A Glimpse into Our Learning Lifestyle
Every homeschool is unique. Ours is no exception! I welcome you to step into our homeschool gallery and browse the examples of my daughter Sprite's projects, crafts, and fieldtrips. Each photo is linked back to Flickr where even more homeschooling images are stored.
Reasons to Homeschool Poll
I used to be a public school teacher, and my daughter was in daycare at only eight weeks old. I know what it's like to work full time and be a mother. I did that for three years. Then we moved abroad where school options were limited. Homeschooling was the only choice we had. So I plunged it and have loved every minute of it!
What's your story?
Homeschool Room
Here is a glimpse of our homeschool area -- a table and chairs, bookcases, and maps.
bookshelf organizing...
graduated cylinder h...
graduated cylinder h...
graduated cylinder h...
bookshelf organizing...
Nature Study -- Nature Walks
Charlotte Mason Style
Although we live in a city of several million people, we try hard to make nature walks a priority. Once a week, we spend the afternoon outside -- in our own apartment complex's common garden areas, at the zoo, or at a park. The purpose is to enjoy and study nature first hand.
Nature Study -- Nature Journal
Charlotte Mason Style
Sometimes we take paper and pencil with us outside and draw what we observe. Other times we bring specimens back home for further examination. Regardless, our normal schedule is to work on the nature journal the day after the nature walk. A minimum of one page is expected from Sprite. I even participate and keep nature journal pages. I find that this activity is so relaxing!
Fun at the Beach
My Ultimate Must Have CM books
Artist Study
Charlotte Mason Style
Each term we study a different artist by looking at one painting each day. So far we've studied VanGogh, Monet, Renoir, and Toulouse Lautrec.
picasso notebooking...
vermeer id exercise
picasso ATC with but...
picasso ATC with swi...
picasso ATC with big...
picasso project cutt...
picasso project (3)
Picasso reproduction
Picasso reproduction
Picasso reproduction...
cassatt notebooking...
Monet notebooking pa...
Monet Notebooking ba...
Monet notebooking pa...
My Main Homeschool Goals
1. Instill a love for learning.
2. Foster a strong work ethic, doing all things "as unto the Lord."
Field Trips
Of course, homeschooling doesn't necessarily happen at "home." It happens everywhere -- at museums, at parks, on planes, at the beach, on trains!
Notebooking
We use notebooking for many subjects including history, art, and poetry. Most anything can go into a notebook! Here are some examples of Sprite's notebooking pages.
math notebooking pos...
math notebooking dat...
math notebooking gra...
math notebooking pie...
math notebooking tan...
math notebooking tan...
math notebooking mat...
math notebooking fra...
math notebooking tes...
math notebooking equ...
fractions notebook p...
math graphic organiz...
math notebooking clo...
math notebooking tim...
measuring circles no...
squares
Printer/Copier/Scanner
Epson Stylus CX9400Fax Color All-in-One Printer
Amazon Price: (as of 12/07/2009)
Lapbooking
Lapbooking has become a major part of our homeschooling! If you're not sure what it is, just click on the photos and browse around my Flickr sets. It's really easier to show you than tell you.
Colonial America Lap...
lewis and clark lapb...
Human Body lapbook c...
Egypt lapbook cover
light and color lapb...
american revolution...
Greece Lapbook cover
dolphin cover
rainforest lapbook C...
Penguin lapbook cove...
Rain Lapbook cover
Space Lapbook Cover
Forces and Motion La...
Volcano cover
Viking Lapbook cover
China lapbook cover
middle ages cover
Ocean Lapbook cover
Lipizzaner cover
Pirate Lapbook Cover
Music lapbook cover
Ancient Civilization...
Explorer Lapbook cov...
lapbook mosaic
My Favorite Lapbooking Tool
12.6 x 10.2 inch Paper Cutter / Trimmer With Wooden Base
Amazon Price: $30.54 (as of 12/07/2009)
Science Experiments
We use a living science curriculum called Noeo Science. It used living books and real experiments to teach! I highly recommend it!
Chemistry watching i...
food coloring
Chemistry tubes and...
Homeschooling Challenges
Some challenges are the same for all of us -- so many books, so little time. So many curriculum choices and limited funds!
For me, because we live abroad, simply getting good resources is one of my greatest challenges. I can't use a public library for good books. I have to buy everything and bring or ship it over.
Winter Promise Crafts
We use Winter Promise American Story as our base curriculum. It's a living books program with lots of crafts and hands-on projects added in. That's just perfect for my crafty Sprite!
One of Sprite's Sculpey Clay Projects
Timeline
I think timelines are an essential part of a homeschool.We've used all kinds -- index cards strung on a line, notebook timelines, wall charts, and small minibook timelines. They all work!
Hanging Timeline 3 c...
Hanging Timeline lon...
SL's Timeline notebo...
Hanging Timeline 5 c...
Timeline notebook cl...
Timeline notebook
Wall Timeline closeu...
Wall Timeline closeu...
Wall Timeline BC clo...
Wall Timeline full v...
Wall Timeline closeu...
Wall Timeline closeu...
Wall Chart Timeline
Wall Chart Timeline
Wall Chart Timeline
Wall Chart Timeline
Timeline Notebook fo...
timeline 1600 Age of...
timeline 1600
timeline 1600
Spelling
We try to use a lot of creative ways to make spelling fun. These are some examples.
More Glimpses, Galleries, and Exhibits
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Minibook Gallery
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Whether you're new to lapbooking and are trying to get an idea of what minibooks are or whether you're an old hand at lapbooking and want some fresh ideas, welcome to the minibook gallery! Browse the images for some creative inspiration. Follow the...
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Oreo the Homeschool Cat
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Meet Oreo, one of our homeschooled cats. My daughter "Sprite" is educated at home and since the cats like to get in the middle of everything we do, I figure that these are some very educated cats! Look at the photos for the evidence. And join in the...
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Curriculum I've Used
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Here's an overview of what we've done for homeschool from kindergarten until now (currently wrapping up 4th grade). You can see our curriculum choices, philosophy changes, favorite books, and a good dose of crafts and fun. I even include some possibl...
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Notebooking Exhibit
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You've heard about notebooking. You know it's a flexible tool that can be used with most any curriculum or homeschooling style. You've read a bit about it, but you're still not quite sure. What is notebooking? What does it actually look like, and ho...
Guestbook
Thanks for stopping by our homeschool gallery. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me through my profile page or leave a message here.
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- anaturalphenomenon anaturalphenomenon Nov 1, 2009 @ 5:20 am
- A beautiful lens, Jimmie! I love all your lenses, this one was a welcome glimpse into the life of another homeschooler. Thanks!
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- WhitU4ever WhitU4ever Sep 26, 2009 @ 10:58 am
- I have to look into the Charlotte Mason style. It sounds interesting. Great job on this lens, and keep up the good work! :)
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- Sharan Sharan Apr 15, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
- So many ideas, thanks for sharing. I am looking to plan curriculum for after the summer and will be taking one or two of your ideas.
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- momof5moreorless momof5moreorless Apr 15, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
- From one homeschooling mom to another - great lens! It looks like ya'll are having a lot of fun! You have a lot of great ideas here.
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- Carolina Carolina Mar 6, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
- I am grateful for your eagerness to share your ideas and enthusiasm. I greatly enjoyed looking at your projects. Thank you for including tips on printers, etc.
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by Jimmie
I enjoy cooking from scratch, photography, and traveling. For more about me and my lense... (more)
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