$5 for $15 at Little Caesars Pizza!!

Groupon has a great deal going on today! For just $5 you can get a $15 gift card to Little Caesars!

Homeschool Workbox System

If you are new to my blog (or not) you need to know that we are still a work in progress. I have once again implemented something new that I hope will help with my chronic lack of organization. I had read about the workbox system a while back but it looked way to structured and involved for us. Now that I have a better understanding how customizable homeschooling is, I am giving it a try!

I rearranged the school room last night and moved all of our bookshelves onto one wall and the desk over to in front of the window. Yes, I know I have one weird little one, but until I can get another big one it will have to do.

The little one is actually perfect for the girls to have 6 boxes each. I used $1 shoe boxes I got at Walmart. They aren't quite big enough to put the larger books and papers in without having to fold them a bit, but I already had them and they work well enough.

I plan on using these labels as soon as our printer ink arrives. Wouldn't you know that I ran out today when I was all excited about printing and getting this done. We follow a block schedule of sorts with some days having certain subjects and others having different ones:

Mondays:
Bible
Math
Social Studies
Language
Spelling
Latin

Tuesdays:
Bible
Math
Lapbook on current science subject
Language
Spelling
Cursive

Wednesdays:
Bible
Math
Language
Spelling
Art

Thursdays:
Bible
Math
Geography
Science
Language
Spelling

Fridays:
Bible
Math
Lapbook
Language
Spelling
Cursive Practice

We would also do daily reviews for Latin and daily read alouds. Because our daily schedule varies so much, I plan on using velcro dots on the back of the labels. This will allow me to change them up each day and I think add an element of excitement with not having the same subject order each day. When you look at the schedule it doesn't seem like I have done many fun things, but Weaver actually incorporates many hands on activities, as do the lapbooks. I also plan on randomly letting them skip worksheets in favor of a themed activity.

Here are some pros and cons that I have come up with. I hope they help you decide if this might work for you and your child.

Pros:

Allows child to work more independently.

May reduce stress as the child knows exactly what is expected of them.

Helps keep parent organized and eliminates the last minute scramble of finding supplies.

I have been scouring the internet for ideas and am overwhelmed by the number of ways this system can be organized.

Cons:

Finding the supplies can be expensive depending on what is used.

Requires planning and restocking of the boxes nightly.

Takes space, though this can be minimized through some creative thinking (see below).


There are as many ways to customize workboxes as there are homeschooling families. From using files to the shoeboxes that we used, you can do what works best for your family!

Versitile Blogger Award

I don't usually participate in these but thought that it would be a fun way to get to know some new bloggers. Thank you Jenny!

The rules of the award are:
Thank the giver.
Tell seven things about yourself.
Award fifteen bloggers with the award.


Seven things about myself (in no particular order):

1. I am chronically unorganized. I want to be organized, but just can't seem to get there.
2. I'm not good with activities that require long term commitments. Something always seems to get in the way. We do our activities in short bursts. It just works better for us.
3. I absolutely can not stand the look and feel of wet bread to the point where I won't even run the disposal with bread in it.
4. My mom met my husband on the internet and then introduced us.
5. I love watching Discovery Channel type documentaries.
6. I don't like cake. I never have. My mom tells me I licked all the icing off my cupcakes from as young as 2 and wouldn't eat the cake.
7. My brother and I have "song offs" where we start with one song and then take turns doing others using words or themes from the previous ones. These can sometimes last for hours.

And now for the awards...

1 Sunflower Faith
2 Under the Golden Apple Tree
3 Treasures from a Shoe Box
4 Chris Growing Together
5 Gabes Babes
6 Teaching Tikes
7 Roscommon Acres
8 Homemade School
9 The Attached Mama
10 Education Jump Off
11 The Writing Garden
12 Ben and Me
13 Walnut Acres
14 Cows Don't Moo
15 Somewhat Muddled Musings

TOS Review Crew

I am excited to announce that I have been chosen to write for the TOS Review Crew this year!
I can not wait to take the voyage and share what we get to try out. Visit the TOS Crew Blog and take a look at the vendors already signed up for this year!

Currclick Back at the Beach Sale!

It's time for another Currclick Sale! Hundreds of curriculum and lapbooks at 40% off or more, plus freebies! Here are a few of my favorite finds.

Hands of a Child Alaska Lapbook

Simple Schooling Let's Learn About Bugs Lapbook

Amphibians Copy Work

Dolphin Animal Unit Study

This sale lasts through June 30th. If you are having trouble finding the freebies through the scavenger hunt you can Like Currclick on Facebook for helpful hints from other Currclick lovers.

There is Something About Children...

There is something about your first born. Holding your baby, your first baby girl, for the first time. Knowing that from then on out things would never be the same. Knowing that this moment, would never happen again. You would never be a parent, for the first time, ever again. Terrified, excited, humbled, not really understanding all the hard work that was about to start. Wondering what kind of parent you would be. Wondering how you would ever find space in your heart for another.

But there is something about your second born. She squeezes her way into your heart and finds that space you thought wasn't there. You realize that you can experience the same amazing joy, though different, a second time. You watch as she is doted on by an older sibling and you pray and hope that they will always be this close. You begin to wonder how you will find time for both, but you do. And even though you never really got that "alone" time with the second one, you know that she is perfectly content being number two. She gets a special place because she not only gets to be a little sister, but a big one as well.

And there is something about your last born. He got the honor of being both the baby and the brother. Holding your prince in your arms, looking at his tenderness and knowing that you are responsible for teaching him how to be a man. There is something about knowing that he will be your last. The last first cry, the last first word, the last first step...

Sometimes I have moments like these, when I am overwhelmed with the joy and responsibility placed on me by God. To raise children is all at once amazing and daunting. I can imagine few jobs that I feel more blessed to have. I am honored and humbled that God has graced me with children. Every spilled glass, every scraped knee, and every broken heart, I hope I never take for granted. There is something about children that reminds you how blessed you really are.

The Mom I'm Bored Jar

If there are any two words that I dislike hearing they are "I'm Bored". Despite the overwhelming number of toys that my children have, the big back yard complete with trampoline and playground, the numerous art supplies and their siblings, my children never seem to have anything to do.

This could be the most amazing idea I have ever seen. The I'm Bored Jar. There are so many variations of things you can do with this that it makes it the perfect customizable summer idea! I sat the girls down and we came up with a list of about 50 different "I'm bored activities". I will have them pull a card and do each activity for 30 minutes. Once the card is drawn I will move it out of the box until all of the other cards are drawn.

Here is our list of I'm Bored Activities. Feel free to use it :)

Make a Puppet
Have a Puppet Show
Blow Bubbles
Write a Book
Write a Letter
Read a Book
Play Outside
Play Stuffed Animals
Dress Up
Finger Paint
Draw a Picture
Play Store
Chore (x's 5)
Snack Time
Go to Neighborhood Park
Paint Toenails
Computer Time
Play Doh
Tea Party
Simon Says
Play Animals
Trains
Science Experiments
Window Markers
Scavenger HuntSoccer
Hopscotch
Mud Pies
Bake with Mama
Music Band
Wii
Tinker Toys
LegosPattern Blocks
Write in Journal
Collect Bugs
Build a Pillow Fort
Make a Bracelet
Ride Bike
Sidewalk Chalk
Water Guns
Make a Movie
Board Game
American Girl Dolls
Water Slide
Nature Walk
Hide and Seek
Tag
Leap Frog
Follow the Leader
Take a Bubble Bath
Work a Puzzle
Mazes
Dot to Dot
Word Search

You will notice some of these are outside but I thought that limiting them to 30 minutes at a time would help with avoiding sunburns and heat exhaustion. You will also notice that I have snuck in 5 chore cards, hehe. We will probably add to these as we think of other fun activities. If you have any ideas for us please feel free to let me know!