Dinner is over, the dishes are done and the last load of laundry is in the dryer. PJ is enjoying some screen time before heading to the bath and I am going to relax with a cup of tea.
I know that is has been way too long since I sat down and wrote something. In the last year and a half we have moved twice, I switched jobs and PJ and I took up a year-long hiking challenge. Exhausting. If you would like to see how that hiking challenge went you can click here to see the introductory video. The first few are admittedly rough, but they get better as the year progresses.
With each change, I have discovered that my homeschooling routine needed tweaking. The system that I used for the refrigerator did not work in my sister’s house and with this new place I couldn’t even tell you where the desk is. That means we are once again in the process of shifting where and how the schoolwork gets done.
A while back, I purchased a few items from IKEA that have been key to keeping the school day on track and getting the work done.
The first two items are more for helping PJ with his math skills than actual organization. The cash register is just a cleverly disguised calculator masquerading as a toy, but it gets the job done. The abacus, on the other hand has had a rough start. I made the mistake of diving right into its functions and not letting my little one get to know it through play. We are turning the tide on that, but it is slow. He is getting the concept, but he is resisting. Learn from my mistake and let them play with it first. Just a heads up, the abacus is not with the toys, you will find it in the baby area.
The other item is the IKEA easel. It has a white board on one side and a chalk board on the other. With a little planning and 5 minutes in the evening, I am able to keep PJ on track with his schooling even when I am at work. It has been so successful, that I have modified and added to his daily learning activities. I upped the number of math problems, added weekly spelling words and included logic puzzles and grammar worksheets. Right now we are only using the whiteboard side of the easel, but I am in the process of adding more activities which means we will ultimately be using both sides.
An added benefit to this system is that it is teaching him personal responsibility. If we wants to go to Open Gym or play video games with me in the evening, then he must have his schoolwork done before I get home.
Another added benefit to this system is that he can learn all the time. Since I am only giving him his lessons in little bite-sized chunks, he does not burn out as quickly. It has just become part of his day. The mini lessons coupled with one day a week of instruction from me has allowed us to make learning a more natural part of our family rhythm. We homeschool year round, but it does not feel like an institutionalized hardship; rather, just life.