Reuniting With My Creative Self

It is happening again. What is happening again you say? There are two reasons that have always kept me from wanting to continue to blog, but I digress! The first one was doing reviews. I can't seem to enjoy anything once I have to do them. I still have one review that I have given my word to do. I absolutely, positively think that you guys would love this book. I have learned so much from reading it and the kids have learned a lot too. The problem is this review was due months ago, so now I have added pressure unto myself and right when I am about to hit the publish button I say "Naw I can do better than that", and then the saga continues.

The other thing is I really don't want this blog to be a "show off" blog. I don't want you guys to come here and see what new fancy schmancy whatchamacallit we have in our homeschool. There I said it! What I want is that when you leave this space you feel better than you did before you came. That. Is. It.

                                                                             

For a long time my creative juices just weren't flowing as I like them to be. Tonight I think I figured out the culprit, I have found Pinterest to be guilty of sucking all of the creative energy out of me. Yes! I have found a lot of inspiration from a lot of creative boards, which has caused some dependency and loss of creativity. I have decided that I will not recreate another project from Pinterest unless I have created a work of my own to share. If I do a project on Pinterest, I must follow up by doing a creative endeavor on my own and then eventually I am back to my creative self again. Did I ever share how much I love a challenge? :) I want to use everything I got everyday! I can't afford to lose anything to not using it at all. Does that make sense? I sure hope so.

How has your days been? Mine has been mostly smiles, full of grace, and kids talking about Halloween costumes. 

Organizing Lessons and Work Plans

In the moment of needing not to be tied down to a computer for finding all of the lessons in various folders I elected to print the lessons as we learn bi weekly, for some lessons/activities they may be stretched out to even a three week span. My organization needs to be portable and accessible at all times. We have had a lot of distractions that prevented schooling just because our homeschool wasn't portable enough. Now I have managed to organize for the mishaps. We can school anywhere, at anytime, or day.

                                                                   

I love the cover! I just looked for the link to the Free template, I can't find it. I apologize for not being able to link to it. I believe I found it through a Pinterest Search. It is the perfect look I was going for. Thank you so much to the person who chose to share their hard work, I really do appreciate it. I added Washi Tape around the border and ta da I was motivated.

The three ring calendar I found at Target in the stationary aisle. I use the calendar to record when I present Montessori lessons.

A look at the academic subjects that have lessons planned.

 I will use Math planned for DJ as an example of how all of the other subjects are organized.

I print out all of the lessons. Most likely we would have internet accessible, but we also have been without electricity due to an Ice Storm. The libraries were packed, and it would of been better if we were able to do school for the sake of keeping the rhythm, but if all the plugs and the computers are being used your chance of doing school is slim to none when all of the lessons are on the computer. Now I know to print lessons as I plan them and then we could even school at the park. The activity that I printed above can be found here. When we actually do this activity I will share the why behind I am reintroducing DJ to the Checkerboard.

                                                                     

I don't do daily lesson plans, instead I just go through and record the lessons in a sequential order, and Montessori Lessons are entered here based on my observation of Kennede and DJ. The plan above is for DJ, and you can see that he has enjoyed his Fraction Story Problem book for all of his math. I am certain the Checkerboard will be well received. I just haven't had the work available yet. I write all the dates next to the lesson only when the work was completed. I love notebook paper! I don't have to scrunch my handwriting into boxes, when I have a lot to write. Doing our plans like this prevents this Mama from feeling like we didn't do what we were suppose to do that day, it also allows me to give more freedom of work choice and it keeps me from always having a hidden agenda.

Nice little pocket folder that keeps our Latin CD's just in case we are doing school at a study space, like the Library of Michigan. Yes we look for inspiration all around us. We have become really resourceful homeschoolers. I also keep a wall world map in the folder. 

The pencil pouch does fit in the binder. It contains sharpies, post its, calculator, glue sticks, pens, pencils. scissors, etc. It is all mine, I do not share :) LOL. I am in love with how convenient it is to have everything I need no matter where we do school. This binder stays on my desk when not beside me during our work period. It is a Grab and Go system that all I have to do is hold our morning meeting, where we discuss our work plans and if need it be we can put "school "in a backpack and still have fun. The kids binder is set up similar to mine with resources for lessons, and notebook paper galore.

                                                                                  

                                                

Their work plans are working out lovely. During our morning meeting we discuss what works will be done, and why they may be of importance to get that done. The photo is a page from Ken's Work Plan Journal. Super easy for them to implement! They will eventually be a little more detailed by the week as the school year progresses.

So all of this helps me to create their Portfolio  for the year- more on that as it develops.

         

How to Schedule Project Time

Many have asked me in real life or through emails "How do we schedule in our projects?". It just kinda evolved into when they saw me working on my projects they started working on theirs.

 Here are a few of my past projects....

                                                                   

Designing a logo

                                                                   

                                                    Creating a business card.

                                                                     

Hanging up flyers around town.

They know that I am not bothered by them asking any questions while I am working on a project. Often times while I am working on something I ask them their opinion and vice versa.

                                                                          

My latest project is conquering the Arduino! I have falling in love with the world of coding, and plan to teach them more about coding as well.               

I guess my best way of answering this question is just to model project work- just like you would if you were teaching them how to read. They see you reading so they read!                                

We like the Home in Homeschool

Last school year was so different then the rest. We were not home most of the time, which we found out we didn't like. We were living with my parents for months due to a creep that stole from us that I hired to do remodeling on our home. Still we learned a lot. A lot of life skills, a lot of applied math and their joy of reading continues to amaze me. 

DJ asked if him and I could go to the Nature Center, we had a blast just the two of us. We had so much fun that the girls asked to join us. We have been going everyday since, it is now how we start our day. I'll save all of the pictures for their individual blog postings, because that is their plan. We do like to go out, but we mostly like being home. I'll take that for what it's worth, because soon which will seem like a blink of the eye they will be calling another place home. 

                                                             

My one on one outing with DJ was celebrated in a local newspaper. It is so encouraging when the little things inspire other people. We are just ordinary people, trust me! 

Preparing Our Learning Space

I am going to try to be as real as possible in my postings and I am expecting the kids to do the same here on this blog. I wanted to share the before photos of what will be our Montessori Maker Space. My goal is that this area is inviting and encourages spontaneous learning that is not dictated by me.

                                                                     

This is our dining room that extends into the living room where if they need floor space it is also available. We aren't limiting ourselves to this area. Our basement area is where a lot of making will happen if it involves messiness and friends. I am going to start with organizing the shelves, then I will add in the new materials that we will be using when school starts, which is probably when I add the new materials on the shelves :) I will decorate as we get comfortable in this space.