The best definition for our style of homeschooling would be Eclectic. Before embarking on our homeschool journey I read up on many different philosophies and methods. Having been a student at a Montessori school from Preschool through to 6th grade I was strongly drawn to her philosophy of education but with the space constraints, a toddler running around and another baby on the way, having a full access Montessori style learning space was just not an option for us. I like to joke that my style as a teacher is somewhere between Maria Montessori and Mary Poppins.
Our school room is filled with Montessori materials and on the wall is a picture of Mary Poppins with the quote "In every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and 'snap' the jobs a game" to remind me to keep the learning experience fun and to find creative ways to present even mundane tasks and most of all to try and keep a composed, pleasant demeanor.
The Curriculum:
I seek to use multi-sensory exercises and supplies to present the various topics I teach. We use a combination of Montessori and Cuisinaire supplies for teaching math.
Reading is taught using the Jolly Phonics curriculum.
Other topics such as music, science and practical life lessons I put together myself from various books, supplies and internet resources. I am currently looking for a good Spanish children's curriculum to use.
A lot of work is done on the floor.
I also use "focus mats" to help Alex focus. These are carpet sample squares and are used in two ways. I either use them to set out a lesson on or when I'm teaching him a lesson he has to sit cross legged on the focus mat and listen. He knows he needs to stay on the mat, not wiggle around or get up and most importantly "focus" on what he is being shown.
We have a daily schedule of lesson times interspersed with snack time, outdoor time, and lunch break. I currently try to teach four 30 min session each day, phonics and numbers are taught daily and music or art and practical life or science are rotated in the other two slots. Numbers and phonics take priority and are taught first. The thirty minute session for phonics and numbers are broken into about 15min of teaching and 15min of independent work such as handwriting practice and sum sheets. We are very flexible and often change around the order of lessons or skip one to spend more time on another if Alex is showing a high level of interest and focus on a certain lesson.
Ethan is included in the phonics lessons, and is left to play or watch cartoons while I do math and science. During Alex's independent worktime I choose from a variety of different puzzles, learning activities and arts and crafts to do with Ethan.
The day ends with a free range learning time for Alex while Ethan is napping and this is where many of the Montessori sensorial supplies and other supplemental items, such as games and puzzles which support the current lessons, are set out and Alex is free to choose what to do and for how long. This is also a time where he can work on extra worksheets or coloring if he chooses.
We manage to actually stick to the schedule once or twice a week. Being pregnant, having a toddler and dealing with childhood illnesses is not really conducive to keeping a set schedule. School is on the schedule between 9AM and 1PM but some days we school in the afternoon if for instance Alex seems overtired and I decide to put him down for a nap with his little brother. Other days a certain subject will spark his interest and we will spend much longer than the alloted time on it and then double up on something else the next day to catch up, or simply delay a lesson by a day altogether.
The purpose of homeschooling is not to replicate a mainstream school schedule and environment in the home. One of the main problems in regular schools is that, out of necessity, schedule in emphasized over joyful and effective learning. Homeschooling frees us from having to stick to a set schedule, so that learning takes place at a time when the child is most alert and receptive, lessons can be lengthened or shortened based on interest level and ability and subjects taught until they are truly learned rather than having to push on to the next subject while the prior one has not been adequately grasped simply because a schedule has to be kept. As children get older it is much easier to keep a regular schedule because they are less subject to the ups and downs of energy level and concentration that young children experience and are more able to discipline themselves to work even if tired or feeling distracted when these things do occur. With younger children our goal is subjects well learned, while cultivating a love of learning. As their maturity, concentration and self control increases there will be plenty of time for more established routines. Schedule and routine is important but should be our servant, not our master .
Our Schoolroom:
We have converted an odd shaped addition at the back of the house into a school/playroom. The rear half of the room is the school area and is divided and gated off from the front half which is the toddler area. This allows Alex to work on his subjects without Ethan "helping" him and since the divider only goes half way up I can keep an eye on either child from whichever side of the room I am in.
I think the key to having a tidy area is that toys and supplies are easily accessible and easy to tidy away.
We have a fold up desk for Alex's school work with easy access to his writing and art supplies and display area on the wall and bulletin board...
I use two easels, one for art and another with a whiteboard for writing out what topics will be covered that day. This is left till the following day where we do a quick review of the items on it before wiping clean and starting. The larger art easel is also used to support a feltboard when using it for presentation or games...
We use labeled toy bins and boxes to store toys. Toys are sorted by type to help encourage an understanding on how to organize...
Two bookcases hold additional supplies that need to be kept out of reach of little fingers and all of our books...
Since we don't have space to have all of the Montessori supplies accesible and some have to be kept out of reach of little fingers, I use a tea trolley. Each day I choose which items to place out and Alex can choose whatever he would like to work on for his free range learning time. Like his desk, the tea trolley folds away so that once school is finished each day everything can be collapsed down and the area converted back into a play area. Set up only takes about 10min the night before to set up for the next day's school activities.
A set of wall shelves hidden behind a curtain hold additional supplies and toys as well as a TV, DVD and VHS player, and a printer scanner. These rest on an old buffet which is used to store craft supplies, spare books and supplies for topics not being taught yet and underneath is a garage area for all of the toddler wheeled toys, and baskets for baby toys...
The walls are covered with changing posters on the current topics being covered, a wall frieze shows the phonics we are learning and soon a constellation chart will be tacked to the ceiling and the sun and planets will also being hung from above as we learn about our solar system. Our Jesse Tree is still up from Christmas because Alex wants to leave it so he can look at the symbols and remember the stories...
A sitting area for watching movies converts to a workspace for Ethan for play-doh, art and other toddler activities. It also hides additional storage underneath for yet more supplies :)
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