Organizing and Crafting

Over Christmas break I have been being creative and trying to organize some things that have gotten out of control.  Instead of a million little papers on my bulletin board strips, I made some hanging folder pockets from manila folders that I scored from Marc's earlier this year.   I also decided to decorate them with some craft paper so they look prettier.  I can store all the kids school papers that I need to refer to from time to time in these pockets.  

I also made a to do list pocket and a pocket for seminary ideas.

Jacob moved his desk (well I kicked him out) and Maggie and I are making a sewing / craft area.  It is pretty basic but it will do.  It will be nice to have a place to do a quick project with everything in one spot instead of spread all over the house.

We are doing some decorating of the craft area and Maggie is already working a some little curtains to hide the cords.  

Assignment / Homework Punch Card Creation

Working on home schooling stuff over the Christmas break.  Hopefully this will help keep them motivated.  They can punch out with a hole punch on each of the circles when they finish a subject.  I will add some incentive, such as when they complete 10 cards they get a surprise or activity?  I haven't decided yet.  I plan on using it for homework with Doug who is going to high school away from home.  I am going to print this out on card stock and cut them apart.  I also might get a jar and have them put in the cards when they are completed and each Friday draw a card for an incentive.  The possibilities are endless.

It is only the beginning of August, but it is time to start getting our classroom ready for the new year.  We have 24 days and counting until our first day with OHVA aka Ohio Virtual Academy.  It will be our 3rd year.  This year Jacob will be in 11th grade, Maggie in 7th and Curtis in 4th.  Doug is starting high school at Bio Med Science Academy, so he won't be home with us.    Here are some pictures of the classroom so far.  I still have a long way to go.

I think I saw this idea on Pinterest.  It is a shoe holder that I got cheap at a store called Marc's. I used paperclips and note cards to label each section.  It holds lots of little things that get scattered around the house.  Hopefully this will save us time finding supplies for a project or lesson.

It is doing double duty. It is hiding this shelf from my view.  I just see the organized beauty from the front.  On the side you can see all the "extras" that I have waiting to use throughout the school year.  Such as, notebooks, loose leaf paper, composition notebooks, folders, and file folders.

I found these at Marc's also.  They were $1.49 for 100 file folders. I thought I would have the kids use them to make lap books to go along with lessons.  I think I saw a box of these at Staples for about $30.  So that is a huge savings!  

Books and Supplies.

Curtis's Books from OHVA.  I have found keeping all the books in one location helps to keep things organized. I also put all the 2nd semester things away for the time being.  Otherwise it looks very overwhelming.

These are the teacher manuals for Maggie and Curtis.  I also need them in one spot.  Then when I need to refer to something, they are easily accessible.  

Maggie's books for the year.

This is something new I am working on for this year.  Writing anything in our house is equal to torture!   Since Doug is at school this year, I am taking over his space to create a writing center.  It will get them away from the computer when they have to write.  

I am finding things on the internet to put on the board.  For example:  words to use instead of bad, good, happy, sad, asked, and very.  Hopefully this will lead to more interesting and  creative writing.

This is more for Curt.  Some of those words that can be confusing to use. 

Commonly misspelled words and some spelling rules.  

Hopefully the writing center will help.  I am sure it will not take away the torture, but it might help.  I hope it helps.    Cross your fingers!

Well this is it so far.  I still have to deep clean.  Get rid of tons of boxes and junk.  Hang a bulletin board and clean the carpet.  Oh and try and keep it clean...  Wish me luck.

Cleveland Zoo Field Trip

Elephants are huge!  

 We had a great time at the Cleveland Zoo on Monday.  It was an all day field trip.  Our feet were tired but we saw sooo much more that these pictures.  We bought a family pass so we can go back again and again.  We could easily spend days in the zoo.  We saw things rather quickly to "see everything" Next time we might concentrate on a few exhibits and do reports.  Learn a bit more in depth about some of the animals.  It was tons of fun!

Kangaroo Area 

Koala Bear.  So Cute!

Fish

Jelly Fish.  So fun to watch.

Coral Reef.

Looking at the animals.

Maggie and the turtle.

Maggie and Doug in the background.

Jacob and Curt in background.

Camel.  Look at his back legs.  The kids said  he was doing yoga.

Eagle.  Very impressive animal.

Cool Giraffes!

Baby Giraffe!

Rhino Momma!  Don't mess with her!

Snake!  

Field Trip to the Great Lakes Science Museum

Maggie

 Here we are on our family field trip.  We had a great time visiting the science museum.  The kids enjoyed  climbing through this huge hallowed out log.  We learned about different kinds of animals and how they live and what they eat.  It was fun.  We even got to see a vulture eat the insides out of a rat.  That was YUCKY!  Other than that scarring experience the kids had fun too.

Curt peaking through the hole.

Maggie

Big enough for 15 year old Jacob to get through.

What Steve would look like as an astronaut.

Maggie in Space!

Really cool exhibits!

Deciding Toad or Frog...tied in with our Science lesson the day before!

Our Classroom

Here is some pictures from our home school classroom.  Also some pictures of how schooling creeps into the rest of the house.

Jacob hard at work. (Hopefully)

Homeschooling does escape into the rest of the house.

Computer area.

White board. Love Love love having this!

The kids are saving up for fish and/or a hermit crab.

Doug in the reading chair.  

Where I keep all the "stuff"

Maggie working hard.

Curt is home too.  

Another view of computers.


We are on day 3.  So far so good.  One day at a time...one day at a time....