Homeschool Organizational Bits

I added some new elements to our school room this year.   This will be our sixth year on this journey, if we count the year we did preschool with Luke.  I find that reassessing our organization each year helps me discover ways to improve how we do what we do.  I'm a huge fan of making things run smoother if at all possible.

 I've loved our green bins but really wanted to add labels to them.  Simultaneously, I did not want to commit to labeling them.  What if I decide to use them for something different in three months?  While pondering this (whining about this) with my husband, he made a suggestion that absolutely rocked.

Painters tape and a Sharpie white paint marker.  Brilliant.  It's something I can easily change, but they stay in place just fine.  My husband is awesome.  For those who aren't familiar with my bins, each one has a subject in it.  (WWE=Writing With Ease; FLL=First Language Lessons; HWOT=Handwriting Without Tears) Each day the boys look at their schedule to ascertain which subjects they need to complete.  Grab the bin.  Move to a workspace that isn't the same as your brother's workspace.  Work.  Replace bin when finished.  Having them labeled has helped SO much!

Then I prepped the binders for the year.  I do these at the beginning so that we can fill them up as we go instead of putting them together at the end.  It works well.

 The card stock background just makes it easier to insert the spine label.

 I don't usually get this cutesy with the labels, but I had time this year.  The boys were at the cabin with Grandma and Grandpa during the four days right before school started.

 Yep.  I had more time than usual this year for sure.  These pencil pouches are meant to ensure that everyone's stuff stays reasonably close to their school work.

I decided to try something new with my pencil pouch.  I had never actually purchased a pencil pouch for myself, so that was new.  I highly recommend it.  I often find myself sitting on the couch with the boys, reading something awesome and needing a pencil to write a narration or what have you or a pair of scissors to cut out a timeline figure.  I always have my Instructor's Guide with me, but I don't always have writing utensils.  Until now.

Look at this!  I put my pouch IN the Instructor's Guide facing the current week's schedule.  Perfect!  Sometimes it's the little things that make life SO much easier.

I guess that's it for organizational bits for our start up.  I will do my next post about our actual first day of school.  :-)

Luke Turns Ten

Well, folks.  Tomorrow is the actual day, but we had Luke's 10th birthday party today.  Ten.  I might spend time waxing eloquent about that later, but right now I just want to share all the awesomeness of his party.

For whatever reason, as Luke's 10th birthday approached, I really felt like it should be something special, something different.  At the same time, it needed to be something inexpensive.  Right?  I'm a big believer in using the gifts, talents and resources God has already provided.  We have an awesome basement with a projector.  Let's watch a movie.

I'm also a huge proponent for parental authority.  I don't think I've ever once asked my kids what theme they wanted for their birthday.  I tell them.  Okay, I strongly suggest by saying something like, "Hey!  Wouldn't it be fun to have a _________-themed birthday party?"  For whatever reason, they've always been super excited about each theme I pick.  Not surprisingly, when I suggested to Luke a Star Wars themed party during which we would watch the original Star Wars (1977), he had no problems embracing the idea. You see, our boys hadn't seen the film yet.  I know.  Plenty of younger peeps have viewed this film and they are turning out just fine.  We just prefer to enjoy limited media together as a family.  It makes viewings like this one incredibly awesome instead of everyday.  And folks, it was epic.

Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope on the big screen with surround sound.  Five of your closest buddies and their dads.  Toss in a few presents, some cake, and you have yourself a very nearly perfect 10-year old birthday party.  I LOVED the simplicity of this event.  I purchased simple snacks like popcorn, granola bars, Fritos, and trail mix.  We set up the food on my desk.  I popped SIX bags of popcorn, and they ate nearly every kernel while sitting mesmerized by the story of good vs. evil accompanied by LOTS of explosions and light sabers.   EPIC.

Sidenote:  We decided to preview the film with the boys the night before the event.  Having never seen it, we knew there might be moments of stress during the initial viewing.  So, we all watched it together Friday night.  There were a few moments of pausing to check on them, but for the most part, the boys simply sat, agog at the cinematic masterpiece playing out before them.  So.  Good.

Here are some pics for those of you who want to see the fun!

 I made star-shaped cupcakes using a Wilton silicone baking tray.  They weren't perfect, and not one of the folks who ate them cared.

 The party room ready to go!

 All the peeps are watching...

Like I said, it was rather epic.  After the movie we sang Happy Birthday, ate some cake and opened presents.  I took a picture of all the kids together to show off their party favors.  Can you spot the party favor?

Yep.  I bought a t-shirt for every party attendee.  They watched the film in them and then took them home.  Erik was at Target last night.  These shirts were $7 each.  About a half hour before the party started I decided each boy needed one.  I hadn't purchased party favors yet, thinking it would just be a favor-less party.  But this was irresistible.  I love the idea of sending kids home with something their mothers won't cringe over. I'm brilliant. ;-)

And that was the party.  I can't say for sure, but we might never host a movie-less party again.  It was so easy and fun.  I mean, we have this great projector and this great room.  Use what you have, people.  Pinterest Moms - you keep on creating awesome things and doing the crazy, awesome business that you do.  Me?  I'm gonna watch movies in my basement, and thank Jesus for giving me boys who don't care if the frosting looks right on the cupcakes.