Back to (un)school

It seems as though over the past few weeks my Facebook feed has been full of back to school photos.  As a homeschooling mama I can't help but wonder if I should take a photo as well.  A "not back to school" photo perhaps?

You see, I realize there are many out there that think we really don't 'do' much school at all.  We certainly don't fit into their picture of a homeschooling family.  Thought I'm not sure that is really a bad thing.  Truthfully we don't fit neatly inside any one type of schooling at all.  I suppose I would call us Waldorf-inspired unschoolers, if I had to pick a classification.  Maybe that is why I don't feel the need to take a back to school photo, I don't feel as though we've ever really left learning behind so for us it is just another day.

I will consider this our unofficial back to school post.  The upcoming change of seasons is a great place to mark a new beginning and what could be better to celebrate with than new supplies?  School supply shopping was my favorite part of back to school when I was growing up.  I still love shopping for new pens and office supplies even as an adult.  We are fairly well stocked with art and craft supplies but we can always use a new journal to start out the new season.  Truly, what is better than a new pen and a crisp empty notebook just waiting to be filled?  I can't wait to see what these journals will hold at the end of the year. 

Seasonal Themes

Those of you that know me, know that I love to make lists - for everything.  Homeschool planning is certainly no exception.

Today I am working on our plan for the upcoming week and the beginning of our seasonal lesson themes.  I adore doing seasonal themed activities with the girls, especially when it comes to Autumn.  There are so many creative ways to keep us in touch with nature and the current season.

I've already created a general list of the themes we will be using this year.  Often the themes will be repeated year to year though the activities themselves will likely change as the girls get older.

Some of the themes we will be touching on this Autumn include:

• Autumn Equinox
• Michaelmas
• Apples
• Native Americans
• Pumpkins
• Autumn Animals
• Halloween
• Leaves
• Harvest
• Thanksgiving

Many of these same themes were present last year and a few are new.  This week we're starting with a general leap in to Autumn with the upcoming Equinox ahead of us.  Certainly not everything we do will fit neatly into one of the above themes but it does give us a good jumping off point and helps to provide a bit of seasonal rhythm to our weeks.  Not to mention a great base for some really fun crafts and activities.  This is always the season I look forward to most. 

This Moment

A Friday ritual, inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

 

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Cardboard Houses

Sometimes all you need to have a good time is a cardboard box.  When the girls got their new carseats a few months back I made sure we saved the boxes with this particular activity in mind.  We needed a good indoor activity and this filled the spot perfectly.

 

 

 

 

We split the seam, flipped the boxes inside out, and then they were ready to be made into houses.  The girls decided where they wanted us to cut their doors and windows and then they were all set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought they'd enjoy this activity but I didn't realize to what extent.  These houses received constant play in so many ways.  They spent several days just decorating them both inside and out.  They went on numerous adventures to far away places and moved their dolls in and created a home.

We also did some pretty fun things with them after a while too but that will be a post for another day. 

Post Office Tour

Last week the girls and I got to take a tour of the post office with a local homeschool co-op.  It was a perfect field trip for two little girls that love to get (and send) mail.  The employee giving the tour was very friendly and was happy to answer all the questions the kids posed to her.  It was pretty interesting to see how each piece of mail is sorted and the process it has to go through to get to your house. 

 

We've spent the days since designing our own stamps, making lots of cards to mail to family and friends, and of course playing a lot of post office.  We used this download to design our postage stamps for all our pretend mailing. 

 

 

Summer ending

This is such a tricky time of year.  We are all so ready for the arrival of Autumn but Summer isn't quite loosening its hold on us just yet.

Inside we are already enjoying some of our favorite Autumn decorations, though I will admit it seems just a tad bit silly when outside the afternoons are still so warm.  Thankfully the mornings and evenings are cool enough to make it easy to rationalize the early decorations.

This weekend we embraced the summer temperatures and when we headed out for an afternoon drive we made an unexpected trip to the lake.  We try to spend as much time as possible outdoors when we can.  I truly believe that time spent in nature is good for your soul. Just experiencing the things around us without distraction always seems to recharge our spirits. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended our weekend by enjoying the cooler evening temperatures sitting by a fire roasting marshmallows together.  Tricky weather perhaps, but lovely just the same.  

Grateful

 

 

We try to live every day with gratitude for all the wonderful things and people around us.  Even for the smallest things like this perfect little Autumn leaf discovered while we were out this weekend.  Of course everyone knows that sometimes we all lose sight of all the blessings we have and begin to take things for granted.  It's easy to do while rushing about doing the day to day things that must be accomplished.  It happens to us all and I've found that when it does life often gives you a wake up call to bring your focus back around to the present. 

 

We had one of those moments last week when life gave us quite a jolt.  Our focus was quickly and sharply brought back around to what is most important to us.  Forcing us to take a long hard look at what we were really spending our time focusing on rather than what we thought we might have been.  A chance to really look within ourselves and see what it was that we valued above all else and how much we truly had.  It was with that renewed sense of gratitude that we spent the weekend together in some of our favorite places, enveloping ourselves in the quiet wonder of nature and family togetherness. 

 

As we head into this new season before us we will be doing so with an intense focus on our family and what we allow to pull our attention aside for even a brief moment.  Life is much to precious to let anything stand in the way of that which is most important.