Tuesday was our first day of homeschool for the year and to be honest I wasn’t sure I was going to survive. Balancing a needy, tube-fed toddler with homeschooling was a challenge. Several of my children were grumpy to have to sit down with *gasp* a math book and several were disappointed that they didn’t have more to do. 
Thank goodness yesterday was about a hundred times better.
This year, for the first time, I have a dedicated homeschool space that is not filled with toys or a kitchen table. Back in the day this was an awesome playroom:
{Here is the same room in 2008. It used to be our playroom. We kept the majority of our toys down here. I left the floor completely open for wrestling playing.}
Now that my little ones are older, we no longer need a playroom. The best part of this dedicated space is, it is easier to keep clean, we don’t prepare or eat our food in it, and when I am down there I am free of distractions (such as: the computer, laundry, dishes and meal prep).
Yesterday went very smoothly. Apollo seemed to understand a bit more what we were doing. We got through our Story of the World, I checked the previous day’s assignments. Jubilee, Hezekiah and Tucker are all used to sitting at a desk and doing their work, thanks to their year at public school, and I am taking full advantage of that.
I was able to sit and help Kalina with her math. I am finding we have a lot of catch up to do now that we know she has hearing loss. I am focusing on moving slowly and making sure she really understands what we are covering. I now know that telling her once may not be enough. There is a reason she sometimes doesn’t “get” it that goes beyond “not paying attention”.
Tilly and Enoch sat at the (clean) kitchen table and did their school work. They were upstairs, so our reading out loud didn’t interfere with their work. Apollo hung out with Judah who doesn’t start school until next week.
I am very excited about homeschooling this year. I anticipate writing many more posts about our projects and learning.
Congrats on carving out a dedicated space for homeschooling. It may be helpful to get the kids in “school mode” – at least it works that way at my house, even though we often end up scattered in other rooms 😀
Wishing you a great year of schooling,
Julie
It’s nice to see another “late start”…boy, we had a “busy spring” that NEVER stopped…getting started has been hard. We’ve pecked away at spelling, now adding math & LORD willing reading, history & science will be added…have to get that planning done…after I braid African hair! Oy!!
The socks are killing me!! I am so glad that my boys aren’t the only ones! I hope you have a terrific year.
Yes, it is SO gross. I have to force those two to change socks! Thankfully, Judah and Enoch now like clean socks, I know there is hope!
Yes, after 15 years of homeschooling that first day is still so stiff and stressful. But as you say, day two is much smoother. Everyone seems to then remember what school is like! Our youngest is almost two, and with nine older siblings, we have always had toys. But after our recent move, I chucked most of them and it’s wonderful! They don’t really play with much more than Lego and make believe anyway. And with so many siblings, well, who needs toys?? Your home looks lovely and your children look happy! Thanks for sharing.