Not Back to School Blog Hop

Sancta Familia Academy 2012-13

September 25, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: GFG, Homeschooling, Not Back to School Blog Hop

Our call is to make our home a place that radiates His PEACE & JOY!

Sancta Familia Academy 2012-2013

Rose – 12 * Sparkles – 3-4 * Sweetie – 2 * Papi – Pre-K * Dragonfly – Recess Monitor

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Dad and I took the kids to the park for our school photos. It took two hours for us to wrangle up the boys who seemed to have an aversion to the camera since it meant that they actually had to change out of their pjs.

The littles were rewarded with licorice and a trip to the playground while Rose’s photo session extended a bit longer since she’s a senior and we wanted to capture some special pics.

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Rose 17 – Sparkles 9 – Sweetie 7 – Papi 5 – Dragonfly 2

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School pictures from 2011-12

School pictures from previous years.

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Christina, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Bernadette, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Out Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Clare, Our Lady of Lordes, St. John the Baptist, St. John, St. Paul, St. Matthew, St. George, St. Lawrence, St. Barbara, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John Chrysostom, St. Valentine of Rome ~ Orate pro nobis.

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I’m linking this post to the NOT Back-to-School Blog Hop. Join the school fun!

Learning Room

September 18, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Home, Homeschooling, Not Back to School Blog Hop, Schoolroom

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2

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Our learning room has changed with the new house. It’s a bit more simplified than last year’s version.

This is how our learning room looks when not in session. The learning wall is covered with the curtains and our nice red armoire (Potter Barn find on Craigslist for $150) is closed to hide our book and supply storage.

Our learning room took the place of our formal dining room. It’s connected to the ~~formal living~~ holy room and is seen by all who enter.

Here’s a complete look at the formal dinning room and living room.

The learning window is open. I used small suctions to hang my learning guides on the window. The guides range for grades K-4th.

I hung last year’s school garland, made from addition flashcards. It will soon be replaced by clear fishing line to hang all of my children’s artwork.

The books in the red armoire are organized by subject topic, not grade. They are stored in magazine files and library metal files (found at the thrift store for $0.25 ea.). The boys have their wood puzzles and manipulatives store on the lower shelves behind the doors.

Our table (another Craigslist find) currently sits with it’s leaf installed. I find that it works better when it sits six vs. four. It gives the littles room to spread out to avoid conflicts.

Rose has her office/craft room to work in for her final year of highschool.

The learning wall consists of my learning window covered in teaching guides and a white board (that was purchased over ten years ago when we started to homeschool). There is a second curtain rod behind the curtains. This rod is used to hang additional teaching guides, posters, art work, or whatever we want on display.

The curtains rarely get closed on the learning wall but when they do, this is what it looks like. I extended the curtain rod to cover the white board. It keeps the room looking like a living room and gives the impression that there is one very large window.

The piano sits right next to the white board, in the holy room. It’s a beautiful sight to see, children learning, making joyful music, and others in prayer.

O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! ~ Psalm 95:1-2

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Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Bless our home and our learning rooms.

Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise.

Help us, O Loving Father, to grow joyfully in your ways with all the opportunities that you give and take.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us.
Amen.

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Sancta Familia Academy 2011-2012

August 17, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschooling, Not Back to School Blog Hop

School is in session.

Sancta Familia Academy 2011-2012

Rose – 11 * Sparkles – 3 * Sweetie – 1 * Papi – Pre-K Dragonfly – Teacher’s Pet

Dragonfly just woke up from a nap and was not at all interested in being out of my arms — typical day.

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Here are some outtakes.

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School pictures from previous years.

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Christina, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Bernadette, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Out Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Clare, St. Alexandria, St. Alexandra, Our Lady of Lordes, St. John the Baptist, St. John, St. Paul, St. Matthew, St. George, St. Lawrence, St. Barbara, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John Chrysostom ~ Orate pro nobis.

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{Home} School Room

August 8, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschooling, Not Back to School Blog Hop, Schoolroom 14 Comments

Here is my formal dining room turned school room. These pictures were taken last school session. The schoolroom hasn’t changed much since.

This picture was taken right after I added my new find. I found the Pottery Barn unit on Craigslist. I now have the shelves filled with school supplies stored in these fun containers. I found 7 of them at the thrift store for $2 ea.

The Little’s enjoy working on their own desk but I prefer the table.

I hang selected school work above the red armoire. I use fishing line and clothes pins. It’s my favorite system–easy, cute and cheap.

I love having everything school related in one room. I added the metal garage storage units (found at Costco). I put magnets on wall charts and hang them on the metal frame. It’s the prefect height for the Little’s and covers the storage.

Above the storage units is my week at glance system – cork boards and magnetic/dry-erase boards. The system never worked as I had intended but served as nice display for school work.

The black shelving unit is a recycled piece that my mom picked up from a local convent. I love that it is solid wood. It serves as a room divider from the hallway. I mounted a felt board, cork board, dry-erase board and chalk board to the back side of the unit. It keeps the boys busy.

The black desk is mine!

Here’s the high school room/office/craft room that Rose and I share.

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I’m linking my post to the NOT Back-to-School Blog Hop. Join the school fun!

The Core

August 3, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: GFG, Homeschooling, Not Back to School Blog Hop 5 Comments

A new school year is fast approaching. The Little’s don’t know it since we are continuously schooling. We don’t use traditional curriculum or follow a traditional school calendar. Dad and I prefer to school in the natural rhythm of our daily lives. The girls move into new studies once a study is finished. We are constantly learning and playing. It works for us!

Having said that, I try to regroup during the normal start of a school year. I plan my school year with some input from the Little’s, discussions with Rose, discernment with Dad, a novena and several hours in Adoration.

My curriculum is pieced together with items of interest, desired interests and what my budget (or lack of budget) allows. All is centered on His call for my family, the core of our homeschooling.

We have many changes taking place in our lives currently. I’m praying for the graces to keep peace and focus on the present. The Good Lord is our guide.

This year’s core will be focused on our Sacramental life. It has been some time since we’ve attended daily Mass at the start of our school day. Dad and I believe that we are being called back to putting Him first in our lives-school day. Due to life changes, we’ll plan week by week.

In addition to daily Mass, Dad will lead us with the following spiritual goals:

Renewal of Marian Consecration (use Children’s consecration)
Study the Mass
Daily Rosary (min. 2 Mysteries-10 decades)
Latin Prayers
Daily Readings & Saint Study
Nightly Examination of Conscience
Bible Study (with Rose after hours)
Breviary (Dad and Mom)
Monthly recollection
Bi-monthly Spiritual read (Dad, Mom and Rose)

Our call is to make our home a place that radiates His PEACE & JOY!

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Here are some of the academic goals for my GFG current phase of school.

Dragonfly’s Goals:

Play, Play, Play and….PLAY
Weekly nature walk
Daily art project
Daily music & dance
Daily park play with Papi
Reading time with Sparkles/Sweetie
Keep clear from this.

Papi’s Goals:

Letter play names and sounds
Begin to write letters & sounds
Identify colors & shapes
Increase attention span to sit, listen and learn
Weekly nature walk
Daily art project
Daily music & dance
Daily park play with Dragonfly
Construct at least 2 airplane models with dad
Reading time with Sparkles/Sweetie
Animals, Weather, Seasons, and Heat/Cold
Count in French

Sweetie’s Goals:

Reading:

Spelling:

Grammar:

Math:

Science:
History:
Foreign Language

Sparkles’ Goals:

Reading:
Spelling:
Science:
Math:
Writing
History:
Foreign Language

Rose’s Goals:

Rose has followed my lead up until high school. She has finally found her groove and curriculum of choice. Rose thoroughly enjoys Kolbe’s High School curriculum. She tailors it to fit her needs and interests. She is looking forward to adding more extracurriculars. I’m looking forward to studying alongside her since my Catholic high school failed to permeate my education with the riches of the Faith. I also desire to savor these last years that I have with her–she’s 16!

Theology:
English: Expository Writing and Rhetoric 11
Literature of Christendom
World History III: The Era of Christendom
Math:
Science:
Foreign Language
Misc.

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Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

~ Matthew 6:33

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I’m linking my NOT School Curriculum post to the NOT Back-to-School Blog Hop. Join the school fun!

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