Apr. 10, 2008 - Where do you school?
Some folks are reading on the floor type, with feet propped on the couch. It's comfy that way. Others are more straight-up desk people. And there's a wide variety in between. Well, when our firstborn turned four, we found a real, live school desk and sat him by the fridge so I could help him with problems while I cooked, then we had one, two, three, four more kids...now the desks don't fit upstairs. My husband works at a school (not a teacher, but ironic anyway), and can bring home discarded desks.
So we decided we have a spare room in the basement, painted it up, put up our "schooly" posters, and diligently learned down there...for all of two months. We gradually brought everything but the desks and posters back upstairs by the kitchen. I can make my husband's lunch and dinner for work and supervise. (It seems if I leave the room for a nanosecond, everyone has dispersed and chaos reigns. For this young age they need the outside force to continue working.)
Well, as my husband isn't yet sold on the benefits of homeschooling, he doesn't approve of us using the kitchen table since he can't find a spot to place his breakfast plate. So we moved some books into my office and bring them to the table as we need them. We just can't remember to bring them back to the office. Sometimes we bring them to the couch and loll around with our feet up and learn.
Today we've been compelled to use the "school room" again, though I don't know for how long we'll remain down there, especially with the 13-month-old repeatedly getting into trouble. But we've cleaned out the room of cobwebs and rearranged the desks again and wiped down the chalkboard. Now just gathering all the books that have made their way upstairs.
But the best place for learning is in their hearts, no matter where they are. Bed time always works well for us, it's never planned, and conversation flows. They talk about what's on their mind and heart, and we share a lot of meaningful discussion when I take the time to lay on their bed and be there. So many facts and traits and opinions are ingested and really stick when we share special times together.
Where do you school? But more importantly, where are your kids' hearts growing in godly traits?
Comments
Apr. 10, 2008 - Where do I school?
Posted by 5blessings
I love your post. So often we focus on having a perfect "classroom" that we forget the most important thing of what we are teaching them. We "school" all over our house. The living room is set up with bookshelves and a table. This is our favorite spot because it has a bay window and we can watch the birds and animals outside. But there are nights I will find a stray textbook in my bed. I have found with 5 kids it is easier to spread out -even to the great outdoors. Many times I will look out the kitchen window and one of the kids will be laying in the middle of the trampoline doing their school work. But my favorite times is when we are altogether on the couch. I feel they learn the most there about family and getting along.
Apr. 10, 2008 - Hi,
Posted by AthaSchool1
We have a dedicated school room. I enjoy having everything there that we need. It isn't large. Sometimes I do have to divide and conquer and I send one boy to the kitchen table and one to my husband's office or so on.
