Peek inside my Planning book

This is NOT what my plans looked like back in 2013 when I started "tot schooling"!! AND this will all look different next year when I have an official "1st grader" in this homeschooling house.  And every homeschooling parent will say - "be flexible and find something that works for you!"  And I am backing that quote!  Plan and document your homeschooling in a way that works for you!

But if you are needing some ideas to work with...here's a peek inside my planning.

This system worked for me this 2014-20145 school year.  Some days were detailed, some days weren't.  Some days we did it ALL, some days we didn't.  Some days were easy-going, some days were nasty and ugh!

But it was ALL documented and written down.  This is a teacher planning book that I purchased at Lakeshore.  I've tried doing planning in Google Docs, using spreadsheets and online...that didn't work for me, as it does for some.

Here's my plans for my first week in August...detailed and OH! SO! Lovely!

What's up with the RED pencil?

I keep this RED pencil handy at ALL TIMES - because it's how I note the things that I taught that weren't actually "planned".  The RED arrows are for something that needs to be reviewed or pushed to next week.  I also check off in red so I can see what we've accomplished and completed.

And here's one with a BLUE sticky note!  I usually make notes on these for future lessons.  If I noticed something in J's reading that we need to discuss and learn, I make note and slap it in my book.  Then I can refer to it when I'm planning next week.

I thought you might want to see the difference between what our plans looked like in August (first pictures top of blog) vs. our plans in May (below).  

LOTS of blanks and an easy-going plan that I will continue to use over our busy summer.  

I didn't even plan Workboxes this week of May.

The most important thing I try to keep in mind is to keep things documented!  The LOVELY state of Texas is very FREE when it comes to Homeschooling, but that might not always be the case.  And I don't want to lose that privilege because I didn't document my kids learning and my teaching.

How do you plan?  How do you document?  

Would love to hear your ideas to inspire me for next year! 

Happy Learning with your Little Ones ~

Two week Summer Techie Fun - Part 1 of series

To school or NOT to school in the summer...that is the BIG question.

Well around the end of May, I would have told you that we were probably gonna just "enjoy the summer".  

Life was super busy about then with a vaca to see the inlaws, my final curriculum class, and the Kathy H Lee workshops.  I - was - DONE!

Then we came back from, yet another vaca, to the beach.  And we needed SOMETHING!  My kids work much better with a scheduled structure.  

So, now it's mid-June, and we are back to the ole grind...in a fun summer kind of way!  

For the next 2 weeks - we will be doing a stretch of FUN technology!  

*Why 2 weeks?  because then we have family in town and then off to the panhandle of Texas for a Mommy's Little Learners 3 day workshop!*

Over these next 2 weeks, I'll blog a series of posts about the different techie-type learning that we'll be doing.  Hoping it will inspire you and your little learners to enjoy some fun learning over the summer!

First off....

Lego Movie Maker

I got a flyer for a summer camp for Lego Lovers.  And this was one of the programs they would be learning to use.  So I looked it up, learned about it and saved us $300.  (Yep...that's how much the camp cost!!!)

It's SUPER simple and so much fun:0)  J, N and even MiniM (with the help of Mommy) created a stop motion video using this.  

Here's a YouTube video that I used to teach the boys a step by step process to use this app.
YouTube instructional video for Lego Movie Maker

And here's the premier of our Lego Movie Maker Videos!  No encores, please...LOL!

J filmed his independently!  Not bad, huh?

N need some help getting started, but ended up finishing his "Flying Spaceship" all by himself.

And believe it or not, this 23 month old took all the screen shots in his video.  All he had to do was touch the circle in the center of the IPad screen over and over while Mommy moved his tractor.

Happy Lego Movie Maker Learning with your Little Ones!

Photo Blog - The Homegrown Preschool Curriculum Class

That morning, there was a mello-mood in The Toybrary.  We had the place to ourselves and ALL were engaged...these pictures can simple tell!  

(Pictures taken by Angel Carter-Smith)

I just love this picture!  Curious, learning eyes of some pretty awesome kiddos...and my very own is sucking his thumb!
 Just precious!                                                   

Sneaking a few sugar cubes!

Just add colored water

Some fine-motor practice using paint, tongs and water beads

UGHHHHH!  touching "brains"

My Popsicle Paint holder...isn't he cute!? 

Happy Kid!  Just add flour and colored water in squirt bottles!

2 six year boys, 1 four year old boy, 1 five year old girl...and MiniM
 Serious conversation!

And door prizes!  Everyone loves a good prize to take home!

Another class to go down in the books!

I love what I do and I love even more the people God places in my life to teach...

Activities from April - June curriculum classes were taken from these 2 fabulous resources!