So, my sister and her daughter are living with us for a while! It's been fun to spend so much time with family and we're excited to have them stay as long as they need. Also, because Caida missed some of kindergarten due to her seizures as well as Cerene's commitment to have Caida study all summer long so she doesn't get even more behind, now I get to put my degree to use and homeschool Caida during the week! I've been giddy with excitement planning lesson plans again, even if it has been a rushed process. :)
Here are a few things that, personally, I think make homeschooling (or study time after school) a little smoother:
(1) A personal study center.
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| Sorry it's fuzzy, I don't know why it did that! |
Not only is this center (made from half a trifold display board) portable, but everything from it detaches thanks to my good friend Mr. Velcro and a few 7/8" brass cup hooks (reinforced with hot glue)! I love that she'll have everything she needs (pencils, safety scissors, sight words, etc.), as well as some things to reference (I still want to put up a 100s chart and a moveable clock, etc.). Also, I have space to add things like a calculator, extra flash cards on those extra hooks, etc. as she gets older. TIP: use hot glue to cover the poky parts of the hooks if you use them, and make sure the SOFT side of velcro is on your actual materials so when they take them away and use them your kiddos don't get scratched!
(2) A special place for everything school-related.
I'm still figuring this space out, but in a day I think I did a fine job. :) I used a 2-shelf end table, and on top I have a file folder for each day's worksheets. Underneath, in a wooden bin, I have MY supplies and things we'll need during the week, and her backpack and extra books rest against another bookshelf, like so:
Then I added my felt dice, and a large whiteboard with magnetic letters. (In my opinion, with children 2nd grade and lower, at least, a magnetic letter work center is a MUST...the numbers aren't awful, but the letters are SO VERSATILE and key to all word work. Have AT LEAST 3 sets of magnetic letters, but more than that if you're working on sentences...I have 5 which is enough to spell each person's name.)
(3) A routine! Schedules are important in all schooling, but especially homeschooling. Especially if, like Caida at the moment, their routines are all over the place already...or if you're usually their fun aunt instead of their teacher. I break the four hours (10-2, with a 45 minute lunch/recess in the middle) into 15-minute lessons, and we pretty much do the same things every day (not EXACTLY the same, but I mean we start with her sight words, move on to magnet letters, do some worksheets, play a game, read a book, read independently, eat...you get the idea). Here's what our week looks like (I thrive on the grid lesson planning system, though with older kids it ends up being two pages) :
I'm sure I'll post more about Caida later. :) Right now I'm just enjoying being a teacher again, even if it is just to one adorable kiddo. :)
