"What Happened In Here?!"

Be sure to check out the Home School Open House 2007 that Tiany is doing over at her blog...details below!

This past week the children and I have been busy getting our schooling stuff together in preparation for our upcoming school year - and what a mess!

It is hard to believe that most of that resided in here...

Wowzers!

Many of my friends are doing the same thing this week.  We all start back to schooling August 13th or "officially" on the 14th if you live in our county.  I stopped by a friends home yesterday and she too had been organizing their school books and papers and such to get ready.  Her task is a bit more involved due to the amount of children she has and so many different ages and stages she must teach!  I remember trying to do that when I had all 4 of mine to teach.  From High School level all the way down to Preschool - it was crazy.  By the end of the day I was mentally exhausted!  

Our gearing up for the school year gets underway when we send in our Letter of Intent to the school board which here in Kentucky must be done 10 days before and within 10 days after the start of the school year in the county you reside in.  I have spent the past couple of days working on our schedule as well as our grading scale/sheets, attendance records (state requirement) and our weekly lesson plans - I do this for both children.  This may seem like a lot of work but I find it keeps me organized and focused on what it is we wish to accomplish in our schooling year.  This also places an accountability on myself with God that I will honor Him in teaching my children in the manner in which He would find acceptable.  Very important!   

Each state has different requirements and I will highly recommend you know your state laws regarding home schooling.  There have been many reports of county school boards requesting information that is not required or lawful or showing up at a home schooling door without proper documentation trying to force their way in.  I think many times the person in charge does not know the laws or tries to impose the laws required for government run schools.  If you home school...please join HSLDA (Home Schooling Legal Defense Association)!  They are worth every penny and not only do they keep you informed of the laws and goings on in your state but you are paying them to protect you should someone try to falsely accuse you of wrong doing.  HSLDA does not play and although many have tried - this is one group of lawyers you don't want to mess with!  Having lived in an area that was somewhat volitole towards home schoolers - I found having HSLDA on my side a great comfort. 

While I busied myself clearing out the closet and one of our schooling book shelves...

 ...we have a couple in and around the house,

Sarah and David started on a writing assignment...

I really like the composition notebooks   and I love using them for the children's writing assignments.  Together we reread what they wrote and look not only check for any spelling/grammatical errors made but it gives us an opportunity to talk about what they wrote and ways to express ourselves better in our writing.  Sarah and David cut out the brochures we picked up from our recent field trip and glued them onto the pages and wrote in and around the pictures - they turned out great!  I love their imaginations and creativity!  By the end of the school year we have quite a few of these.  The fun part for the children is to go back and read what they wrote at the beginning of the school year and for them to see how far they have improved in their writing skills is a good thing!

David posted a sign on the door letting us know how many days we have left until school starts...

He changes the tally first thing every morning - I think he might be a little excited about starting school but don't tell him I said that!    We are trying to make the first day of school exciting.  We are starting off our day with a big pancake breakfast.  The idea came from one of the Ladies on our MIH Group and I think it is a wonderful way to kick off the school year!  On the chalkboard in the kitchen we have the big Pancake breakfast posted for Monday.  These little things help build the excitement and make it fun.  Schooling is fun - hard work too - but fun!

Here is our planned schedule for each day...

8:00 -  8:15   Prayers, devotions, etc.

This is not set in stone because we understand that it is necessary to spend more time on subjects so that we get a good understanding before moving on but this schedule gives us a great guideline to go by.  The children know what to expect and gives a good foundation to what we are trying to accomplish in a day. We have also added Music & Art on certain days during the week as well as our Co-Op group and Historical Group.  I have to keep a schedule in order to keep track of it all.  The Co-Op meets twice a month with it's own set of classes as well as the Historical Group which meets once a month as well as it's own projects needed for the competitions.  It is going to be a busy and fast year I think! 

During this time, that we are home schooling, I generally do not answer the phone or the door.  Please do not get offended if I don't.  Can you believe I have actually had people get a little put out because I did not answer the door when they knew we were home!  Ummm...well...yes I am home but I am teaching!  I had one person mention to me that they rang and rang the doorbell and why did I not answer the door?!  Now, when someone puts it that way to me, knowing that we are a home schooling family, I remind them that I am teaching and ask if they would even think about walking into a public school and into a teachers classroom and interrupt them?  No?!  Hmmm...so please do not interrupt me.  I kindly ask them to call beforehand and I will get back to them when our school day is finished.   

I take my job seriously and am very protective of our day.  It is easy enough to get sidetracked - I don't need any outside help!  I think sometimes people just assume that because we are home and not doing anything  (I have been told that before) that they can just stop by.  Unless it is a convenient time...I will not answer the door or phone.  Sounds harsh but that is just the way it is.  I not only school my children but I take care of my husband and home too...I have a full day here that is for sure. 

So we went from this...

to this...

and finally to this...

Ahhh!  Peace and tranquility have been restored once again! 

I will have a lot of items to sell in my little shop online - Somewhere In Time Collectibles - which is nice considering the amount of money a home schooling family can spend on curriculum!  I cringe when I see that bill coming in!  To be able to get a little back from it and applying it to some current needs for school - every little bit helps!

I may be missing in action for a bit due to trying to get our schedule down and in some sort of routine.  I need that or I get a little grumpy.    I like when things run smoothly and efficiently.  This is not always the case on a given day but I sure do give it a try! 

Tiany over at Home School Blogger is hosting an Open House with door prizes!  Click on the pictures below for more details!  I love this idea and think it is a wonderful way for all of us to support one another in what we are doing and hopefully glean ideas!  Thank you for doing this Tiany!!!

Love and God's Blessings to You All,

  Catherine