Reading Closet

I really needed something/someplace that would encourge the kids to begin reading independantly. 
So... basically I took a boring messy closet and transformed it.... into a fabulous reading space!!

Eddie and Andre are reading in the empty closet.
Nice and Cozy - but I have MUCH BIGGER plans for this small closet.

My mother found these curtains at a garage sale... for my sister ...
but she accidentally left them in my car... so now they are mine! Hooray!! 
(I did cut and hem the plain pink curtain)

1. I painted the room a bright orange
2. I wrapped Christmas lights around the top pole...
3. I Added pillows and stuffed animals
4. I put in a basket of books that the kids can read by themselves

Simone LOVES the space and before she knew it -
she had read 4 four books!  and enjoyed it!  by herself!!!

9*+-

This superheros chutes and ladder game board will be used to track how many books Eddie has read. 



The Princess Chutes and Ladders Game will be used to track the books Simone has read.



Fun in a Box

Josh and I bought each other an early Christmas present of Stainless Steel Pots/Pans.  Inside the box was an excess of packaging.  This extra cardboard and plastic became the children's early Christmas present!
OH - the many, many crafts that can be created with the contents of this box and a roll of tape...

Simone is working on a masterpiece...

The boys discovered the ribbing inside of cardboard... so this is actually a little bit of science investigation!

Simone and Andre are creating a piggy bank... now they are on the hunt for lost money.

Eddie is making a space ship.

Simone made Elijah a crown.

The kids are drawing pictures and writing about the different crafts that they made.

Teacher Grandma and Teacher Aunt Sonja

Grandma is giving Simone and Edison Sewing lessons. 
Here they are with a $3 Goodwill find ... a mini sewing machine

Grandma is helping Simone sew a Christmas Pillow.

Grandma is helping Edison sew his pillow.

Aunt Sonja has been giving weekly piano lessons to the kids. 
They are learning the names of the notes this week.

The kids are very excited to have Sonja teach music!

Math, math, and more math

Math is everywhere!!  It can't be escaped...

Counting money for Star Wars Monopoly

Curved dominos - Andre was matching the numbers

Number flip chart... the kids are learning to read very large numbers!

Learning to read a clock

School around the house

A homeschooling perk - school everywhere!!

Science Journals by a cozy fire.

Storytelling with Aunt Sonja and Cousin Aria on the couch.

Spelling amd Math at the "kitchen table"

Magic Journals at the "living room table"

Arts and Crafts at the "kitchen table" during chili cooking time.

Reading by the light of the Christmas Tree.

****Yes - I decorate for Christmas right after Halloween****

Cooking Class - potato peeling and pumpkin gutting

Potato peeling is an art-form! and the kids are getting pretty good at it...


Simone is teaching Andre how to use the peeler.



Simone is a perfectionist - she gets every piece of skin off.

Andre is trying really hard.

Edison has the peeler mastered.

Everyone is hard at work to make potato soup!

Aunt Solveig is helping us cut a jack-o-lantern. 

Cleaning the seeds to bake.