Day 5: Schedule In Some Fun!

Today is our last day of the Simplifying Your Homeschool Series!  I hope you've found some ways to ease stress and add peace to your days. 

The last thing we're going to do is Schedule in Some Fun!  Things are a whole lot simpler when you're actually enjoying doing them.  It seems silly that there would even be a need to schedule fun into our days but it's pretty easy to get into "school" mode and forget to take a break and just have some pointless fun.

 Schedule Fun Breaks Throughout the Day

Break up your school day with fun breaks.  They don't have to be long or complicated.  Just take a few minutes to give your mind a break, let the kids get their wiggles out and have a good laugh together.

Play Simon Says.
Have a five minute dance party.
Do a minute to win it challenge.
Practice you head stands.
Go outside!

Schedule Family Fun Nights

Schedule a weekly family fun night.  We have ours on Friday nights.  It's something that we all look forward to throughout the week.  It's nice to finish up the week by reconnecting with each other...no pressure, nothing that needs to be finished.  Just good old fashioned hangin' out. 

Have pizza and a movie night. 
Go skating or swimming.
Have a picnic supper at the park.
Play board games.
Have a bake off!
Have a crafting night.

Schedule Yourself a Night Off

You also need to make sure that you give yourself a break.  Schedule yourself a night away and go have some fun.  And no, lesson planning does not count.  It's easy to get so wrapped up in your roles as mom and teacher that you start to forget who else you are.  Don't let that happen!  Take good care of yourself so you can take good care of your kids!

Go explore a book store while drinking a fancy coffee.
Go on a date night with your spouse.
Meet up with friends for supper.
Go for a run.
Go dancing!


Things are always simpler when you're enjoying what you're doing.  Since it can be easy to forget, make sure you pencil in some fun. 

What do you and your family like to do for fun?

 

 

Day 3: Decide What's Working (and What Isn't)

Now that we've set some goals for our homeschool, we know where our priorities lie.  We know which things fall in line with our homeschool mission statement and which things don't.  So today we are going to use that information to decide what is working and what isn't.

There are only so many hours in the day and us moms try to squeeze everything we can out of every last minute.  Our time is precious and we certainly don't want to be wasting it on things that don't line up with our goals.  Taking the time to re-evaluate the things you're investing your time in can be tough but it is oh so worth it!  You might have to make some hard cuts but in the end, you'll be freeing up time.  Just imagine what you can do with an extra 15, 30 or even 60 minutes in your day (Eat, pee, sit down...oh, the possibilities)!

 

So today I want you to take a minute and compare your mission statement and your goals with the stuff that you spend your time doing.  Specifically, let's look at curriculum and activities.  If your goals include exposing your children to great literature but your curriculum is all textbooks and worksheets then maybe it's time to change it up.  If you want your children to have lots of time to explore nature but they never get outside because they have hockey 5 days a week, maybe you need to cut back a little.

It might be a struggle for you to let go of some things.  If that's the case, think about what value it's adding to your life.  If it isn't helping you meet your goals, is their some other benefit to it? Contrast that with the negative impact it has on your life.  If the good out weighs the bad, keep it!  If not...well, it's time to let go.

 

 I know that curriculum can be a little harder than activities to just let go.  It costs money and there may not be more room in the budget to buy something new.  So let's discuss what options you've got.

What to Do When Your Curriculum Just Isn't Working

Tweak It: Just because the curriculum you've chosen isn't helping you meet your goals now, doesn't mean it's a lost cause.  You can take what works and leave what doesn't.  You can add in more hands on projects instead of doing the worksheets or you can read living books that compliment the course material. If you find it too repetitive, don't do all of the lessons.  If you find it not repetitive enough, add in your own practice questions.  With Pinterest and Google on your side, I am confident that you can make most programs can be altered into something that fits your family perfectly!

Replace It: Of course, if you've got the money, you can replace your curriculum with something new.  You can often buy used curriculum at a discounted rate at curriculum sales or online.  Check with your local homeschooling group, maybe someone has something to sell or lend out to you.

Dump It: If you really can't make it work, and you've decided that the cons really do outweigh the pros, it's alright to just stop.  Maybe you take a break from formally teaching that subject this year.  That doesn't mean the learning stops.  You can always find real life situations to use as teaching opportunities.  History can be taught quite easily through living books.  Math can be taught through baking and knitting and a whole lot of games.  Science can be observed for free just by exploring your backyard!  If your curriculum really isn't working, dump it.  Make a list of all the things you want to cover in that subject and start thinking of ways you can teach it with no curriculum at all.  I bet you'll surprise yourself in how simple it can be.


Your days will be so much simpler when you do away with the things that are taking up time without adding value to your homeschool.  I encourage you to take a critical look at the things you choose to fill your time with.  Your time is precious...make sure you spend it wisely!

To read the rest of the Simplifying Your Homeschool series click the image below.

 

Also, check out the series that the other bloggers of iHomeschool Network have going on!

 

 

 

5 Days of Simplifying Your Homeschool

As mothers, we all want what's best for our children. We want to give them the best education, the most experiences and the coolest opportunities.  This, of course, is wonderful but it also means that we have a tendency to over complicate things. When you're a homeschooler, there's a whole lot more things for you to complicate.  And let me tell you...no one benefits from over complicated. 

Sometimes it's hard to step back and see exactly how we're making things harder but when we're in the moment, up to our eyeballs in laundry, sleep deprived and trying to teach a math lesson in the car on the way to tai kwon do...well... we start to realize that something needs to change. 

I'm here to tell you that you can simplify your homeschool.  It doesn't have to be chaotic and stressful and messy (well...not all the time anyway).  I am the queen of over complication so I know exactly what its like when things get crazy.  But I also know the peace that comes with simpler days.  I want everyone to know what that feels like. 

For the rest of this week, I will be discussing 5 simple steps that you can take to simplify your homeschool.  Hopefully by the end of the week, things will be a little simpler and a little easier.

Day 1:The Importance of Rhythm

Day 2: Simplify Your Homeschool by Setting Goals

Day 3: Re-evaluate What's Working and What Isn't

Day 4: Reduce the Clutter
Day 5: Schedule in Some Fun!

Click the image below to see the 5 Day Series that the bloggers of iHomeschool Network have written.  You'll be glad you did!

Word of the Year

The new year is the perfect time to evaluate what you're doing and make changes if necessary.  I actually love making New Year's resolutions (though I seem to be one of the few).  Something about that blank and shiny calendar gets me all excited about my shiny, new goals.  And no, I'm not the kind of person who gives up 3 weeks into January.  I make it at least to the middle of February!

I'm not going to share my resolutions with you because they're boring and irrelevant if you aren't me...but I would like to share my word for 2015.  

I've seen this concept floating around the internet over the last couple years and I think it's lovely.  From  One Word 365:

Choose just one word. One word you can focus on every day, all year long… One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps. Discover the big impact one word can make.

When I think about what I want my year to look like, there is one word that comes to mind:

Less talking...more listening.
Less buying...more saving.
Less busyness...more quality time.
Less distraction...more being present. 

Now, I'm sure it seems obvious that someone who tries to live a simplistic lifestyle would choose this word but hold the eye rolls for a second.

This is about so much more than just stuff (though I'd like less of that too!).  This is about eliminating all of the unnecessary things in my life that are taking away from what really matters.

I am pretty good at getting lost in distractions.  Especially when things get hectic around here (and with 4 children that is pretty much a constant state).  I can fill my head with thoughts about what I need to buy or what I need to do.  I can loet myself in Pinterest or keep myself so busy that I never have a moment of stillness.  I can talk and talk and talk without ever really listening.   But the chaos can be kind of beautiful if you step away from the distractions and really watch.  And I don't want to miss anymore.  

So this year, I'm focusing on less.  Less of the bad so there's room for more of the good.  Because there's a whole lot of good in my life and I want to be there for all of it.

How about you?  Do you have a word for 2015?

A look at our 2014

2014 has been a pretty good year for us!  Here's a little recap:

Stats:

Ryan turned 28 this year.  He has at least five grey hairs (coincidentally, that's one for each member of our family).  He enjoys sleeping and quiet.  He does not like tomatoes or push ups. 

Kalista turned 27 this year.  She does NOT have any gray hairs and continues to look younger than she is.  She enjoys sleeping (but gets significantly less than Ryan) and knitting.  She does not like temper tantrums or laundry. 

B turned seven this year.  She lost 4 teeth this year and looks ridiculously adorable with the top two missing.  She enjoys reading and using her new art set.  She does not like good byes or days that are too bright.

W turned 5 at the very end of this year.  He alternates between wanting to grow his hair long like Rapunzel and cutting it all off.  He likes telling people that he is five and Rainbow Dash.  He does not like vegetables or the book "The Secret Garden".

A turned 3 this year.  She would wear a princess dress every day if she owned enough of them.  She likes playing dolls and cheese.  She does not like wearing pants or running. 

R celebrated her first birthday this year! She has yet to reach 20 lbs. but don't let that fool you...she's tough!  She likes climbing and getting into things.  She does not like sleeping or when her siblings touch things that she doesn't want them to (so...basically, they're not allowed to touch anything). 

Highlights:

• We spent most of the late winter/ early spring snuggled up on the couch, in front of the fire, reading the entire Little House series. 
• We managed to keep our chickens alive through a ridiculously cold winter. 
• We jumped in a lot of puddles, spent a lot of time at the park and explored the fields in our backyard. 
• We sold our house.
• Ryan joined the military.
• The kids and I moved in with my parents.
• We said a lot of goodbyes (to our friends, our church, our dream house, the chickens)
• We made lots of wonderful new friends. 
• We got better at keeping in touch (though I still have a lot of improvement to make there). 
• B started learning to play the piano and the cornet. 
• I continue to be indecisive about how I want our homeschool to look.  
• We spent a wonderful Christmas with our amazing family.  

2014 has been a pretty wonderful year.  2015 will bring a lot of change for us but I'm looking forward to all of it.  

Happy New year, friends.  My prayer is that we all have a year filled with peace and love!

What to Do When the Curriculum Starts to Take Over

Homeschooling is hard.  It can be completely overwhelming to balance all of the roles that a homeschooling mom (or dad) has to play; housework, teacher, parent, spouse. Its a lot.  Sometimes, the scale starts to tip in one direction and one thing starts to take over.  This has been the case for us lately.  Specifically, it has been the curriculum that has been taking over.

I've mentioned before that I might be a little obsessed with checking off items on my to do list.  I might have a bit of a problem.  If I leave a box unchecked...well, it makes me a little crazy. This has served me well in some areas of my life but, unfortunately, homeschooling is not one of them.

Lately I've started to see our curriculum as a to do list...compulsively checking off each box everyday...even if that means letting other things slide.  And that is just what has happened.  I started to notice it in the beginning of November.  We would run out of time and wouldn't get to the craft I had planned or our outside time would get cut short.  By the end of November, we were all feeling a little stir crazy and that to do list I had created had started to feel a little bit like a prison.

When I started homeschooling, I chose to do it because I wanted flexibility.  I wanted the ability to follow my children's interests and create an environment that fosters a true love of learning.  I saw that innate curiosity in my children and I wanted to do everything I could to nurture that and watch it grow.  But its hard to do all of that when you let the curriculum take over.

Curriculum certainly has its place but I don't think it needs to be number one in our homeschool.  There are so many powerful learning opportunities that happen naturally that will be missed when curriculum is all that we do.

It's all about finding a balance.

So what can you do when you find the scale tipping to heavily in favour of your curriculum?

Be flexible.

Curriculum does not have to be a to do list so don't look at it that way.  There are some things that will not suit your family and that's okay.  Take what works and leave what doesn't.  And there you go! You've just opened up some room in your day!

Forget your timelines. 

It alright if it takes you a little longer to finish this stuff.  The public school's calendar doesn't have to dictate your school's calendar.  You can go longer into the summer if you need to or do some stuff in the evenings.  If you're having a bad week and are seeking balance, take a few days off of spelling and spend that time doing something else.  

Make time for the other stuff. 

Spend some time in nature, read aloud together, get active, do something creative, do some fun experiments just because, research something your kids are interested in, go on a field trip... 

There are some things that are just as (and often more, in my opinion) important than sitting down to do lessons.  These are the things that encourage learning in a natural, unforced kind of way.  Make these things a priority and watch your kids as they do them, its kind of amazing what they take from it. You might be surprised at just how much they can learn all on their own.  

We're taking the month of December off.  Daddy is home and we are enjoying just being together again.  At first, I worried that taking a break from our formal lessons would be a problem but really, the learning hasn't stopped.  And we are really enjoying ourselves as we learn.  That's the kind of learning I want for my kids.

We'll go back to using our curriculum in January but in a less militant way.  I think we will all enjoy ourselves a whole lot more when I'm not letting the curriculum take over.

What about you?  Do you find it tough to balance it all? What do you do to keep things from taking over?

 

Day 5: Give Gifts that Don't Require Buying Anything

Gifts seem to be the theme that dominates all Christmas discussion.  I get it, it can be a big part of the whole experience, especially where kids are involved.  Maybe that's why gifts add so much stress to the season.  Trying to find the perfect  one, braving the overcrowded malls, trying to find the money to purchase all of these gifts.  It can be super stressful.

But what if it didn't have to be that way? 

In our family, gifts are not the most important part of Christmas but they certainly do play a part.  We love to give gifts to each other.  I love watching my kids excitement grow as they unwrap their presents.  I love watching my husband enjoy the gifts I've given him.  When my kids buy, wrap and give gifts all on their own? Heart melting.  And let's be honest here, I made no complaints when my parents gave me a Kitchen Aid mixer last Christmas. Gifts are fun.

Why not try making gifts this year?  Do you knit? Sew? Work with wood? Paint? Make jewellery?  Even if you aren't a real crafty person, there are so many simple things that you can make for your loved ones.  And a lot of these gifts can be made out of things you've already got at home!

For example: do you have old wool sweaters lying around?  Throw them in the washer to felt them down and you can make cozy wool pants for the baby in your life!

Or turn an old pillow case into a sweet little girl's nightgown.

You could  also make your own knitting needles to give away. 

Check out my Pinterest board for more homemade Christmas gift ideas. 

Follow Kalista // When We're at Home's board Homemade Christmas Gifts on Pinterest.

You can also check out this post for gift ideas that don't involved "stuff" at all!

Do you like giving homemade gifts? How about getting them?

Day 4: 25 Ways to Create Christmas Memories without Spending a Dime

I don't remember gifts that I got for Christmas as a child.  I don't remember fancy outfits or big, expensive trips.  What I do remember is spending time with my family, doing things together in our home.  Those memories are happy and peaceful and warm.

People often complain about how expensive Christmas time is.  But it doesn't have to be that way.

Sometimes the best memories are the simplest.

Creating Christmas memories is important but you don't have to spend a ton of money to do it.  Here is a list of 25 Ways to Create Christmas Memories without Spending a Dime.  We have done most of the things on this list at one point or another and every year the kids talk about many of them.  They don't cost anything but these memories sure do last a lifetime!



(technically, some of these things do technically cost money...but I'm assuming that you already have the materials required in your home.  So you don't need to spend extra money.)



Get the kids in jammies and pile everyone into the car with popcorn and travel mugs of hot chocolate.  Take a drive to see the Christmas lights in your neighbourhood.

Make popcorn strings while listening to Christmas music (preferably sitting in front of a fireplace if you have one!). Hang them in the trees around your house for your animal friends.

Make your own egg nog.

Go Christmas carolling.

Find ways to serve others.

Go tobogganing.

Watch your favourite Christmas movies.

Make your own wrapping paper.

Make Jesus a birthday cake.  Better yet, throw him a birthday party!

Bake LOTS of Christmas cookies.

Make hand/ thumb print Christmas paintings.

Make salt dough Christmas ornaments.

Climb into a big bed with lots of warm blankets and read Christmas books together.

Make your own natural Christmas decorations.

Write letters to Santa.

Host an ugly Christmas sweater party.

Drink hot chocolate with candy canes in it.

Make snowman replicas of your family.

Make and eat snow ice cream.

Cut out paper snowflakes and hang them in your windows.

Make snowman pizzas.

Make your house smell like Christmas with these homemade simmer pot recipes from Apartment Therapy.

Make your own advent wreath and light the candles each week.

Send you kids a personalized video from Santa.

Take funny Christmas card photos.

To see more clutter free Christmas Traditions, click the image below.

Day 3: 20 Ways that You and Your Children Can Serve Others this Christmas Season

My favourite part about living simply is that instead of focusing on stuff, we are able to focus on people.  There are so many simple ways that we can serve others and its a tangible way to share Christ's love.  What better time to do that than the Christmas season?

Here is a list of 20 Ways that You and Your Children Can Serve Others this Christmas Season.

1. Attend (or organize) a carol sing at a nursing home.  I guarantee your children will put a smile on the residents' faces.
2. Bake and deliver cookies to people in your neighbourhood.

3.  Offer to host play dates so parents can go shopping without the kids (the bonus here is that your kids have someone to play with and you can maybe get some laundry done. Or sit around and check Facebook on your phone.  Whichever.)
4. Shovel an elderly neighbour's driveway.
5. Deliver hot chocolate to police that are outside directing traffic on busy shopping days.
6. Donate clothes and toys to a women's shelter (this would be a good place to bring all of the things you chose to get rid of during your Annual Christmas Clean Out).
7. Bring extra hot chocolate to the skating rink and share with strangers!
8. Offer to help bring groceries to shopper's cars.
9. Volunteer to man one of the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles (with your adorable kids there, imagine how much more money will be donated!).
10. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen (this is dependent on the age of your children and the soup kitchen's regulations.  Call and check.)
11. Make cards for people who aren't able to get out much due to the weather.
12. Invite people that you know don't have family nearby over for supper.
13. Leave a card and gift in your mailbox for your mail carrier.
14. Volunteer to help pack Christmas hampers (boxes packed with everything a family needs to have a Christmas dinner as well as gifts for the Children) at your local Salvation Army.

15. Pay the bill for the car behind you in the drive thru.
16. Go Christmas carolling in your community.
17. Donate blankets and towels to your local animal shelter.
18. Send letters or care packages to soldiers serving over seas.
19. Take home made soup to a sick friend or relative.
20. Write and mail (not email!!) letters to loved ones telling them your favourite memory of them from this year.

There are only twenty ideas here and there are 25 days in the advent season...I think it would be so fun to come up with 5 more and challenge yourselves to do one each day.

What other ways do you and your children serve others?

As an aside...if you're looking for volunteer opportunities and don't know where to find some, contact your local Salvation Army corps.  They do a ton of community service work this season (and all year around) and I am sure they can find something suitable for you!

For more minimalist Christmas traditions, click the photo below!

Day 2: Annual Christmas Clean Out

I know people usually start purging and organizing in the New Year but why wait?  An Annual Christmas Clean Out is the perfect way to start the Christmas season.  Less clutter = less stress and we could all use a little less of that at this time of year, yes?

We like to do a clean out at the beginning of December.  We go through closets and dressers and all of the kids toys.  Its such a big relief to clear the house of the clutter that inevitable gathers throughout the year.  It serves as a sort of reminder that we should do the same with our time during the holiday season.  A cluttered calendar can make it difficult to focus on what this all is really about.

So here is how we do our Annual Christmas Clean Out.

We sort everything into three piles.

• Things to Keep
• Things to Give Away
• Things to Throw Out

Things that are actually used, played with, add value to our lives get to go in the "keep" piles.  Things to give away are clothes that have been outgrown or toys that are no longer played with.  Things that get thrown out are those that are broken, stained or ripped beyond repair.  

I think its important to get the kids involved in this process (Although its extremely tempting to do it while they're all in bed.  It would go SO much faster!) because it does involve their stuff.  Its good for them to make choices about what stays and what goes.  I've found it has taught my kids to evaluate why we have things in our home which has made them much smarter consumers.  

We always feel much better once this is over.  Our house is clutter free and messes are easy to pick up.  AND we've made room for new toys and clothes that the kids will receive at Christmas.

So what about you?  Do you like to clean stuff out before the holidays begin?

Click on the image before to see more posts about Minimalist Christmas traditions!