*** Homeschool List ***

[crazymomof4]

I am a bit tired of having my entire home taken over by school, so this year I am going to try doing school in the basement. It is unfinished, but we have a carpetted area down there with play things for when the younger two need to wander and nice big windows as well as a kitchen table and chairs. I am hoping to "inherit" this really cool cabinet from my mom's house that she is selling for all of our supplies to go into.

I, too, feel like my whole house is littered with school stuff. If there is a homeschooling forum started, maybe one of the topics could be. "Sharing Ideas for Organizing Your Homeschooling Supplies".

 

[lmhall2000]

Count me in for this homes'cool' thread! We're going on our 5th year and really love it.

I got my dream and built a house with a school room in mind...had built in book cases put in so I didn't have to have 6-8 random cases taking up all my wall space....it's really a fourth bedroom that I enlarged to make a school room out of...it's got a nice closet for storage and a sofa, 2 tables with chairs a rocker glider for read alouds, shelves for organizing art supplies and math stuff. Pottery Barn Outlet supplied lots of fun art display thingies...just really clips that you put the art on. And we have one school desk. It has 3 big windows in it so we can see the hummingbirds and lets lots of natural light in...

In a nutshell..we're a Charlotte Mason/classical Christian homeschool family. We do learning in a gentle way and love including art/Latin/history/and the sciences...we school year round but take a week off every 6 weeks or so. My kids are 10, 7 & 6 and I think sometimes I learn more than they do!

Homeschooling is an adventure!
Tara

 

[disneymom3]

lmhall--you are now my idol. My dream is to move to a new house where I can design a room just for school!! Or as a last resort, finish the basement here. Ooooh, the book shelves I have planned!

I read this (again) not long ago and got a kick out of it. Thought many of you would find it funny too.

I just realized I'm not ready for preschool ! I have trouble with or
just plain can't do any of these things:

* expresses self verbally (I'm a grunt and point kinda gal)
* identifies others by name (I'm soooo bad with names)
* Retells stories in sequence (oh da**)
* draws beyond simple scribble (double da**)
* is not afraid to go to school (I'm sunk here)
* maintains self control ( I'm chubby because I work out every single
day without fail. My self control is admirable. lol)
* meets others without shyness (they are kidding right ?)
* able to stay on task (I *hate* that word. Heaven forbid I
multitask.)

SO. Looks like I'm gonna be staying home for awhile .

 

[Kerlynne]

http://math.donnayoung.org/papers.htm
enjoy~

 

[DreadpiratK]

Wow, what a difference! Back in 01, for our last Disney trip I spent some time here, and I posted about homeschooling and got little response from anyone, at least not a positive response. Could have been a exception for sure, but there certainly seems to be more homeschoolers around now than there were then.

anyway, count us in. We have homeschooled our kids from the start, they are 15, 13, 11, and 1. We're always excited to talk to other homeschoolers, swap stories, advice ect.

And yes, for many many years our entire house was the school room, untill it got to be too much and I finally finished remodeling a large porch into a school rm. Best thing we could of done. With three kids, the books and papers ect were everywhere, but now they are at lest contained, and we can just close the door when people come over (who needs to clean?)

 

[mom2rb]

I want a special place to home school. I've got computer learning games all over the study. My beautiful built-in bookshelves covered with papers, crafts, and supplies. My kitchen table is so full, we have to clear stuff off to eat. And I still have the surviving tadpole from the grow-a-frog science kit on my kitchen counter. It's been 6 months, when will that stupid thing turn into a frog?

 

[crazymomof4]

I want a special place to home school. I've got computer learning games all over the study. My beautiful built-in bookshelves covered with papers, crafts, and supplies. My kitchen table is so full, we have to clear stuff off to eat. And I still have the surviving tadpole from the grow-a-frog science kit on my kitchen counter. It's been 6 months, when will that stupid thing turn into a frog?

I'll bet if we all contributed we could put together a very funny, Erma Bombeck-type book about homeschooling our kids!!

 

[TNKBELL]

I want a special place to home school. I've got computer learning games all over the study. My beautiful built-in bookshelves covered with papers, crafts, and supplies. My kitchen table is so full, we have to clear stuff off to eat. And I still have the surviving tadpole from the grow-a-frog science kit on my kitchen counter. It's been 6 months, when will that stupid thing turn into a frog?

I have the "perfect" school room set up in our basement, complete with Pottery Barn Kids table and chairs, magazine rack, bookshelves galore, cute little baskets with liners and the shelves and a big armoire, and a calendar that still dated "March" because that's the last month I used it. Since we have been doing school at the kitchen table, I am able to accomplish way more upstairs(laundry, dishes,diaper changes,snack breaks, bathroom assitance...) so our countertops on one side of the kitchen are covered in stacks of books along with our homework basket. As cluttered as it is, I prefer this over my "perfect" school room. Some of the best advice I've heard is that as homeschoolers it isn't necessary to recreate a formal school-like environment because homeschooling isn't conventional and learning occurs in less formal ways. Has anyone ever grown Triops? The grow a frog story reminded me of our not so successful science project, We hatched them from eggs and they grew rapidly and the Dks got attached, you were supposed to clean out thier tank every so many days....Well we got a little busy and the tank became dirty and all 8 of our "pets" died resulting in a funeral service in the hall bathroom toilet with my 8 year old bitterly weeping the loss. So if you grow the "Triops" make sure and change the tank water regularly.

 

[crazymomof4]

Has anyone ever grown Triops? The grow a frog story reminded me of our not so successful science project, We hatched them from eggs and they grew rapidly and the Dks got attached, you were supposed to clean out thier tank every so many days....Well we got a little busy and the tank became dirty and all 8 of our "pets" died resulting in a funeral service in the hall bathroom toilet with my 8 year old bitterly weeping the loss. So if you grow the "Triops" make sure and change the tank water regularly.

LOL...DS8 has all of the equipment to grow Triops through his Undersea University series......I keep putting him off. I know it will be up to me to keep the tank clean. Each night he catches fire flys and wants to keep them as "pets". We have 3 cats. I thought I had the pet thing fulfilled.

 

[Eeyore's Girl]

I'm with you! We're about to start our second year of homeschooling.

Something to share...
During the last school year, I read several homeschool reference books. It wasn't until the beginning of this summer that I found what I consider the best of all that I read. The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell is a fabulous reference. We all need this one on our shelf. I found it at the Christian bookstore for about $25, but bought it on Ebay for $8. I highly recommend it to new homeschoolers and those considering homeschooling.

 

[momimouse27]

Sounds great! This will be my 5th year homeschooling. How nice it would be to chat with other homeschoolers who also love Disney!

 

[disneymom3]

I have the "perfect" school room set up in our basement, complete with Pottery Barn Kids table and chairs, magazine rack, bookshelves galore, cute little baskets with liners and the shelves and a big armoire, and a calendar that still dated "March" because that's the last month I used it. Since we have been doing school at the kitchen table, I am able to accomplish way more upstairs(laundry, dishes,diaper changes,snack breaks, bathroom assitance...) so our countertops on one side of the kitchen are covered in stacks of books along with our homework basket. As cluttered as it is, I prefer this over my "perfect" school room. Some of the best advice I've heard is that as homeschoolers it isn't necessary to recreate a formal school-like environment because homeschooling isn't conventional and learning occurs in less formal ways

You know, THAT is why I have resisted "doing school" in the basement. We don't just learn when we sit at the table! This is also the first year of doing a formal laid out curriculum for us. Well, it is not all that formal but it is planned out week by week. I am excited but I am not really sure the format will work for us. I am doing the Rome to the Reformation year by My Father's World. I really like it overall, but I am one of those keep up or throw it out the window kind of personalities. Sooooo

I am thinking we will do most of our reading aloud in the living room as always adn then do our math, spelling and writing in the basement at the table. I have a kindergartener this year and I am quite wary, nervous, anxious about the whole phonics thing. DD learned to read at 4 and I did not teach her. I have to get more laid back about this reading issue. I really don't want to "teach" this one either, but I am afraid if I don't he won't learn it.

 

[yanni2]

I woudl be interested as well. I homeschooled my oldest thru a virtual academy last year for 1st grade. This year I will be homeschooling a 2nd grader and a kindergartener. both of my children are girls.

 

[DreadpiratK]

Anyone up for a very small HSers DIS meet? I've noticed that some of our vacations overlap. I know meeting up isn't something EVERYONE likes to do on vacation, so instead of a personal invitation that makes people feel obligated, I'll just put this out there...

We'll be at WDW from 9/18-30. If anyone wants to meet and it works out well for both of our schedules, I'd love to have a quick meal, wait for a parade, enjoy Fantasmic together, or something.

Respond here or PM me if you're interested.

sounds like fun, we will be at Disney 9/10-9/24, we'd love to meet other homeschoolers. Let us know if this develops.

BTW, our kids are DS 15, dd 13, DS 11, DD 1

 

[nono]

Count me in -- it's possibly in the plans (daughter is only 17 mo).

Thx

 

[nuzmom]

We would like to meet if schedules work out. We'll be there from 9/10 to 9/21. We have DS9 and DS4. Staying at BWV. Feel free to PM me.

 

[copper0426]

Forgive me because I haven't read the whole 7 pages, but Homeschooling caught my eye. We homeschool our 8 year old going to be nine on Saturday and have been homeschooling for 3 years. We did stuff before kinder. too. so it would be safe to say 4 years. Anyhow I never even thought anyone would be posting about homeschooling on the dis. I thought we were only a minute that homeschooled and also are in love with Disney. We don't come to the family boards, so I guess I am missing things. I would love to be added to the list that you all are making. Even though I haven't read back that far.

Someone had said that a teacher asked if they were taking there child out of school to go to Disney. I thought that was a hoot. I love being able to go to disney when we want. I get so irritated when family members say oh, we cant go away then so and so will miss school. I tell them that they will learn on vaction too and really just how much do you think they will miss in a week. OH please. Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone, I just thought that was funny.

I am so glad to see there are alot of other Homeschooling/Disney Fanatics out there.
Diane

 

[kimbac3]

I didn't read all the pages either I have been homeschooling for 7 years now. Come September I'll have 1 in 8th, 1 in 3/4ish and 1 in 2nd.
I also was leader of a homeschool group in the last county I lived in. I really loved the fellowship and being able to bounce things off of people who have been there done that. Where I live now is pretty isolated and I miss the interaction. A homeschool board would be great!!!
Kimba

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Me, Too! This will be our first year homeschooling DD(8) who will be in 3rd grade. Our family is a little different in that my DH will be doing the schooling as I work all day. I will do catch up on the weekends if necessary.

I am really hoping this works out. I would like to home school both my children.

 

[TammyNC]

My DH may have already responded, but I didn't go back and read everything. We just finished up our third year of homeschooling and are loving it. DD-12 and DS-10 are having a good time too. We usually school at our kitchen table and yes like everyone elses we have to move something to be able to sit down and eat. It can get a little crazy (OK I'll be honest, WILD AND CRAZY) sometimes, but it is all worth it. I love watching my children grow and learn right in front of me. Being able to take vacations (especially ones to Disney) when we want to is also a plus.

Hopefully something will work out for our homeschool group. I didn't realize there were so many on the boards. Has anyone taken a count?