Today I posted a picture of the girls during school time on Facebook via my iphone. I got several comments about our classroom, so I thought I'd post pictures on here! I haven't done it yet, mostly because I have been waiting until I'm "done," but that could be a while so here it is as of today!
When you first walk in, you see the art easel and a wall full of (mostly Gab's) artwork. Art is something we're going to add into the mix next semester, so more will be done here in the future. I'm open to hearing suggestions on how to teach "art" to kindergartners and pre-schoolers, including books and other such things.
Next to that, we have our nature center. This is also unfinished! haha Thankfully, when we rented this house, there were 2 bookshelves already in this room and this is one of them. I have our nature journals, Your Big Backyard magazines, flower press, and nature books on the shelf. On the top I keep the girls treasures that they find outside. I'd love to get some of those seasonal fairies from Magic Cabin for this, but they are so expensive! In the window sill are books on our nature topic of the month. This month is pumpkins. Eventually, we'll store nature backpacks here with magnifying glasses, binoculars, note pads, cameras (you can get digital cameras SO cheap on Craig's List!), and collection containers.
Obviously, you can see the table. It was a steal on Craig's List. I was going to buy a kid size table, but I decided on a full size table.
I wish I had taken this picture in the daylight, because this window is one of my favorite parts of the room. It is garden level (so even with the grass) and is literally on the other side of the garden (should be fun in the spring!). We can watch Bree's antics while we're schooling, and sometimes he makes us laugh by putting his paws up on the window!
As you can see, I have a calendar section going on. We discuss what month and day of the week it is every day. I have a CD of songs about such things that has been helpful. In the future, I'd also like to add weather and time over here.
Notice the baskets? I've never been a basket person, but how could I pass them up at $1 a piece on Craig's List? They are very helpful!
In the window sill there are canning jars with our markers, colored pencils, crayons, writing pencils, glue & scissors. There are also some math toys for Gab and Colette.
My desk was also already in the house, what a blessing! I do all my planning here, and as you can see I have acquired a nice collection of homeschooling books thanks to the thrift store, a generous FOCUS donor, and some purchases on Amazon. I also keep ALL paint and the Base 10 blocks on my desk for safe keeping.
Our maps were free on Craig's List, and at first I didn't think we needed them. They have proved very useful though! We know people from all over America (and the world really) and the girls can see where these places are. Also, it comes in handy if geography comes up in any of our books.
My swiffer sweeper there by the trash can comes in handy if we need any comedic relief. All I have to do is let Bree in and start sweeping. There's all sorts of barking and jumping around - not just by the dog!
Up above are Felicity's alphabet cards. These are great fun and it's always fun to add more to our wall!
If you turn once more to the left, you find rocking chairs for reading, life size prints of the girls (we were learning about being made in the image of God a couple weeks ago), and a bulletin board for our religious studies. This is obviously unfinished. Right now I have a Rosary and holy cards of Our Lady of the Rosary, since it's October, and laminated pictures of our Archbishop, Aux. Bishop, and Parish Priest as a reminder of the Year of the Priest. We are praying for them! Above the girls I'd love to put either Stations of the Cross or the Mysteries of the Rosary.
SO, that's our school room! It will change with the seasons, and of course as we go along in the year. Thanks for stopping by!
