The Loveliness of Back to School

We have had an incredible number of submissions to this blog fair!  What insightful, creative ladies! What fortunate students there will be, blessed with such inspiring learning environments. I hope you have a cup of tea in hand and a moment to spare so you can come along on this virtual visit. : ) Actually - you may need to break up this trip into two or three visits. Get a load of this list!

We asked what made you excited about Back to School planning this year. What worked last year? What did not? How do you envision your days? What complicates them? Here are some of the responses:

Shannon is a self-described neo-classical homeschooler. She is soon to join the ranks of us moms-of-nine also. She has typed out extensive lists of curriculum for each school aged child. I love the quote she includes about judging others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions. It is an especially good reminder in this context. All the planning in the world cannot replace DOing.

Lorrie at the MacnCheese Chronicles gives a good synopsis of what worked, what didn't work, what sorta worked, and what will be new for this Army family of six. 

Angi's military family homeschools in IL. She has uploaded her supplies list here. If you need ideas for your upcoming year surf through Angi's site index and scroll through the freebies, the journals, the lapbooks.  You won't be disappointed.

Visit Learning to Love Learning to read Marianne's Suzuki-inspired music post. I LOVE love love her mother's prayer on the top right sidebar. Her tv quote is thought provoking too. Those two sidebar inclusions could see a person through a decent school right there.

Divina has a series of planning posts:  Preschool, Feast Days and Crafts, and her big CHC order. Is there anyone who doesn't get a rush when the big brown truck stops by?

Beth's webshots are so helpful. Without a word she shows how she creates and organizes awesome Montessori materials. I was inspired to reorganize my pantry after these images. : )

Oooooh... you are gonna love Donna's notebooks.  Let me say it again.  You are gonna LOVE Donna's notebooks. : )  I want to be ten and a student of Donna's.  If this doesn't make you grab a sketchbook and start creating perhaps nothing will. Donna takes the notebooking concept and follows through to binding and covering. Just lovely. Can't say that enough apparently. <g>

Genevieve got a schoolroom this year! Read what she has to say about cooking and school planning. I "ditto" her! Ahh, how to incorporate ideology without it becoming formulaic? Is a mix of this and that chaotic or is it the spice of life? These are the questions she tackles this year. Don't miss her thoughts.

Kristie reminds us to schedule in "room to grow and time to think." To make this happen she is moving to  three week blocks of plans. Gotta love a family that plays an Irish Whistle.

This is a neat idea. Cheryle gets her big worktexts spiral bound. Think about it. They lay flat and don't pull apart. Ingenius. (I know we are supposed to stay on task here, but try to sneak a few peeks at her embroidery while you are there! So pretty.)

Barb is a wonderful real life friend whose plan for the year includes pegs our own family uses - get up early, stay home. : )  She has enough structure to keep the olders on track and enough serendipity to keep things joyful.

Tracy's year promises to be bittersweet. She is looking forward to exploring all sorts of topics with her junior and senior high-ers. Yet, it is a milestone year, the last the family will finish together. Her oldest will complete his homeschooling career at the end of it.

Mary is going to surprise me lol! Our sweet rabbit trailing friend tells me her post describes finding unit study inspiration in unexpected places.  All I know is that "keeping your options open" is always a good idea. : )

There is a Hans Christian Anderson unit here at Footprints on the Fridge. This gives you a good idea of how units are planned. Having a wee bit of trouble with the links myself so please let me know if they are working.

Cay has a series of posts up which look ahead to the new year. I have to laugh when she mentions the sheer amount of paperwork connected to a teen. Geesh. I think whatever time we make up with childcare we lose with paperwork!

Organized on the cheap?  Marybeth tells us how it can be done. I really don't think you have seen this idea yet. I need that notebook....  And wait, it gets better. She shares her manipulatives.

Michelle is spurred to plan by back to school sales. I don't blame her. Who can resist?

The evolution of a homeschool mom. That is the theme running through Donna Marie's planning this year. She is trying to get out of God's way as she pieces together the new school year.

Angela's post Planning to Unschool is so packed with insight and quotables you must be sure not to miss it even if you aren't Planning to Unschool. Her Greek Siren analogy is SO good. Not gonna say more than that.  Go visit.  When you finish this one read the Nuts and Bolts entry.  Quote: "People are most important." Followed by art, followed by Montessori, followed by books... I think I wrote this ; )  Amen Angela!

Jane at Blackberry Brambles has outlined such a delightful year. We will be doing Alphabet Fridays as well, Jane!  I will be thinking of you and yours then.

The description of book baskets and math blocks at Grace Falling Like Rain is more than a little tempting. Need a visual?  Visit Theresa and see how she does it. 

Dawn has posted her shopping list. I think I am printing it and handing it dh. She posted about her school plans here. You can always count on finding good stuff over at Dawn's.

Maureen is embarking on homeschool highschool this year. Take a moment to scroll all the way down the right sidebar and see the Einstein quote. Its a keeper. At her homeschool blogger site she has uploaded her World History plans for the new year.

Ruth!  How did I miss that you were pregnant?? I guess because I have no time on the internet these days. Sigh. Congrats! And thank you for sharing your booklists.

Amy, you too??  Where have I been, friends?   But I digress....check out the way Amy envisions her daily flow. She wisely notes the danger of 'planning versus doing' as well. I am telling ya - take it from Nike - Just Do It.

(attendance check!  Are you still with me lol??)

Elena sums up beginning homeschool high school - joy and dread. Yep, that about covers it.

To Mary Ann I say hurrah! Yes, it is ok not to have a detailed lesson plan for the school year when you already have your curriculum and your goals laid out.

Meredith, moving again? Yuck. Do any of you also sigh over life being in flux? It stinks. I think we have been in perpetual flux here for 20 yrs. God has a plan for us though. Take heart. Its a better life skill to model grace under pressure than attaining perfect circumstances which our children will not likely be able to reproduce. Meredith took over as moderator on the Montessori forum at 4real and has awesome Montessori and unit resources on her blog. If I were a kid, I would spend a year learning at Merediths - flux or no flux.

I had to crack up when Matilda reminds us that labels are only useful as washing instructions. What are we? Unschoolers? Cm schoolers? Classical schoolers? Yes. And no.

Now here is a woman who knows she is an unschooler. How does Leonie go about planning?  Is planning allowed for unschoolers?  How much?  Come find out here and here and here.  GREAT quote by John Holt at the end of that last link.

Seven Little Australians will be regrouping a bit this year and revisiting the basics, shoring up any weak spots though with a list like this I can't imagine you have missed anything kids!

Finally, they say a friend knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you forget the words. Elizabeth and I have spent the summer humming the tune of gentle, arts based learning to one another. We have recalled warm memories of young motherhood. Our big boys are journeying down varied roads these days but we have been blessed with more opportunities to watercolor, to sing with Raffi, to finger knit, to dive into great stories, and to discover the natural world. Our sweet gypsy friend, Rebecca, no longer blogging but ever present in our lives, is making those same memories with her children and has shared many resources. Thank you God! Thank you for such wonder all around us and for such dear companions along the way. 

Thank you for stopping by and thank you to everyone who took the time to share their plans!

Comments

[Maryan]

Thanks Kim -- for someone who is STILL planning, this is WONDERFUL food for thought.

[Angel]

WOW. This is huge!!! Thanks for putting it together, Kim!!!

[Amy]

Wonderful job, Kim!! Thank you for taking what must have been a huge chunk of time to put this together!

[Dawn]

Kim, this is fantastic, and I can't wait to sit down later to read through all the links! Thank you for hosting! :)

[MaryM]

It's wonderful, Kim. So glad you got so many great entries (and thanks for taking mine "sight unseen.")

[Jane Ramsey]

Kim, this looks wonderful!
I can't wait to read it ALL...and I'll be thinking of you on our "Alphabet Fridays", too! :-)

[Barb Mc]

what a list!! I'll be reading and thinking all week, thanks to all the contributors.

[Maureen]

Awesome work, Kim. Looks like I'll need a longer coffee break this morning.

Maureen

[Cheryl M.]

Kim - such a wonderful fair... it will take me all week to digest and follow the links! thank you :)

[Jennifer]

Kim! This must be the most popular Loveliness Fair yet! Great job, I now have much to think about today. :)

[Kristen Laurence]

Whew! Beautiful job on such an important fair to all of us. I love how you detailed the individual entries, including quotes. Thank you for putting it together!

[Rachel]

Kim: WOW! This is really HUGE. I guess we ALL like to plan huh?
(I am kinda glad I started reading early today!!)

[Rachel]

Oh, and the links you had problems with?

http://footprintsonthefridge.typepad.com/footprints_on_the_fridge/2007/07/hans-christian-.html

and

http://footprintsonthefridge.typepad.com/footprints_on_the_fridge/2007/07/basket-brained.html

You had an extra set of characters in between the f and r of fridge :)

[Margaret in Minnesota]

More gushing from a former Fair hostess, 'cause I know how much work you must have put into this!

And you did it with such finesse and humor, Kim. This is a lovely fair and fittingly so.

I just pray for the grace to not be too too overwhelmed by all the great ideas here. I think that's a real risk for us homeschooling moms because truth be told, we're not homeschooling because we lack ambition! The risk is that we have too much. ;)

Grace. All is grace.

Have a blessed year, everyone!

[ManyCultures1Family]

Enjoyed looking at your blog. Will come back often. Have a blessed day!

[Marianne]

Thanks for hosting, Kim! I thought I was done planning, but maybe I'm just never going to be able to say that!

[Suzanne Temple]

I just love all the energy here! Terrific fair, thank you.

[Ruth]

Wow! I can't wait until I have a few hours free this weekend. This looks amazing!!! Thanks for hosting. You did a great job!

[Joanie]

Oh my gosh, I just love your blog! Very inspiring. Thank you!

[montessori preschool]

Very informative and interesting article to be read...thanks.