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Lorraine
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Joined: July 06 2007
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Aug 19 2007 at 11:12pm | IP Logged
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I've looked through the blog posts with the lovely learning rooms/space that many of you have prepared for your new year and I admire and applaud all the efforts and thoughtfullness that you have put in. I'm trying to take it easy here so I don't feel overwhelmed (as several of you have kindly advised  ) so I'm telling myself that these spaces probably took years of collecting, making, buying and love to build and that I should not attempt to get it all done this year (right?) I'm wondering if anyone remembers when they first began homeschooling what the learning space was like then? How did it go that first year? How long has it taken for you to build up your current learning space? Perhaps you have or know about a blog post I can read about?
BTW, is it easy to blog? I haven't even had time to look into this at all. I don't even know how so many of you has the time to do everything you do for homeschooling and still keep such neat+cool+beautiful+informative blogs  ! I can't even keep up reading all the posts, so I can't imagine having my own. It does seem like a great way to share and communicate your homeschooling experiences.
Thanks a lot in advance. I'm just trying to be realistic or else I think I will be in a burnout state even before I start
Lorraine
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 19 2007 at 11:25pm | IP Logged
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I think you are showing a lot of wisdom by realizing that it is best to start small. Good for you! It does take some time to grow into your own personal homeschool style. There will be plenty of trial and error so don't feel like you have to "get it right" right off the bat.
Honestly, I don't remember my first homeschooling year all that clearly, it has been so long ago (12 years, I think). I do remember it involved stacks of picture books from the library, a big chalkboard, and lots and lots of finger paint and glitter!LOL!
About blogging, you can spend as much or as little time on it as you want. I typically blog about every other day, sometimes more, sometimes less. I spend much more time reading other blogs than writing my own. It really is not all that difficult.You can always try it out and see if you like it, then if you don't just delete it.I do think it is great communication tool.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 6:07am | IP Logged
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I'm not exactly sure even what to count as our first homeschool year. I guess it was when we took my oldest out of preschool. I took it as an excuse to buy more books.  And we did use a lot of glitter glue. When kindergarten or first grade came along, I bought a whole bunch of math manipulatives, but we've never even used some of them.
I've made little forays into Montessori over the years to test the waters, so to speak. These little starts convinced me/us that a bigger investment was warranted.
As far as blogging goes... it's not hard. Your blog doesn't have to have lots of custom graphics or anything like that. I usually write a few entries a week -- more or less text intensive depending on what's going on here!
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Meredith
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| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 11:20am | IP Logged
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Well, I can assure you that my schoolroom didn't/doesn't look anything like anyone else's and it DOES take a while to find your home schooling/teaching groove. And that's a good thing. I am very pleased with the direction and flow our our learning as my dc have grown and it's helpful to look at what worked and what didn't.
The blogging is really a personal thing. If you think you would enjoy it, then go for it. I had mine a while before I went public to play around with it! If you need help getting started, let me know 
Blessings in your new year!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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TracyFD
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| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 2:47pm | IP Logged
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Hi Lorraine! We finished our first full year of homeschooling. The older two went to a Montessori school for one year and I gleaned a lot of ideas for "works" while thay were there. We have always used our dining room for a playroom/schoolroom. We started with toys such as the ones found in Nova Natural and as our playroom became a school room we moved toys out and added bookshelves and little tables from IKEA. Now after one full year I feel like I am already out of room so I boxed up some themes (such as Noah's Ark or the Human Body) into plastic boxes that are stored in the basement until needed.
It takes some time to build, but if your children are young they mostly need tactile learning aids (puzzles, Wedgits, math manipulatives) and to be read to.
I am like you when it comes to blogs - I would love to have my own but cannot fathom how I would have the time to update mine and read all my favorites!
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Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
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earthmaven
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| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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Tracy,
Thanks for the link to Nova Naturals--I can't wait to order their felting supplies!
Another Tracy
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Meredith
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| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 3:10pm | IP Logged
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Welcome TracyFD, we have the opposite family, I have one girl and three boys!! We're so glad you've found us and congratulations on tackling your first year!!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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TracyFD
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| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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Hi Meredith - I just checked out your blog for the first time. I'll be visiting but I have to warn you that I lurk! Sometimes I think I have time to comment but then the baby starts fussing!
Another Tracy - we are trying felting for the first time this year. Let us all know how it goes for you - that might be a great discussion topic!
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Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
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Erin
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| Posted: Aug 22 2007 at 5:13am | IP Logged
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Lorraine wrote:
| I'm wondering if anyone remembers when they first began homeschooling what the learning space was like then? How did it go that first year? How long has it taken for you to build up your current learning space? |
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Lorraine
I can remember back My oldest is 14 next week  I'll go back to when she was 4-6yrs. Back then I did do bits and pieces of Montessori, even started a 'Montessori' playgroup. I made things like sandpaper letters on board (still have them), number rods, a lovely set of cards of Australian landmarks (I have lost them ) and other items set up that were Montessorish. ( )
Our learning space was a draughty filled in verandah that let in rain (when it rained) I had our learning materials set up on three shelves on castors. It wasn't pretty and didn't really work with their toys in the same area. I learnt that it didn't do to have too many things out as with littler ones they were just pulled off and strewn. We lived in a tiny house for years, six small rooms only. It worked better when I moved more of our learning to the lounge room and the dining as I had more control over it.
Later we added on and I ended up with a large home with a lovely big learning room. But then that was not set up too well, I had all the learning games and Montessori materials in a long low cupboard and the baby of the moment would dump everything on the floor.
We are now back living in a small house, imagine a dining room table, one low,small craft/supplies cupboard and one shelf (with doors) for our Montessori materials. If we are ever blessed to be able to add on I have the learning room all planned out. On the list is floor to ceiling cupboards with lockable doors.
I do Montessori on the cheap, I live in Australia and as our prices are double plus of yours I make my materials or think of the principle and adapt something else that will still teach the concept. For example I was going to print up number and number control cards for dd3 yesterday when it occurred to me that our DK Number Play game had cards in it that were very suitable for the task.
I hope this helps some.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: What was your first year like?
