six months ago, I would have shriveled at the energy it will require of me.  But I’m beginning to feel alive again.  And on a whim I sent an email.  To be honest, I thought I’d get a standard “try again next year” response.  I was totally blown away that I was accepted!  Blown away and humbled and so, SO excited because, really, who doesn’t love trying out products for free?!  (I probably should try reward based motivation more often with the kiddos since clearly it works for me!)  Free products are especially a blessing for those of us with Special Needs eaten budgets!  Can you feel me glowing?    The glow is multi-layered.  I’m glowing because I was accepted and already have connected with some beautiful other moms.  I just know we’re going to be friends.  And I’m glowing because my heart is feeling something other than just Sadness.  Poor girl.  She has been beaten.  Battered.  Bruised.  Broken into smithereens.  Sad has been a constant companion these past four years.  But, I feel something else wiggling it’s way upward from the deepest, darkest parts of me?  Hope?  It’s been so long since I’ve felt anything other than Stressed Out and Sad that I’m not quite sure.  And the broken pieces of my heart blockade any sweeping predictions.  But the flutter is there.  Like the butterflies of my little beans when they swam in my belly…I can feel it.  Just a whisper.  It feels good.  I think it feels like Hope. 

 

 

My third gasp of air was applying for my first product to review.  Ironically…a book.  A parenting book.  How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids.  It’s literally been at least six years since I’ve dug into one of those.  But when the little online blurb spoke to me, I felt like maybe I could?  Maybe I should?  So I did.  And now that I’m several chapters deep…I can tell you I have needed this.  In fact, the Introduction spurred the sappy right out of me with this line alone…

 

 

“ God is so good to go before us, leading us to places we never intended to be, much less wanted to go.”         

 

--excerpt from How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for your kids

by Rachael Carman; pg. 11

 

 

And yet.  Here we are…

 

 

Because like Solomon the Wise once said. There is a season for everything. 

 

 

…danielle    

who doesn’t love free spelling & math tools?

I’m honored and a wee bit overwhelmed to be joining the TOS Crew this year. 




I’ve already been digging into my first item to review.  Hint:  It’s a wonderful mommy read.   

But when I was added to the list for BigIQkids.com even though I hadn’t expressed interest…I was a little.  Um.  Worried?  It felt like it might be too big for me.  But I knew this could happen.  Still.  I had a knot in my tummy (preschoolers much?).   

But then today… 

When I was able to more fully explore their website.  Now I’m all jazzed about this wonderful opportunity.  And know what?  I think you might like them too.  If you haven’t already found BigIQkids…I totally think it would be worth your time to head over there and take advantage of the free spelling & math accounts!  I’ll fill you on the premium accounts eventually.

…danielle    

my “tidy cause school isn’t in session yet” classroom tour

 

 

 

I daydream about my school room looking like I moonlight for IKEA on the side. 

 

A girl can dream, right?

 

But the reality is…I have too many kids, not enough time, too many dishes (and sheesh…now I just remembered the load of laundry I need to get in the dryer before it starts to smell too!) and not a stretchy enough budget to have the homeschool room of my dreams today.  I’m not super patient, either.   

 

But in the meantime…this is how I make due.  Do not be deceived.  It only looks so tidy because we have not officially started school yet and the Hubs watched the kiddos yesterday so I could clean!  He’s sweet like that.   

 

 

I use the IKEA trofast system for our workboxes.  LOVE.  Only, I can’t seem to figure out how I want to label them?  Sigh.

 

I store Trevy’s Montessori trays waaaaay up high on the top desk shelf (pictured above).  Where his curious little fingers cannot reach.  Thereby preventing his curious little mouth from choking on the pattern blocks we’re using this month for at home fine-motor therapy.  Actually, I have to make sure all the workboxes are Trevy proof.  He’s very oral which means no scissors, crayons, or glue stix in the boxes for us.  Modifying is fun though.  Forces me to be creative.     

 

 

I found the bulletin boards (pictured above) at Staples for a $5 steal!  Yes, I’m bragging.   They’ll be replacing the poster board centers I used last year. 

 

So far I have mounted little pocket charts I picked up in Target’s $1 section.  I’m planning to use them for their workboxing schedules.  Not sure what will fill the remaining space yet.   

 

 

Trevy has the two workboxes on the far left.

 

Bristel (1st Grader) has the four in the middle.  I double up subjects in the boxes.

 

Toby (5th Grader) has the green boxes over on the right. 

 

 

 

I just think my Chick a Chick a Boom Boom Tree is too cute not to share.  I didn’t make it though.  Trevy’s home therapist gets props for that.  I did however laminate the alphabet letters.  Soooooo…

 

 

For more homeschool room inspiration visit these other great blogs…

 

 

Heart of the Matter’s “Not” Back to School Blog Hop 

The Homeschool Post

Living Sola Gratia

follow me friday link-up

 

 

I love the linky party happening over at Molding Minds Homeschool!  It’s a great way to meet new “friends”.  I always enjoy exploring new blogs for inspiration and encouragement.  

 

So if you are a FAMILY FRIENDLY blogger and want to participate here are the directions:

 

1. Add your blog using the Mr Linky at the bottom of the post.

2. Post a small blurb linking back to this blog post.

3. Follow at least 3 of the blogs already linked (the first few will have to come back later in the day to get 3).

4. Comment on their blog letting them know that you are following from Follow Me Friday at Molding Minds.

5. Follow anyone that comments on your blog.

 

 

Click me to join the fun! 

 

…danielle

summer gift for mommy

Take a look at the brand new Summer digital edition of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. TOS is offering this digital issue of the magazine totally free with no strings attached. Enjoy this free gift from TOS—no registration or email address required to view the magazine!

click the picture for more deets

Always filled with wonderful insights, ideas, and more.  It’s totally worth a look-see.   

Happy (last few days of) Summer!

…danielle