Homeschool check-in

Anybody else still homeschooling even though it is the week before Christmas?   We are still plugging away, but it is a modified schedule. I didn't want the magic of the holidays to be lost to the busyness of our schedules, so I reduced our school load to the equivalent of half-time, and have been engaging the kids in seasonal crafts and activities (think cutout Christmas cookies, themed coloring pages, directed painting, and ornament making) and giving them plenty of easy education assignments. 

Today we are using magnets to practice building words (the older one) and counting (for the littlest one).

We also practiced  writing our letters and numbers using the Write-A-Mat double-sided learning mats from Melissa and Doug. I love their products as I am sure you will see in the future. The magnets are also from them.  You can get the washable mats and crayons here.

Even though these mats are technically for 4 years and up, my three year old uses them appropriately and enjoys them a lot.

As you can see, the 2 year old uses them a little differently, but still really enjoys them, and it is always good to expose the little ones to numbers and counting as much as you can.

As we push closer to Christmas, we want to make sure we are taking the time to focus on the true meaning of the season as a family. Our movie-time selection today is "A Charlie Brown Christmas" which includes the story of Christ's birth, our family devotional this evening will include a passage from the Christmas Story and tomorrow we will be making a hand print nativity scene. We will be employing our "school" skills, such as listening, sitting still (for a reasonable amount of time), discussing, following directions, and craft skills.  So all that is to say that you can focus on enjoying each other and enjoying the season and not worry about missing out on schooling. You'll still be teaching them even in the fun activities like these. What better way to review colors than to go see Christmas lights or ice some cookies, right? :)