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Day In the Life, My Little Poppies Style:

A Day in the Life of a Gifted Homeschooler

I participated in Simple Homeschool’s Homeschool Day in the Life link-up earlier this year and it was well-received and so I was excited to hear that GHF was doing a Day in the Life of a Gifted Homeschooler Blog Hop. Personally, I enjoy reading about how everyone does this whole homeschoolin’ thing. I learn something of value with each post. Today, I’m going to share our day in the life, My Little Poppies Style.

First, I must say that there is no typical day here, especially lately. We are in the midst of a home renovation (we’ve been in the midst of this for what seems like eons), and last week we were without a kitchen and downstairs bath so we decided to pack up and head to my parents’ condo in the mountains. We feel so blessed to have another place to stay during the chaos, and for the flexibility that homeschooling provides. I’ll write a post about this at some point, but homeschooling during construction can be challenging. We have attempted to alleviate the stress and chaos of construction by simplifying our days. The last few weeks of our homeschool have been filled with the things we love: books, nature, play, and art. Our children are young- there will be time for all of that other stuff later, when the dust has settled (and I mean that last bit both figuratively and literally).

March 11, 2015

Day In the Life, My Little Poppies Style

5:00

I wake up and read in bed for an hour before tackling my inbox and starting a post. Daylight savings has my kids sleeping in a bit and it’s glorious.

7:00
Three little noggins peek into my bedroom. They announce that they did another great job sleeping through the night. Our nights of interrupted sleep are clearly still as fresh on their minds as they are on mine (stay tuned for a post on how we got them sleeping again). I get out of my warm bed and head to the kitchen to make some coffee. Then, I start on the pancakes and eggs. It’s so nice to be somewhere that has a functioning kitchen for a change. I ask the kids if they want to help me flip pancakes but this morning they are too focused on their art. Tomorrow is their uncle’s birthday and they want to make him something special.

7:30

My little poppies start eating while I continue my flippin’ pancakes and caffeinating thing. Daddy calls to say good morning and the kids take turns passing the phone and sharing stories of their vacation.

8:00

I clean up breakfast while Leo provides T with some chess lessons. Seuss plays basketball with the Kiwi Crate net the kids made earlier in the week. Leo has been hellbent on T learning to play chess so that they can play together. T is less than enthused but she listens and plays for a little bit before convincing Leo to read to her.

8:30

The three have one of their famous snuggle parties in the condo’s loft, which they refer to as their fort. Leo reads a stack of books to the kids and then T reads one to Seuss. I enjoy my second cup of coffee and check in with the My Little Poppies [virtual] Family Book Club. This week we are covering the book Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and today we’re focusing on nocturnal animals.

9:00
It’s time for some Family Book Club fun. Leo reads Owl Moon aloud to T, Seuss, and I and then together we read about nocturnal and diurnal animals. We watch a couple YouTube videos and then brainstorm an art project. T wants to make an owl and Leo wants to make an owl’s habitat. Thankfully, I have still have a huge bag in the trunk of my car filled with the craft supplies that our Destination Imaginiation team had been using weekly. I run out to the car to get it and then let the kids have their very own craft-palooza. It lasts for quite a while and they have a blast.

The craft-palooza had a brief intermission during which T and Seuss used fabric scraps to morph into spooky ghosts.

The finished product is adorable: two owls and a tree. An adorable little habitat for the two owl friends.

10:30
After a water break, we decide to quickly clean up the aftermath and head outside for some fresh air, nature, and snow play. Today is one of those warm New England days- a spring teaser after a very long winter. There are puddles and the sweet sounds melting. My parents’ condo is on a little golf course and the hills are fantastic for sledding, but the snowbanks are even better!

When the kids are done sledding, they launch into imaginary play. There are ghosts, princesses, magical creatures, and pirates and they have countless adventures. My belly is starting to rumble so I give the kids a fifteen minute warning. They spend their fifteen minutes hunting for treasures and they find a few!

This was the top find.

1:00

We made baked chicken and roasted veggies together last night and there is enough leftover for lunch. Everyone is so tired and rosy-cheeked from all the fresh air that they don’t complain. There is hardly any conversation as we eat. Everyone is hungry and tired.

1:30

We read a quick book before quiet time. Leo chooses some art materials to use during his quiet time while T sets up her babies and a tea party. Seuss needs to nap- the poor kid is tired and tearful from all the activity. I put him to bed and brew a cup of my favorite tea. I sit down and read a few articles, check in with my book club, and write a quick post that has been knocking around my head for a bit.

2:45

My kids are endlessly creative when left to their own devices, and this is why I continue to embrace a mandated quiet time. It’s just as good for them as it is for me. We all feel refreshed and recharged after some solitude. Today, they did not disappoint and they emerge from their quiet time with some pretty cool creations. T shows me a computer that she made out of toys and a phone she made out of paper.

Computer.

Cell phone.

Leo shares a game that he made during his quiet time. This is his third homemade game of the week. It’s called The Race Car Game.

Race Car Game.

Leo also made a golf tee shooter:

…a super-sized treasure box:

… and treasure can:

The tin can was promptly turned into a toilet for teddy, which resulted in oodles of laughter and silliness.

Potty humor.

3:00

The kids are suddenly wild and the day is too beautiful. We head back outside for a walk around the complex.

So excited!