Homeschooling A Houseful

I would guess that my Part 1 was clear as a bell!!!! Or no one dares to ask me questions about it!! Or maybe no one has actually finished reading that NOVEL of a post!!!! So since I am not, at this time, needed to clarify our system... I'll just start on Part 2~ Rewards or, well might I just say Bribes!!! Yes Papa and Mama Bear have struggled with giving rewards for chores. We are firm believers that things just need to be done, and you just need to help out. However we have a few children who just don't get it, and so I am trying a new rewards system, to hopefully catch their attention! Also this is not a fluffy, laid back kind of plan.... OH NO Mama Bear is strict.... and yes sometimes just like a bear! When I say something needs to be done to my expectations, you are talking perfect! {or as close to perfect as the child can get it} My expectations for A1 are completely different than what I expect from say A4, or even A3. Once the children complete their chores, they come to...

Chores! This is a topic you hear all over the spectrum of Mommies!! Homeschoolers, Public/Private Schoolers, Working Mama's, Stay at home Mama's... all Mama's talk chores!!! I have tried a few different routines/ideas but one thing always stays the same, all the A's work. Okay so A6 and A7 might not help so much, but they are always asked to help! I firmly believe everyone in the house must help out. Yes A6 and A7 are not always much of a help, but it's the principle we are teaching. I want them to understand if you make the mess you help clean it up. Our house only stays together through every ones contribution, and teamwork. Each day A5 and A6 pick a buddy to help. We try to rotate who gets the helper, since it does add to your chore time. We also try to always work around our extra curricular schedule. That way if say A2 has a gymnastics class, she has less chore time than say A3 that day. I also remind them to clean up and tidy toys and messes throughout the day...

after a week of rain and cold weather, the A's and I decided to go for a Nature Walk... and now we will share with you! ENJOY!

One of the perks of living off the beaten path.... The VIEWS!! These are standing out back and out front of our house.

Even though I haven't been a regular TOT School blogger, like I've wanted to be, we still do different TOT School activities, so I am sure my TOT School posts, will be random and just ideas! But hey, at least I am sharing! Here's a photo of A5 practicing her words. This is one of her favorite activities. We dump out {seriously dump... look at the picture} all the plastic magnet letters we have. She grabs one of her favorite easy readers, or maybe the one she just read. Then she looks for words, and spells them with magnetic letters. simple enough... She was using our Al is a fat cat book in the photo. Oh and A6 is learning, yes it might be upside down, but hey at least she's enjoying herself too!

I received a comment/question about our devotional time, Tracy would like me to give more details about our devotional time. {WARNING~ this post has become extremely LONG!!!} First off before I start into all that I'd just like to say I am so glad Tracy decided to comment, and especially with a question!! The main and only reason I blog is to inspire others, help others, and well sometimes it's as close as I get to adult conversation! I noticed that as of right now {as I right this} I have had 787 visitors to my blog... and only 2 people who have commented! The other one is my O' So kind SIL!! Please feel free to comment...because as it says on the Right Sidebar...I LOVE Comments!!! I also want to clarify and answer any questions that I might have stirred in your heads with my thoughts!!! So on with the Question.... We have ALWAYS had devotional time... it's changed and grown with our family. It's what we, Papa Bear and I see as the things our children need. Just be...

Kim, over at the Starry Sky Ranch , posted about "Ask the Dad" Oh so inspirational...thought I might share. I do so believe what she says, it sometimes seems like we make all the decisions. Ask all the questions, yet not to the Dad. These are his children too... and yes I am sure he has an opinion too! I know whenever I am in need of inspiration and/or support I can go to Papa Bear. It also seems anytime I ask his opinion, he can come up with a way to solve the problem, just as well as any veteran homeschooler. Oh and talk about a houseful...the starry sky ranch, is a houseful!

If I have learned anything about myself, over the past years, it is this... I am a classic over-planner/ under achiever! So while I may appear to have it all together... I don't ! So one thing I don't want, is anyone who might be reading my blog, to think things like Wow she's great, I wish I could be just like her! I have plans, I have plans for plans, I have even more plans whirling around in my head. Sometimes that's my problem..I have too many plans...and don't know where to start. I can picture my perfect life, I can picture my perfect school day, but somehow getting from point A {where I am standing} to point Z {at the end} is a long journey! I need to remember to take steps... how can I jump from A to Z, and not even go to steps C, D, E, F,G...and so forth? Trust me Papa Bear reminds me of that often! He knows me too well. So here's the new plan!! {YEP ANOTHER PLAN!!} I will get everything we are currently doing, under control...then I can add another gre...

My SIL reminded me of this helpful tip, so thank you "M" I LOVE books, My kids LOVE books...we have tons of books. However books are expensive, but a good investments. I do try to find good deals, and love looking at all the book sales I can possibly find. I also use to purchase from Scholastic.. which anyone can purchase from. I was introduced to this from a neighbor who ordered with families in the neighborhood. {Back to my story} You can purchase paperback books for so much less...but paperback books use to scare me. There's NO way they can survive living in a houseful...or can they? I got this tip from a public school teacher, she covered her paperback books-covers with clear contact paper. You can purchase this in most places, it can be hard to find. Contact paper is typically used for covering shelves to keep them from scratching, or to cover up the scratches. Clear contact paper is also used for crafts and such. You can purchase a large roll for under $10. I simply...

We recently moved out learning room to a different area of the house. When I get it organized and finished, then I will show some updated photos....until then. Here's something we did and I LOVE! All of our School Games, mostly used for the little ones, things for them to do during school time, are in these stackable plastic totes..I believe they are sterilite. I also labeled them all. I like they are see through and that they stack. On the lid they have little grooves, and on the bottom they have small lips that fit. helps to keep the chaos down, or atleast sometimes!

This post all came about, as I was pondering someone I know...and then it hit me, it's actually ME not them! Matthew 7 1-5 1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. 3 Nephi 14 3-4 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Well it all started with this Thirsty Thursday Topic, homeschooling in PJ's....

How do I remember it all??? Hmm...well I don't, but this helps! I make a simple planner with a simple table, using a simple words program. {trust me, nothing special and pretty here!!} Each Independent learner has their own personal planner, and it's personal to them and their studies. On this I listed that kids individual lessons, we call these IS {Independent Studies} These are things that the older kids can do independently, or most of the time independently. Things like Math, Spelling,Vocabulary, Grammar, Handwriting, etc. I usually spend a few minutes Monday mornings, to discuss lessons and go over words. I listed all these things, plus IS readings, textbooks, typing programs, explode the code, logic etc. Then on it, I put 2X, 3X, 4X, or 5X. This counts for how many times those things need to be done in a week. So Math is a 5X, Scripture Study and Journal writing is 5X. Handwriting is 3X, IS readings are either 2X, 3X, 4X or 5X depending on the child and the topic. Things ...