Craft Organizer DIY

I am tired of pencils and markers in ice cream buckets! I was planning on purchasing something so I was cruising Pinterest to find some ideas and I found some different ideas. But I cam up with this mostly on my own. I cut paper towel rolls to size for pencils, shorter for markers and even shorter for crayons. I covered them in scrapbook paper (this is retired Designer Series Paper from Stampin' UP! [this is my link to my consultant page]) in corresponding colors. Red {for red and orange}, purple {for purple and pink}, blue, {just for all the blues}, green {for green and yellow}, brown {for all the browns and tans}, and black {for black, white and gray}. I used a sturdy box to put it all in (this is a box for our Nabi2 tablet and is really thick). I have hidden duct tape between all the rolls to hold it in really well. Those tubes aren't going anywhere! There is a little space in front of the crayons that is perfect for pencil sharpeners, glue sticks, and scissors. It really is perfect for us to use and keep out on the table during our lessons!

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge 145

I signed up to be a independent consultant with Stampin' UP! I've been a customer for many years and finally decided that I need to take the plunge. I love making cards and all kinds of paper crafts and home decor. I needed some inspiration, so I checked out the challenges at Freshly Made Sketches (Challenge 145). This is my first one! I am so excited to be crafting and stamping more often. It really brings joy into my day!

This is the link to my Stampin' UP! website.

Student Weeklies

I made workbooks for the boys for the first quarter of Mystery of History and I also decided to make them a weekly book that will span the same nine weeks as MoH.
Here is Joshua's. He is eight and entering third grade. He prefers a weekly layout of everything that needs to be done rather than a daily. He chose a red cover and will help me bind it. There are nine weeks of planners, daily drawings, gratitude journals, word searches and cursive practice.

from Money Saving Mom

from 1+1+1=1

I made this in MS Publisher

sight word-search from k12reader.com

from Confessions of a Homeschooler

 Nikolas will be seven in October and is starting second grade. He likes knowing what he needs to do each day, so he has a different style planner. His weekly includes copywork and daily drawing, as well as the gratitude journal. He loves to draw and he designed his cover.

from Motherhood on a Dime

from 1+1+1=1

I made this in MS Publisher

from Copycat Books

Getting Organized for the New School Year

I am a big planner and I love being organized but... I have a hard time sticking with the plan. Anyone else? I have purchased a lot of planners and printed a ton of free printable ones. This year I am doing something a little different though. My boys are becoming more independent and will have their own planners (that will be another post), so I will only be planning our group learning which will include (read about our curriculum choices here):

• Mystery of History Volume 1
• We Choose Virtues
• Zeezok Music Appreciation
• Supercharged Science

I am a planner addict and this is the planner [they are available at Staples and Office Depot just added a new line! also for a super nice version, check out Levenger] that I use and love, with my Frixion (ERASABLE!) pens and washi tape. Those are the 3M tabs that you can write on, I use those on my dividers because I like to be able to move things around. 

I have a weekly section that has areas for my life, blog/business, health, and (my) school; I got it from Polka Dot Posie. But the newest addition to my planner is a homeschool section. I have always used, or tried to use, a separate planner for homeschooling and, clearly, that was not working. Like my other planner, it helps to have everything in one place, and always with me. I looked all over the internet and pinterest and etsy to find one that I liked. I am lazy and I really didn't want to make my own. Why try to reinvent the wheel? I got the weekly planner here. I printed the weekly calendar on one side, and their note page on the other side, cut them in half (they are junior size, which is half a regular sheet of printer paper or 8.5" x 5.5"), and punched them to go in my planner. Here is a picture of how they look:

I have started filling them out and if all works out we should finish the first quarter of Mystery of History before our vacation in October. YAY! Well, that is my homeschool planner. I think I finally found something that will work. I love the note section next to the week, and also the small Sat/Sun at the bottom so I can remind myself of any prep work that I need to do. Off we go to year four of homeschooling!

2014-15 Curriculum Choices

>>Together:

{History, Geography, Bible}
Mystery of History Volume 1
The Picture Smart Bible (K-3)

{Nature Study}
Geology focused (delight directed)
Unit Study from Amy Payson
Unit Study from Noah's Ark Homeschool Academy
Resource List from Eclectic Homeschool Online

{Character}
We Choose Virtues

{Foreign Language}
To be determined

{Art & Music}
Zeezok Music Appreciation
Daily Drawing, Nature Drawing

{Unit Studies-delight directed}
Nikolas-Roller Coasters
Joshua- Digital Photography

>>Joshua: Age 8, Grade 3
Bible: Monarch
Math: Monarch
Language Arts: Monarch
Social Studies (History and Geography): Monarch
Science: Monarch
Health: Horizons
A Reason for Handwriting: Transition Book {continuing}
-Extras
Blog
Music Lessons (hopefully)
Note about Monarch: We will be using Alpha Omega's new 1 Year Individual Plan, which saves $50!

>>Nikolas: Age 6.5, Grade 2
Bible: Lifepac
Math: A+ Tutor Soft
Language Arts: Lifepac
Science: Lifepac
Social Studies (History): Lifepac
Health: Horizons
Handwriting: Horizons and Copywork
-Extras
Art: Chalk Drawing
Drawing

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This post has been edited from its original version. 8/4/2014