Homeschool and Clutter

Happy Friday! Heart of the Matter hosts a meme every Friday for homeschool moms and this week, the topic of choice is:

Best Tips For Conquering Clutter
One of the biggest struggles for homeschooling parents is managing the household while teaching the kids. What are some ways that you stay on top of the daily chores? Do you have organizational tips to share?

This makes me laugh because I try so hard to conquer clutter in my house and there are many days I find it to be a loosing battle. It seems to me that for a homeschooler, clutter is required. Or, is it just that as a mom who is spreading out her time amongst the munchkins who are home all day long is left with little time to keep up with the everyday house mess that seems inevitable. There are a few things I do - that I know work for me - to keep clutter from over taking the house. So, I will share with you what works for me.

Less is more - I try not to buy too many things. Before I buy anything that is not an immediate need, I ask myself if I have a place for it to call home. I ask myself if it is something I will use more than once. If it is décor item, I ask myself if it really works in my house and if I will still like it in a few months. I often leave items I like at the store and will go back to buy that item only if a week or two later I still want them. That tells me that it is not an impulse buy. I really do not have a lot of décor in my house. I do not like to buy items that are not useful.

Contain Everything - I am still working on this area. I just bought some Rubbermaid “Take Alongs” to contain our manipulatives. I had been using plastic baggies and putting all of those in a large container but that was hard for the kids to keep put away for some reason. I put all the manipulatives in their own container and that seemed to do the trick. Now, each container will go on a shelf so they are more easily obtained and put away. The take along containers I bought at Wal Mart this week for so little money. (1 pkg. of 5 for $2.50) I have a hard time spending a lot of money on storage items so I rarely buy them and when I do, it is only, that which is cheep. You will not find cute storage baskets at all here. I can never bring myself to buy them no matter how much I like them.

Put it Away - When it comes to the kids’ toys, I am struggling. We only buy that which we know they will play with for a long time and that can be passed on to the next child. We do not get them toys throughout the year either. We only buy the kids toys for birthdays, Christmas, and then not very many. However, it seems that toys multiply spontaneously. Have you ever picked up a toy and wonder where in the world it came from? I really have a hard time with getting them to put away toys consistently when they are done. Nevertheless, I try. Baby G is 21 months old and long ago, we started teaching her to “Put away.” Whenever she is done with something, we tell her to put away and she has learned to do just that. I am hoping that she will continue, as she gets older.

I fail miserably with controlling paper clutter. So, I have no advice with that.

Clutter can be so powerful in the home and I am in a constant battle with it so that I can keep it at bay. Clutter can cause dissension in the home. Clutter does not bring peace and relaxation. It can't, clutter is chaos and undermines the very core of a home. I am sure of this as I have seen in my own family that when the clutter is under control, peace and rest can be felt. Clutter is a distraction saying, "Look at me you have to put me away still." It can cause a mom to have a sense of urgency in her that she does not need. Then the kids pick up on it and the day spirals down hill from there. Please know that I am far from getting it under control and look for new, easy, inexpensive ways to control the clutter all the time.

An Olympic Lesson of Biblical Proportions

I have wanted to post all week but this week has been extremely adventurous with Baby G. (More on that later.) We finished our Olympic unit on Sunday when we watched the closing ceremony for the games. We let the kids stay up for the extinguishing of the flame. It was really a great show. I have always loved watching the Olympics and the sportsmanship among many of the athletes and watching the best in the world compete. Just to qualify to go to the Olympics is such a huge honor and I respect those athletes who trained day in and day out some since their childhood sacrificing playtime for practice to obtain their goal.

The kids studied 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 as their Bible memory verse.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

Did you know that the Ancient Greeks had four sets of games each held every 4 years so that once a year games were held? The most popular was held in Olympia and that is where we get the Olympics. The second most popular were the Isthmian games held in Corinth. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he was using an example that they absolutely understood. The games were very much happening during the life of Paul. (We often compartmentalize our Biblical history with world history but they intertwine.) The prize for the Olympics was an olive branch wreath/crown. The prize in Corinth was a laurel branch wreath/crown. Therefore, the crown/wreath (depending on the translation) is very perishable.

We let the kids stay up to watch some of the track and field the night 2 runners were disqualified for running on the line of the other lane and one of the runners stepped in the other lane. The rules clearly state that each runner must stay in their own lane at all times. If they do not stay in their lane, they are disqualified. Even though they finished the race, they did not obtain the prize because they did not stay in their lane. Paul continues in that scripture in verses 26-27

“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Paul was telling us to be careful and stay in our own lane. When the kids and I were talking about this, I had drawn a track on the white board with lanes. We discussed what could cause us in life to run on the line or in the other lane. We also talked about how our lane represents our path in life. For the kids this made the verse that they were memorizing was so much more real. I thank God that He knows the bigger picture and we were able to see a living example of the verse played out.

When I was talking with the kids, I was reminded of Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus said many will call Him Lord and he will say he never knew them.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ”

I pray that my kids know Him as they run the race of life so that they may obtain the eternal prize. Out of everything we learned while doing this unit study this by far was the most important. If they remember anything at all, I want it to be this.

Here are some pics of their Lapbooks we did for our Olympic Unit.

Olympic Fever

My kids have Olympic fever. Well, okay so the whole family has Olympic fever. And I am suffering from Olympic Fatigue - also know as staying up past midnight to watch the events you really like because the network knows you will watch everything they show first just to watch your favorite sport at the end. Between Michael Phelps - man that guy is nuts to swim so many races in such a short amount of time. He absolutely earned every one of his 8 gold medals. To gymnastics and the scoring craziness that the new system is. BTW no one can convince me that some of the Chinese girls, as truly amazing as they are, are really as old as they say. I am hooked. And there are still several days left of the games.

Part of our Olympic unit study included having our own little races and events with no winners or medals, just fun. I took some pics of our fun.

 

On Your Mark

 

Run G Run!

 

Princess K Throwing the "Javelin"

 

Miss H Throwing the "Discus"

 

Little Man Throwing the "Discus"

They ran lenghts of the yard.

They did a relay passing an empty tp roll as a baton. (I thought I got a pic of that but didn't.)

They threw a "javelin" - we used a plastic stake we have for ring toss.

They threw a "discus" also known as a Frisbee.

The kids also did long jump but I didn't take pics of that. 

Okay off to watch volleyball.

The Princess and the Satelitte

A recent conversation at the store went something like this. A sign of the technological age we live in.

Princess K: Daddy, why are there satellites on the ceiling?
Daddy: chuckling Those aren't satellites honey. That's the air conditioning system.

Exhausted Mommy - Determined Baby

I write tonight a very exhausted mommy. One day at Grandma's house and Baby G thinks she has full reign of the house. It was a not so great day for her. She tried to have things her way all day. Now mind you, my mother in law does not spoil the kids or let them get away with anything. So, why Baby G thinks she can come home and get her own way is beyond me. Now, as I sit with the dishwasher running, I do not want to clean up the rest of the mess. My living room looks like G force winds came roaring through - oh wait they did, lol. I have a mess of lunch still needing to be swept up from when she decided that she was not going to eat while sitting at the table and she needed to empty her mouth of her food before she could cry about me telling her otherwise. It was a frustrating and trying day. Filled with the words, "No," and "Obey Mommy," and "Seriously?!?" I could not keep up. She was like a tidal wave leaving destruction in her wake. She even found a pencil so she could draw in a library book - the first time she ever drew in a book. I write this to keep it real. I do not want anyone to think that my kids are perfect or that I have this mommying thing down to a science. I do not have it figured out. I know that today, I could have reacted differently at times, with less exasperation. (Okay, so I was really exasperated and I was biting my tongue a lot today.) I am sure I put an explanation point at the end of her name more than once. I have to remember that her strong and determined personality was instilled in her by the Father in heaven. He created her for great works and the personality she has is needed for what He has planned for her. It isn’t about me having an easy time training her. I need to remember on days like today to just lean into the Lord more and seek His wisdom in training her to put that determination and energy to use in ways that are more constructive.

I do take great delight in her personality most days. She usually makes me smile and even today, as she was in the tub, she made me laugh. I was having her show me where her nose, eyes, ears, teeth, hair... are, and she was being very cute showing me. So, yes even the best of us has long days. Nevertheless, the joy in them can still be found. Here is a picture I took of her the other day. She wanted a book to read in the car and she chose Vegetable Gardening for Dummies. lol - It was so cute as she lugged this large book to the car with her. Then, she started reading it as we were on our way, I looked back at her, and she had the cutest furrow of disappointment as she realized the book had no pictures. Then I turned to the middle where there are a couple pictures and showed her the tomatoes, then she was happy again.

Look at that smile - She is so proud of herself.

Psalm 139:13-15 (English Standard Version)

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Matthew 11:25-30 (English Standard Version)

At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and) learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

A Really Mundane Monday

Where is the best place to go for uninterrupted school planning? Jury Duty of course. Yesterday I spent a long boring but very productive 7 hours waiting to be selected for a jury. I took along some school stuff so I could plan out this week to the minute and next week. Then, I did some crossword puzzles, twiddled my thumbs, read a very old magazine and listened in on some who decided to make small talk.
I am free from having to drive the half hour to get to the court and sit for the day for an entire year. - Hurray! What a way to spend a Monday. The kids played blissfully at Grandma's house riding their bikes all day. Now, they know how to spend their Monday. :)

Busy, Busy, Busy

Oh my where have I been? What have I been doing? I have not posted anything for over a whole week! I really cannot believe I have not been blogging. However, I have been so busy I would be crazy if I did. So, what have I been doing with all my free time? Well, planning and organizing this school year. For us, school starts the first week of August so we can take more time off in the middle. I had a crazy goal to have lesson plans/goals for the next two months written out for all of the kids. I almost succeeded. I have about 6 weeks set up in all subjects and in others, I am planned through Christmas.
This week was the first week and I wanted to just jump in with both feet and get the kinks worked out. We are doing everything differently this year and so far, I think it will work with minor adjustments. I started including Baby G in more of the lesson time than I did last year. Last year we took advantage of her nap times because she demands so much energy and attention. She makes the Energizer Bunny look lazy. This year she is more able to sit for about 5 minutes at a time and she is enjoying being a part of what the kids are doing. She thinks she is big stuff sitting at the table with the big kids. This week has been intense and full of preparation and planning.

The kids and I are doing a unit study for the Olympics. I have scoured the internet for resources and information. Here are some more useful sites (see this Weblink Wednesday for more) I found and have been using.

The Teacher's Corner has several links to all sorts of sites for a great unit study. I have not even finished looking at all they have yet.

Teacher Planet has some links for lessons, clip art and information.

The International Olympic Committee has a great FREE Educational Kit. It is a 78 full color PDF. It is full of pictures, information and some activity sheets. I think that this is probably my favorite find.

This is the Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Here is a site that has some pictures of the lighting of the torch in Greece. Traditionally, they use a concave mirror to ignite the torch with the sun's rays.

So much information so little time. The kids have been learning all this week and are so excited about the Olympics this year.

Miss H working on a worksheet about the torch for her lapbook. 

 

Princess K is working intently on gluing her mini books and

Baby G is so proud of herself to be able to use the glue with the big kids. 

They watched the Opening Ceremony and were excited to know about what was going on and why. They loved every moment of it even though they stayed up past midnight. I was very impressed with the ceremony and loved watching the history unfold. Also, the torch lighting was awesome. The kids were in awe. You know, sometimes school does not have to be confined to normal daytime hours.