Last year we attended the Houston Symphony’s Explorer’s Concert series and thoroughly enjoyed it. A year later and we find ourselves attending another Houston Symphony outreach program, the Houston Symphony Detective Series. Every concert we have been to at the Houston Symphony has far exceeded our expectations, which are rather high, and the children’s concerts are no exception. From the venue to the music education and everything in between, the Houston Symphony Detective Series does not disappoint and is highly recommended.
Most children enjoy playing with fire trucks so it is no wonder a tour of a fire station is so popular. In addition to being a fun experience for the children, it is also educational. Station 4 of the Cypress Fairbanks Volunteer Fire Department made sure that the kids came away from the tour with knowledge about what a firefighter does, how they serve the community, what the station is used for, what the equipment does and how to react if faced with an emergency situation. The firefighters did an amazing job educating the children. For homeschool groups or other school groups, a fire station tour is a great way to educate children on fire safety while entertaining them.
We recently went on a tour of the Blue Bell Creamery located in Brenham, Texas. As any good Texan will tell you, Bluebell is considered to be the best ice cream available. They even use “Bluebell, the best ice cream in the country” as their motto and you will be hard pressed to find a Texan who disagrees. Blue Bell opened its doors in 1907 and is still producing fresh, delicious ice cream to this day. They are ranked one of the top three ice cream distributors in the country even though Blue Bell is available in only twenty-six percent of the nation’s supermarkets. Blue Bell provides tours of their facility and we were lucky enough to attend recently. It is a fun and educational way to see how a factory runs and to learn about how a small company grew to the powerhouse it is today.
We recently attended two field trips to the Houston Police Department Mounted Patrol Stables. This is the second year in a row we have attended and it never disappoints. Kids of all ages had a great time and this was one of those field trips that that the parents equally enjoyed. The staff was very helpful, informative and friendly. They worked really well with the kids even the ones who were a bit scared of the horses. This free, fun, and educational trip is well worth it and highly recommended.
Cool Blast Lemonade is gearing up for their 2013 season. They opened for the first time this weekend. Unfortunately, they did not do too well but learned some valuable lessons. We are starting our 2013 Lemonade Day account with updates of the activities that are done in school to gear up for the event.
Tadpole, Guppy and Minnow are partners in their business and all work very hard. However, they are at different stages of learning about business so it is really interesting to watch them learn and grow and how each year they are getting more and more business savvy.
When asked what each child wanted to do for their valentine box Tadpole had an immediate idea. She was the driving force of our butterfly garden which has been a big hit in the household. So, it is no wonder she chose to represent the butterfly garden as her valentine box. The beauty of this is that it was very simple to make and virtually free. We had plenty of shoe boxes, coloring sheets, pipe cleaners and construction paper. She was able to do the majority of the project completely on her own.
Tadpole first covered the base of the box with brown construction paper. This represented the soil. You can get as creative as you want with this and even add bugs and worms if you so choose.
Then, she covered the top of the box with green construction paper and made “grass” by drawing it with a green marker. We cut out the slot in the top where the valentines were to go. In retrospect, though, the slot would be better situated on the front of the box so as not to disturb the flowers and butterflies which we will get to.
We went online and found a flower pattern. She used one particular flower but you could get as crazy as you’d like. She also found several butterflies. She colored all the flowers and butterflies, then cut them out. All of them were laminated.
After they were laminated we took green pipe cleaners and taped it to the flowers. Tadpole kept it pretty simple but you could add leaves if you want or bend the pipe cleaner into a leaf shape. She used white pipe cleaners for the butterflies. You could also add birds or bees if you so chose. The part we helped with was poking holes through the top with an exacto knife. She then threaded the pipe cleaners through the holes and taped them to the underside of the box. She then positioned the flowers and butterflies how she wanted by bending the pipe cleaners.
This year Minnow had a great idea for his valentine box. He came up with the concept on his own but we had to do quite a bit of sawing and cutting for him. It was a little labor intensive but inexpensive and a lot of fun. Plus, Lifeguard Dad really got into this with Minnow so there was some great daddy/son time which was a bonus. Here’s how we did it:
We received a shipment of books recently from Amazon.com. We used the box as the frame for the monster truck. There was a little box carving with an exacto knife and lots of duct tape. We worked it until the shape of the truck was perfect. Use your imagination! We did this per Minnow’s specifications which were roughly based on the Grave Digger.
We continued using the exacto knife to cut out the windows. First, we drew them on, then cut it out.
After debating on the best way to go about working on the wheels, Minnow came up with the answer. We save a lot of materials to use in art projects. What homeschool family doesn’t? So, we had a bunch of coffee cans lying about. He suggested using them and though on their own they were a bit large, half of one was perfect. We have the paper type of coffee can so they were easily sawed in half.
Back to the frame of the truck. Minnow wanted a blue truck and it so happened we had some blue wrapping paper. Perfect! The box was wrapped with Minnow having a field day with the tape. The windows were cut out and taped back so the entire surface of the truck was covered in blue paper.
On to the wheels. The first thing that was done was to cover the front of the wheels. Using the cut coffee can, trace it onto a piece of black construction paper. Create a slightly larger circle around that and cut it out on the larger circle. Cut strips into the paper, from the outer edge toward the smaller circle all around the paper. This will give you a series of little strips that will make it easier to affix the circle onto the wheel. Fold the flaps around the wheel and tape it down. You could use glue if you want. Tape was easier and it won’t be seen. The result is a nice, neat circle.
Next, cut strips of black construction paper to the width of your coffee can. We had to use two strips to fit around the can. Then, make chevrons with a black marker to simulate tread on the tire. Minnow had fun doing this part. Then, tape the strips around the coffee can. Voila! You now have a wheel. Repeat three more times and…Voila! all four wheels. We used a dowel we had in the garage and duct taped two wheels to it at the desired width for where we wanted the wheels to be in comparison to the truck frame. Easy peasy.
We duct taped the dowels to the bottom side of the truck to affix both sets of wheels. The only problem with this is that the wheels are decorative only. It looks really cool but it is not functional. With a little more engineering and some hole poking you could pretty easily have functional wheels. Minnow doesn’t seem to care, though. He still plays with it and if the wheels fall off we have a never ending supply of duct tape. When it falls apart Lifeguard Dad will probably not need much convincing to create Monster Truck II.
Now comes the fun part. We have the basic monster truck but needed some personality. Minnow picked out some flames, skulls and lights. These were just printed, cut out and glued wherever he wanted them. We found a Texas license plate template and used that to create his vanity plates. When all was said and done, he had a really cool valentine box that was quite popular, especially with the boys. He entered it into a valentine’s box contest and won in his age category. Yay Minnow!
For Valentine’s Day Guppy, Minnow and Tadpole made their own Valentine’s boxes. This is how we did Guppy’s pig:
We started with an empty oatmeal canister. Using an exacto knife, we cut a decent sized slit in the top where the Valentines will go. This is something mom or dad should probably do.
We then removed the lid and using a combination of tape and glue we covered the box completely in pink construction paper. We used clothes pins to help press seams together to dry.
Next, we took empty toilet paper rolls and cut them into thirds. We then taped them to the canister where the legs would go. It wasn’t very pretty but it was secure. We then covered them in pink construction paper.
Using pink yarn, we swirled it around the base of the legs to hide all the tape and seams. It worked pretty well and added a little flair to the project.
We had some self stick bric-a-brac that was used to line the bottom of the feet for a little extra bling. Guppy then decorated the edge of the slit with various jewels we had.
She also made a little pipe cleaner necklace with beads. It was shaped then the ends were added to the inside of the container and taped to secure.
We used a pink pipe cleaner and wrapped it around a finger. Then, we poked a hole in the bottom of the container, stuck it through the end and taped it so it was secure.
For the face we covered the lid with pink construction paper. We made little ears, colored it with a marker and folded it over at the corner. We glued it to the face.
Using another third of an empty toilet paper roll, we fastened it to the lid as the snout. We then covered it in construction paper. We made a circle for the top and used a pink marker to color in the nostrils. We taped it to the top of the snout.
For the eyes we used white paper and glued googly eyes to the bottom, affixing them in the appropriate place on the face. Now the face was done. We added a little ribbon to the edge of the lid so no white showed. Plus, it gave her a little extra style.
We happened to have a few doll hats lying around so Guppy decorated it and added it to the pig so she is a cowgirl Valentine pig.
This was a really fun project that was conceived by guppy. She has a great imagination! While we did help with the cutting and pasting she did most of the work. You can do a lot of your own personalizing and make it as simple or as elaborate as you choose. If you make your own pig, please send us pictures so we can see how you personalized yours!
Almost every day I see a news story about something to do with public school education that makes me so thankful we homeschool. There are times I am asked to justify why we homeschool Many of them are for personal reasons but with the news surrounding public school issues on a daily basis I am reminded constantly that we made the right decision. I have thought on numerous occasions I should start a list. So I did. The list is sorted by topic with the newest entries at the top.
I will add to this list as news items come to my attention. Please comment and add to the list!
Violation of basic rights
What country do we live in exactly? Why do our children have to give up their rights as an American citizen to attend school? [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
This is one of my favorites. I love it that if someone attacks me I can defend myself and it is perfectly legal. Unless, of course, you are a child in public school. Then you have to do nothing or face punishment. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Here is another instance of someone getting bullied and then punished when he fights back. Shameful. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Censorship abounds!
Seriously? Now our children cannot express their political beliefs? OK, I get it if all political attire was disallowed but to single out only those who wear messages you personally disagree with, force the child to leave the class and ridicule her for her beliefs? Nope. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Extreme enforcement of rules ensures nobody uses common sense. What a way to ruin a time honored tradition for teens. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
You are teaching them what?!
I am not going to comment on whether or not your views on sex ed are good or bad. The fact is it is your family, your children and you have the right to make the decisions on how the topic of sex is addressed from a biological to a moral standpoint. In one Houston school district this debate is heating up. No thanks, we will just deal with it our way. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
We take great pains here to teach history as accurately and fully as possible. Not in the schools though – they want to rewrite history. The history of the United States, and the world for that matter, is not always pretty. But it is important to at least be accurate, right? Nope. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Who is teaching our kids?
Oh this is lovely. If this happened to one of our kids, male or female, we may be facing arrests ourselves for our reaction to what this guy did. Sick. Who do we have screening the people our kids come in contact with at schools? [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Well this just boosts my confidence in our school system. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Nothing says abuse of the teacher-child bond than rape. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Not only rape but a cover up. Fabulous! [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Are our schools safe?
Another student arrested for having a loaded gun on campus. [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
I sure hope if you must send your child to public school that you are able to drop off and pick them up. You never know what drunkard is driving them: [see article here] I am so glad we homeschool!
Pinterest is always a great source of ideas. Some we pin for later consideration and others are just so timely that we just jump on it. That was the case with the pumpkin project. We were decorating for Halloween and discussing various Halloween themes and ran across this website: http://www.growinginprek.com/apps/blog/show/9483735 on Pinterest.
This teacher added soil to a hollowed out pumpkin, leaving the seeds, and observed the sprouts as they grew. We took it a little farther and we are having great success with it. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
First, we selected three pumpkins, one each for Tadpole, Guppy and Minnow. We put down some paper on the table, set out some paints and brushes and let them have at it, decorating their pumpkins however they so chose. We drew a line where we would cut the top and told the kids not to bother painting above that line because that portion would simply be discarded. This was a great activity for the end of the day when we still had some school time left but did not want to tackle anything too heavy. The kids had a blast! When they were done we allowed the pumpkins to dry for an hour or so and then put them up to dry overnight before doing anything else with them.
While we only used paint, you could get as creative as you want to. There are many tutorials on the Internet for glitter pumpkins, sequins, stenciling, carving, gluing – anything you can think of to do with a pumpkin, it’s out there. Use you imagination and creativity and have fun with it! But remember – these will rot so don’t use anything on your pumpkin you don’t want to lose.
Next, we got to the rest of the project and it evolved from there. The first thing we did was cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin and remove some of the guts. LifeguardDad did the cutting while the kids watched. The pumpkins we used were fairly large so there were a lot of seeds. We opted to conduct the experiment by removing some of the seeds and leaving a fair amount in each pumpkin. We figured that the number of seeds remaining would be sufficient to grow something if something was going to grow at all. But, the amount that was in each pumpkin seemed like overkill, we all like roasted pumpkin seeds so…pumpkin seed snack it is!
The kids helped remove the inner part of the pumpkins which was another favorite activity. They got in there and got really messy and gooey. They separated the pulp from the seeds as best they could and collected the excess seeds in a colander. We then used those cleaned seeds to roast for a healthy snack. You can see how we did this by reading the step-by-step instructions on roasting pumpkin seeds here: [click here for how to roast pumpkin seeds]. We made two batches: one sweet and one savory. They did not last long because the kids (and adults) gobbled them up.
Back to the planting. Because we had a variety of soils from previous gardening projects already in our garage we used what we had on hand but turned this into a bit of an experiment. Since there were three pumpkins and we had a little bit of non-organic soil left we decided to use only that in one of the pumpkins, use only organic soil in another and a mixture of the two in the third. The children then broke out their science journals and we turned this into uber-science day.
Tadpole uses her science journal to track various experiments using the scientific method. Guppy and Minnow also use theirs but it is more to introduce them to the scientific method. Our expectations are not too high yet. Tadpole, however, got right to work on the problem: “Which pumpkin planter would grow better: the one with organic soil, non-organic soil or a mixture?” The other two drew pumpkin pictures in their journals while we talked about what we were doing.
Tadople thought about it a bit and came up with her hypothesis: “The organic soil would allow the pumpkins to grow better sprouts.” We discussed this with the other two who agreed. This was a great opportunity to review the term “hypothesis” and its meaning. Tadpole then detailed in her journal the method that was used. We put the pumpkins outside near our walkway and by our butterfly garden. We gave them a generous watering. Every day the kids go outside to check on the progress. All the kids are involved but Tadpole is the official record keeper and writes results in her journal. This is great on a lot of levels: she keeps up with science, she gets to practice her penmanship skills (currently cursive) and her language arts skills are honed by writing down her observations in an orderly and succinct manner using proper grammar and detail.
After only two days the first glimmer of a sprout appeared in the pumpkin with organic soil. Over the next few days there were additional sprouts in the same pumpkin and significant growth, which is being charted. So far, no activity in the other two pumpkins but we will keep checking. We will call it a day when the pumpkins start rotting to a point that it is no longer feasible to keep them. If there are no sprouts we will get rid of the pumpkin and if there are sprouts we will plant those outside and see how it develops.
For anyone interested, you can check out the daily progress on our Facebook page. We have a photo album just for this project found here: [click here for pumpkin experiment photo album]. We update it with pictures every few days.
Also, make sure to check out the blog where this idea was originally formed, Growing In PreK. They have some really great information and it is fun to read about what the kiddos in her class are up to. Thanks for the wonderful idea – the kids are having a fun and educational experience!
Today we had co-op like we usually do on Thursdays. Today’s theme was Texas Animals. We had a great time. There was a presentation on Texas wildlife symbols. For those who want to reference it or anyone who wasn’t there, you can download the PowerPoint presentation here:
We also did a fishing game with several different types of fish commonly found in Texas. We cut out fish and laminated them, then used homemade fishing poles to “catch” them. The kids then used a guide from the Texas Parks and Wildlife site to identify the fish they caught.
Biography’s documentary on Paul Revere is a great supplement to curriculum when you are learning about the Revolutionary War. It gives a fairly well rounded and accurate portrayal of Paul Revere and emphasizes the fact that the legend of the ride that many have come to know is not the historically accurate version. It also discusses the man in more depth including his contributions to society before, during and after the war. Paul Revere was important for much more than his midnight ride and the documentary shows this.
Since Great Play of Cypress opened, we have wanted to try it out. Their Open House free trial offer was the perfect time to do so. We got a free class for all three children so got a good indication of the types of classes offered for several age groups. Great Play is highly recommended for those who are looking for a structured and fun environment for kids to enjoy some physical activity. Since all activities occur in an air conditioned indoors, it is also the perfect solution for those who do not want to brave Houston heat in the summertime.
For Minnow, he participated in a parent-assisted class. They participated in many different activities at several stations. Some of the skills they worked on included following instructions, throwing, bouncing, jumping and climbing. Guppy worked on running, jumping, skipping, throwing, swinging and following directions. Tadpole’s class was a little different and focused on team building with physical skills. They played several games and worked on coordination, following instructions and strength. All the classes incorporated games with interactive videos on the walls to music that got the kids motivated. All the children had a great time at Great Play. The staff and coaches worked really well with the kids, were friendly and supportive.
Although we really enjoyed the activities during the trial, we are not going to sign up for regular classes. We are looking for something a little more specific in regards to skill building. The classes were somewhat like a PE class but a lot more fun. It offers a wide range of activities that focus on enhancing motor skills. For our household, though, we do a lot of these activities at home, during play dates and at park days. Minnow is currently in a parent-assisted tumbling class and his skill level far exceeded the skills being taught at Great Play. Guppy and Tadpole have been looking for something to get into and is leaning more toward an organized sport or activity such as gymnastics, martial arts or fencing. So, although fun, it is not the right fit for this family. However, it can certainly benefit others who may not be as active on a daily basis as we are. Even though it is not a fit for us, it is still highly recommended and feel others will enjoy the classes and benefit from them greatly.
In addition to regular classes, Great Play of Cypress offers field trips and birthday parties. Great Play is definitely in the running for a birthday party venue next year. Anyone interested in classes or special occasion events should contact Great Play for a trial. Great Play of Cypress is located at 11808 Barker Cypress Rd and can be found online at http://www.greatplay.com. See their website for class times and additional details.
At Homeschool Pool we like to use websites and computer games to enhance the schoolwork that occurs at home. One of the sites we have used with the younger children is Starfall. Starfall has a basic service that is available for free and a low-cost annual membership (at more.starfall.com) that unlocks a variety of additional learning games. We have used the free version for some time now and the staff at Starfall have graciously offered us a free 30-day trial membership for us to try out the full version. It didn’t take us long to decide to go ahead and purchase a membership.
We went to the Police Museum last summer because we were doing a unit on crime prevention. It is a somewhat interesting museum but it is not very big. It makes up for not being very large by being free. There are some interesting items you can see including vintage police cars, uniforms, badges and history. It is a self guided tour which is fine because there is really not much to ask questions about. The exhibits are labeled and easy to read.
The part I did not like about it was being treated like a criminal to go visit. It is located at HPD headquarters so you will go through a metal detector, have to show ID and possibly get some attitude to visit. After that, though, it was a fast but enjoyable visit. If you are in the area, stop by and take a look. If you are studying crime, police or something of that sort it may be worth a special visit. Aside from that, you can probably find more interesting items on the Internet to learn about police.
We recently went to Little Beakers with our Homeschool group and had a great time. Little Beakers is a drop-in science lab that allows kids to don their lab coat and safety glasses and get to work on some really cool experiments. Not only do they cater to drop-ins, they also have camps, homeschool activities, group events and parties. It is a bit pricey but well worth it for an occasional supplement to a science course.
If you found us by the Hip Homeschool Hop, please let us know! For those of you who do not know about it, Hip Homeschool Moms have a weekly event designed to help other homeschool sites network. Welcome to everyone who is exploring our site.
The saga continues for Tadpole, Guppy and Minnow! They won the Lemonade Day contest but that was just the start of a ton of publicity. They were interviewed by Fox, were featured on the radio and on television’s Fox & Friends. They were even discussed in Congress! Check out their website at http://coolblast.homeschoolpool.info or their Facebook page at http://facebook.com/coolblastlemonade for videos and latest news.
As usual, we will explore 5 other sites for Hip Homeschool Hop and share what we see in the comments.
It has certainly been a busy few days at Homeschool Pool. For those who have been following us for awhile you know that the kids started a lemonade stand for Lemonade Day this year. You can see the journey they took and what they learned by [clicking on Lemonade Day 2012].
By now everyone has heard the remarks President Obama made about small business owners. Cool Blast Lemonade, the girls’ business along with their brother, was contacted by Fox News to get their dad’s and my perspective on what President Obama said. Dad spoke with Fox and Cool Blast Lemonade got a lot of publicity very quickly. You can view the interview that started it all [by clicking here].
In fact, their Facebook Page [found here] went from 6 likes (mostly friends and family) to over 800 in 24 hours. WOW!
We never expected such a response. From there they have received a lot of other publicity. Dad and Guppy had a radio interview [found here] and discussed the issue. Clara and Eliza will both be on Fox and Friends this Saturday morning, 7/21/2012. There are a few other television, radio and print media spots coming up.
One of the most impressive parts was how Congressman Ted Poe discussed Cool Blast Lemonade in Congress. You can see it here:
We are certainly very proud of the kids. Clara, Eliza and Eirik worked very hard at this and are still very enthusiastic about the prospects for the future. Fortunately, the publicity has opened up a lot of opportunities for all three of the kids. Unfortunately, we have to take some extra precautions because of it. So, for the next few days we will be busy dealing with this, letting everything calm down and keeping the kids grounded. Bear with us while we get back into the swing of things and thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement!
Homeschool Myths: I Have No Classroom Space – How Can I Homeschool?
Thursday, July 12 2012
One of the most recent parent panics I came across was the homeschool myth that without a classroom, homeschooling would be problematic. In a society where we have been immersed in the formal public or private school method I can certainly see how this would be a concern. The parent I spoke to recently was worried because she was trying to figure out where she had the space, much less the time and money, to convert an area in her home into a classroom. Many homeschool families do have a dedicated space where they do school – it’s called the kitchen table! If you think homeschooling needs a formal classroom setting, think again. It’s merely a myth and not having one should not prevent you from homeschooling.
Where do we study?
At Homeschool Pool, we do have an area in our home that is dedicated as the “classroom” area but it is more the playroom and classroom area combined. It is the place where the textbooks are stored, school supplies are kept and some of the independent work is done. But the room is also where all the kids go to watch videos, build things, play dress up and do whatever kids do with their imagination. Where we study is all over the place and typically occurs wherever it is most convenient at the time which, frankly, is rarely the school room/play room. Lifeguard Dad and I have our laptops in the living room and when we are doing formal lessons the living room is more often than not the place we do it. But, sometimes we go in the kitchen, a bedroom or the office. Occasionally we take a trip to the park and have school there. We are in the process of building a deck and when that is done I hope to use that more often when the weather is nice to work out there.
When the kids have independent study, projects or worksheets, they can do it wherever they feel comfortable and sometimes the “classroom” is not the place to do it. Writing a research paper or reading is nearly impossible when other kids are playing an elaborate game of superhero in the same room. So, off they go to their room, to sit on the couch, plop down on the floor or sit at the kitchen table. Whatever works. Just go with it. Don’t get caught up in trying to imitate how public or private schools do it. If you wanted that, why homeschool? You do not have a class of thirty children to manage so you don’t need to employ the tools public and private schools do which is designed mainly as classroom management tools.
Outside the home
Although we do much of the formal studies at home we learn everywhere and have educational opportunities frequently outside the home. We have some excursion at least once per week where we visit a museum, go to the zoo, take a class, participate in a co-op, attend a lecture, see a play, visit the library – the list goes on. Many of these less formal educational opportunities are where the most productive learning occurs. Even co-op classes we take are not in a formal classroom setting. Once you wrap your mind around the fact that homeschooling is not and should not be a mirror of what goes on in public or private school then you will feel less stress over trying to imitate its classroom boundaries.
If you have a home, you have a classroom area. For practical use, the reality is that you need very little dedicated space for homeschooling. Talk to those homeschool families who are lucky enough to have a dedicated classroom or have taken the time (and money) to build or convert an area. Most of them will tell you that while it sounded good in theory, in practice, the area is just not used as much as what was initially envisioned. Don’t worry about it! Have floor space? A table? Couch? Desk? Park? Backyard? Then you have a classroom area!
Organize your homeschool
Staying organized does help, though. While we try to be organized, for others it is not as much a priority. If you do, though, it does not take a lot of space to do so. At Homeschool Pool we do most of our planning online. We share a virtual space using Dropbox, a free site that allows you to share folders. [Click here to sign up for your free account!] This allows Homeschool Dad and I to create lesson plans, keep track of goals and create curriculum in one virtual space and share it as necessary with each other, the kids or others who may need it. We also keep a private blog for family and the kids as a way of keeping track of exactly what we do each day for each child. Both of these take up no space at all!
We have a bookshelf where we keep our text books; that’s about four feet of wall space. We use binders and a file box to collect all the written work which is kept on the bookshelf. We have a rolling 4-drawer chest we keep other school supplies in; there’s another three feet. We have a previously unused hall closet we recently converted into the art supply closet where all our paints, crayons, map pencils, markers, felt scraps, magazines, glue, paper, etc. are kept. Prior to doing that it was kept pretty neatly in a small, portable 4-drawer chest that we got for about $15 from Wal-Mart. The amount of physical space we have dedicated exclusively for homeschool use is actually quite small. Check back soon for another post on organization and space-saving ideas for your homeschool coming soon.
Think outside the box
Don’t let lack of dedicated classroom space prevent you from homeschooling if that’s the path you wish to take. The need for a classroom is a homeschool myth that should be debunked. Most homeschoolers will tell you that even if they have such a space, it is not used nearly as frequently as you might imagine. Learning takes place everywhere so should not be confined to a classroom. Lessons and reading can occur anywhere you feel like and wherever you are comfortable. Look around your home and your yard – where can you sit, have a conversation, look at a book? Think about the areas around you – coffee shop, library, museum, park, restaurant – where can you be inspired, be comfortable, talk, read, open a laptop? All those places are the places you can conduct school. Why limit yourself when you have an entire world that is your classroom?
