Homeschooling
The Lopez
Homeschool
COVID gave us a taste into homeschooling. The last months of LB K3 were at home taught my myself or husband if my work required me for a meeting. As you may know I work full time, I'm away from home most of the day. As we went into March, COVID became very real in our lives and well life was adjusted. LB was going to a preschool for K-3 up til Spring Break. We knew we would be facing a new reality, stay home order and remote work would begin. How would he finish his schooling? He was doing so good and learning very fast. We didn't want him to lose any of that. Spring break I gather what I had at home and prepared to teach LB at home for the remainder of the year. His teacher would upload their units and we would do our best. There were tears, but there was also moments I would get, "Mami, I love school!" and that made the extra effort I took out of my work day to be with him worth it.
I am living a small dream of mine, to be a full time stay at home mama. If that means homeschooling or just being there for them during the day. Since dreaming of being a mama, I desired to be that mama that was present and would enjoy being their mama at home.
“I love school mami!”
-LB
After much prayer and talks with my husband, we decided to keep LB home this school year, he would be going to K4 (PreK). I have researched and after a recommendation on the curriculum, we ordered and prepared for August.
I do not know everything about homeschooling but want to take you on my learning journey. I want to share what I have found and what I am doing with LB. There is such an amazing homeschool community out there, it’s incredible and amazing. I came across the Home and Haven Community on Instagram and I signed up for their Home and Haven Online Homeschool Conference and learned so much. I started to follow homeschool mamas and learn about their journey. Every single one of them shared something that stuck with me: Have GRACE on yourself.
We sometimes want to have it all together or do it just like the next mama. We get frustrated with ourselves and if we don’t live up to it. One thing I have learned, everyone’s journey is different, and the way my kid learns it not the same. The same things will not work for everyone. You take the ideas and adapt them to how your kid learns. Learn with your kid, have fun, and love learning together.
Another great tip I’ve taken is show your kid love through your teaching. If LB is becoming frustrated or not focusing we take a break or we jump to something he loves to refocus him. NEVER force them through their work, patience, and love will go along way. I learned this with LB in these last months. If you allow yourself, your kid(s) will teach you also and you will be a better mama for it.
He makes me a better!
This school year …
we decided on Master Books, their Kindergarten bundle. LB is super ahead of his age and we felt that this would keep him challenged and not bored. LB loves learning and retains so much information. He is my little star. It’s set up so easy by lessons and each day what they will do. Provides a general supply list of what’s needed for each lesson. I’ve heard great things about it and I will definitely do a review when we finish this school year. Along with this curriculum, I found a super cute Kindergarten Busy Binder to support his learning skills.
Our home-school corner
We have homeschooling in a corner of their play area. My sister law found us this large frame that was used as a chalkboard, we repainted and sprayed painted the framing. We brought down an IKEA shelf from another room and organized the kids books. LB’s table is from IKEA, we loved it because of the buckets under it. We store his shape blocks and LEGO’s in there, to keep away from the baby. His chairs, I found on Amazon, they matched perfect and are sturdy. (I can sit down and not worry i’ll break the chair) Our sister law gave us the rolling cart empty, we found some baskets at the Container Store. I store all our supplies, materials, and curriculum here. I’ve linked up everything I could below.
Homeschooling Corner Links:
Table: Flisat
Chairs: B. spaces Modern Chair Set
Rolling Cart: Medium 10-Runner Cabinet-Sized Frame
Drawers: Medium Cabinet-Sized 3-Runner White
Elfa Hangmate Basket: The Container Store
Supply Caddies: Target Bulleye’s Playground (Target Dollar Spot)
Plastic Paper Tray: Target Bulleye’s Playground (Target Dollar Spot)
Homeschool Mamas or Great Resources:
Arrows & Applesauce: Instagram, Website, Etsy
Herheartshomeschool: Instagram, Blog — watch her Get Started story in Highlights
Teresa: Instagram
Home and Haven Community: Instagram