2015-2016 School Year & School Room

   We've started school over in our neck of the woods (actually bean field).  We started early in August this year, because we really like to take the whole month of December off.  I am also schooling twin 4 year olds this year for preschool, and so we needed to jump into a routine before they started coming.  We are continuing on with Heart of Dakota again this year.  I've been asked several times how I organize all the books with 3 kids in 3 different guides.  So here is some pictures of how we do things.

 

I use a "tweaked" workbox system.  Each child has their own drawer with the books they are currently using.

Next to that is where we store games, play-doh, and other educational tools.

Under our white board, we have boxes of crayons, markers, colored pencils, flash cards,
 coloring books, extra binders, and a few other games.
Each child has a binder with his/her notebooking pages.
The boxes to the right are my "portfolio" boxes.  Each child has a box of completed assignments,
special projects, tests, and past binders.
The bottom box is our Math-U-See blocks.

This is our main bookcase, where I store everything we will be currently using. 
There are a few things, I've never used and are just there as extra resources,
but for the most part, everything has been or is being used currently.
 

Next to our world atlas (that our neighbor from our previous home graciously gave us),
is our craft book case.  The top files are construction paper, card stock, and craft books. 
The boxes beside are Lindsay's bead making and the kids' embroidery box.
 (A wonderful friend, that was one of my teacher's assistants when I was in school gave
 the kids all these beautiful pillow cases and squares to embroidery!  They love them!!)
The other boxes are paracord, sewing, wood stamps, acrylic paints, stickers,
 glitter glue, and random craft boxes.

 

 

 

   The kids are in a pretty good routine now.  Derek is in Preparing Hearts for His Glory this year, Lindsay is in Bigger Hearts for His Glory, and Leah is in Little Hearts for His Glory.  I am surprised at how independent they are becoming in their individual learning. I really thought I would never say that, because Derek, especially, relied on me a lot throughout most of his school day in the past.  He actually enjoys taking most of his work to his room now and working on his own.  He still needs my help introducing new lessons in English and Math, and wants me to read his History to him (which I enjoy).  It does take me about 20 minutes per child to go over any new lessons, read their History and/or Science, do their Bible Study with them, and instructions for any notebooking pages.  Leah's lessons take more one-on-one, since she is the only one reading out loud to me this year, but she is making great progress!!   The older two have 15-30 minutes of reading to themselves. 
    *Funny story from reading time this week*  - Derek came to me just giggling like crazy, and said, "Hey Mom!!  Listen to this!!"  He proceeded to read to me out of Black Beauty, "I would be happy to take you, ma'am.  Where would you like to go?" "To Paddington Station, please."  Just laughing, he said, "You think they saw the bear, mom?"  Too cute, Derek, too cute!!  Oh, how I wish I could keep my children just like this forever!!  It's the small moments just like this, I wouldn't trade for the world! 

 

 

 

 

 

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7