Homeschool Mother's Journal - 1

I found this great link-a-long over at the Homeschool Chick and thought this would be such a lovely way to wrap up the week.  So here goes...

In my life this week...
Lots happening in my business. I was accepted into a great sale set to happen in 3 weeks.  I am super excited, but I have to get busy and make great glass inventory.

In our homeschool this week...
Trying to find some balance, order and discipline.  I am a teacher and it is hard for me not to define the "school day" as Monday through Friday 9:00 - 4:00.  This week I decided to try fewer hours per day, more days per week.  Working with the Little Dude in tot time with sorting puffballs. 

Places we're going and people we're seeing...
In history this week Zippy visited ancient Assyria.  She thought Ashurbanipal was especially interesting.  He is on the list for possible projects.
 
My favorite thing this week was...
Building houses for the crickets.  The Science experiment for the week was whether the crickets prefered houses with one door or two. The best part of the experiment was finding the materials and being creative in building the houses.  The crickets seem happier too with more shelter in their environment.

What's working/not working for us...
Our space is not working for us. My goal for this weekend is to make our living/dining area more of a discreet learning area, and put our entertainment (TV etc) in another room.  The schedule change...I can't say if it is working yet or not.  The time change really threw us for a loop so our mornings are difficult right now.  I switched school to the afternoons, but only for a day.  It was a good day.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
How do I break the hold of "school" on myself and my child? We both seem stuck in that mindset of education is a "must" not a "want". Zippy's default attitude of late is "Do I have to? I don't want to." Yet when she is doing a lesson I know she finds satisfaction in the learning.

Has anyone else had this problem? If so did you find a good solution?

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

I keep taking pictures of Zippy reading, because I think it is just the most beautiful thing. She thinks I'm weird.