First Week of School 2015: School Room set-up and what we use for Bible, Math and Science

Here is short video of our homeschool room set -up and what we are using for Bible, Math and Science.

Video of Homeschool Room set-up and what we use...

  We started school today after a 2 month break that went by super fast!  The kids were all begging to start school...yes, begging.   So, I decided, yeah---we can start slowly and just do 3 or 4 subjects and then add in the rest the following week.

Bible Study Guide for All Ages - Beginners

BSGFAA - intermediate

Filling out calendars for Math

We are using Bible Study Guide for All Ages http://biblestudyguide.com/families.php  This is new for us.  I chose NOT to print it out on my own.  Instead, I bought them printed and bound and ready to go.  It really is an open and go type of Bible Study and I like that.  The only thing it does not have are memory verses to go with the lessons.  So I'm continuing to use Hubbard Cupboard's Character Trait Tune Charts: http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/character_activities.html#CharacterTraitTuneCharts


We are continuing with CLE (Christian Light) for Math.  It is a favorite for it's ease of teaching, instruction, approach and scope/sequence.  The entire first light unit is review of the previous grade.  It helps highlight an area if they need to practice or have it re-explained before proceeding with new concepts.  https://www.clp.org/store/by_subject/4

We are also trying something new for Science this year: Lifepac https://www.aop.com/lifepac_overview  I like that it is low prep for me and they all have a Science that is on their own grade levels.

Lastly, we try to prepare for Presentations each day before Friday.  Classical Conversations ensures that each student has 2-3 minutes to give a Presentation to their class.  This is such a great opportunity to work on Public Speaking skills.  We take the inch by inch approach---a little practice or prep each day before Presentation.

Next week, I will share what we are using for Phonics, Handwriting, Spelling, Writing, Literature, History and Memory Work.

Blessings!
K

Our School Room 2013

This is the view of our room as you walk in the door.  

This is the 'window' wall to the right.  There's our green couch, the white Ikea 'side' school table, calendar and art work.

 

The small wall on the right side of the window...calendar and small 3m hooks for our activity calendars and chore charts.  CLE learning to read cards are starting to line the door frame. 

Closer look at calendar and hooks.  I have our CC community calendar, family Google calendar printed out, kids ministries at our church calendar, and kids chore charts.

Another look at this table...I rotate puzzles and activities on the two shelves.  You can see that I use ordinary binder clips and 3m hooks for displaying work.   There are CLE sight word cards under the window trim, too. 

This white Ikea kids table is no longer sold.  But, I love it for the two shelves below.  I use this space for a lot of 1 on 1 time with kids.  I sit on the sofa as the child works at the table. 

Over and around the sofa are 3m hooks and binder clips to display artwork and school papers. Those are never in short supply.

The center of the room---our Ikea gateleg table.  This by far my favorite homeschool furniture purchase.  The stools are also from Ikea and work well with it.  I love that it folds down on both sides for extra floor space and room.

There are drawers on each side for a total of 6 deep drawers. 

You can see how this table folds.  However, we usually leave it out and occasionally fold up one side. 

In the corner, is our current 'extra' books for the week.  They are supporting books from our home library or the local library for the weeks' History or Science focus.

Above the table are these three boards.  I believe all of them are from Hobby Lobby.  The whiteboard on the right is the 'teaching' board.  That is where I write out examples and teach.  The whiteboard on the left is used for our schedule and behavior/attitude chart.  The center peg board has Prayer charts/schedule, our current Bible/Character focus and sibling rules chart.

A closer look at that center peg board and our 'tool box' of supplies.  That bin houses regular plastic cups full of pencils, colored pencils, dry erase markers, scissors and glue.  It also has two clipboards, maps, counting charts, dry erase pages handy for easy access.

A look at our schedule.  The red is behavior/attitude.  Bottom line if you have 3 sad faces = no reward for the day.  If you do not have 3 sad faces you get 15 min. DS or Kindle time and a pick from our candy jar.  If you get three smiley faces you get extra 15 minutes of DS/Kindle.  It works for us...and Dad can see how the day went as far as attitudes and behaviors go. 

The other corner houses one portion of our Legos.  These help the boys when I am reading a lot out loud.  Also our youngest likes to play in the room with us after his school work is done. 

A peak of one of the drawers...it can fit a lot;)

The wall opposite the window...TV and bookshelf, pics and closet.

This is another one of my favorite homeschool furniture pieces: Ikea Expedit.  There are two cubbies for me plus each of the kids (top/bottome).  My top cubby has Ikea mag. holders with coloring books, drawing books, file folder games, Bible and an atlas.  My basket house all of the teacher's manuals that I need for this semester.  The kid' top cubbies have their portfolio binder, any individual subject binder they need, a mag file for extra work or work not completed and they fave activity books.  Their bottom baskets hold all of their workbooks and assignments plus their supply box. 

To the left of the tv are the current 'books of the week'.  This week it is: Blueberries for Sal for our youngest.  For our oldest two: Patrick the Patron St. or Ireland (Medieval Period)

A different view...not a whole lot of room but totally doable.

Kinder girl working.  The stools are stackable and also from Ikea.  It was one stop shopping for me there;)

On the other side of the tv is a clear paper holder/organizer from Office Depot.  It houses our planners from A Plan In Place.

Here are the shelves and cubbies.  (I greened out names.)

This Filetastic hanging file is from Mardel.  This is probably my favorite store--ever;) 

A peak inside our school closet. 

This is the other side of the closet.  This one closet helps with organization of the entire room.  It stores, supplies, books, paper, printer, files, etc, etc....

This room always seems to have someone in it working or......

playing;

I'm sharing this post on:http://www.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/school-room-week-2013/

Preschool and Toddler Activity Plans 2011-2012

Well, they are finally done!  I finally have the activity plans for Sissy and Lil Bear ready.  I am pretty excited about the fun and learning we are going to have this year.  I probably get asked what am I going to do with my younger two the most often.  For those interested, this is what I plan on doing.  I know full well that the best laid plans may not work out.  So, what I did was put together ideas, links and activities from some of my favorite preschool and toddler resources.  I created an IDEA LOG for each letter/book/theme and I'll plug those ideas onto our Weekly Activity Plan Sheet.  I just want this Preschool and Tot learning time to be intentional and plant the seed of a love for learning.  Each week will include something from these ten categories: Books/Story Telling/Narration, Lesson Focus, Songs/Rhymes/Fingerplays, Activities/Arts & Crafts, Alphabet Fun, Handwriting/Fine Motor Skills, Math Concepts, Creative Play, Large Motor Skills and Let's Make a Memory (usually done on Friday Family Time)

Resources:

Before Five In A Row and Homeschool Share

I really wanted an alphabet focused yet literature themed plan...so I tried to match as many available B4FIAR titles and filled in some of the missing alphabet with Homeschool Share's Level 1 units.

Inspiring Blogs:

While I visit many preschool and toddler blogs, Walking by the Way, Delightful Learning and Homeschool Creations, Confessions of a Homeschooler, 1+1=1 and ABCJesuslovesme were my go-to sites for inspiration with these alphabet and literature focused activities.

A-Z Idea Logs


A is for Apples
B is for Blueberries (Berries)
C is for Caterpillars
D is for Dogs
E is for Eggs
F is for Friends
G is for Gift
H is for Hands (parts of the body)
I is for Insects (pond life)
J is for Jesus
K is for Kangaroo
L is for Ladybug
M is for Monkey
N is for Nighttime
O is for Outdoors
P is for Pocketbook/Purse
Q is for Quick (movement)
R is for Rabbit
S is for Snow (winter weather)
T is for Teddy Bear
U is for Up/Under (directions)
V is for Vegetables
W is for Water
X is for foX
Y is for Yellow 
Z is for Zoo


In addition to these activities above, we will be working on a lot of memory work, songs, and lifeskills during our Morning Circle Time (more to come on that in another post).  To help me 'get it all together' I have created a few pages.  The weekly planner goes into my lesson plan binder.  The weekly journal will be printed out and clipped onto a clipboard and then hung on the wall.  It will be there for easy access as we complete an activity, reminders or notes. After the current week, it will get 3 hole punched and put into my lesson plan binder.  Another way of using the weekly journal page is to just put it in the lesson plan binder as the opposite page of the weekly planner.  I may wind up doing that.  But for now, I will try having them hung up on the wall with a clipboard. 

Preschool and Tot Weekly Activity Planning Page and Preschool and Tot Weekly Reminders and Journal 

Oh and to help me determine if I need to buy a book or borrow from the library I have created this list: Literature Pre-K List


Blessings,

Kathie

Linking to:
Preschool Post @ Homeschool Creations

Tot School @ 1+1=1