To Label or Not to Label ??

I counted the other day and realised that I have been a Sonlight customer for thirteen years this year! Over the years I have collected a beautiful library of books courtesy of Sonlight.

 

Personally I have never wanted to label my books. Me put stickers on a book ? No I don't think so.

 

About three years ago I began feeling extremely frustrated with not being able to locate books I knew I had or finding them in the oddest spots on the shelf after hours of searching. In fact I was so frustrated that in desperation I finally gave in and ordered labels from Sonlight. I spent hours drawing lines, cutting strips and putting them onto my books then back onto the shelf. It has been well worth the effort and time investment that it took to do.

 

Now when I pick up a book I know exactly where it comes from and so do the rest of the family.

 

This is the process I use.

 

 

 I gather the books together that need labeling.These are the books I ordered to update my Core A a few of these are double ups.

 

 

• Next I grab the book lists from my Instructor Guides as well as the Book Label sheet from Sonlight.  As you can see I grabbed some scissors as I thought I would need these but Sonlight has pre-cut the book labels so it made the job of labeling soooooo easy this year. 
• Next I number the books on the book list and then I write the numbers onto the book label.
• I then attach the numbered label to the book

 

 

I have numbered the books because it makes it easier to put them back in the "correct" spot on the shelf and easier to locate when I need it while using a Core. This process has made storing and locating my books so much easier.

 

  

 

Here I put my Core A from 2011 and the balance of my Core K from 1998.  There are a few titles "missing" due to being in storage till the end of September but I shant be needing them till October.

 

 

This is a small shelf of books in the living area. This bookshelf holds a lot of memories for me.  It used to be in my parents home and hold our encyclopedia set which I really enjoyed using. My parents bought the shelf and encyclopedias as a wedding present. 

I decided to gather a range of books from Core P 3/4, Core P 5/6, Core A and a few others from the larger book shelves in the rumpus room and keep them in one handy spot, as I tend to forget what I have available. 

I will take you on a tour of my four big book shelves in two months time ! My family often tease me about my love of books. My dad blessed me with three custom made floor to ceiling shelves which he designed and made for me and a friend in New Zealand built me one for small paper backs. Enough of that till a later post. I can't show you at the moment as they are in storage.  My aim is to sort my collection and blog about it later.

  

How do you organise your library ?

 

Blessings

 

Treasured Moments 2

Do you find yourself falling into a pattern of daily grind, skipping the 'fun' activities because you don't have time or lack energy?

Do creative arts, nature walks, drama, read alouds or spontaneous acts seem only a distant dream in your life?

Yet these Treasured Moments shared with loved ones uplift us, nurture our soul, remind us of the beauty and joy in our lives.

We want Treasured Moments for ourselves, for our children, for our families but how can we make it happen?

... Commitment ... Encouragement ... Support ... Ideas ... Plans.

I invite you to join us every Saturday and share your plans and ideas, your targets and goals and your stories ... your 'Treasured Moments'. In this way we may inspire one another, encourage ourselves and start achieving our dreams. Hosted by Erin at Seven Little Australians and Counting

My Treasured Moments this week are:

1. Having my Sonlight order arrive within four days from the USA
2. Enjoying fellowship with two homeschool Mums after not seeing them for six weeks due to illness.
3. Being blessed with a new easy to read glass measuring jug that I have been admiring at Big W 
4. Going to the Dandenong Australian Post sorting facility on a trip (something I've wanted to do for 6 years).
5. Watching Sir N and his cousin enjoy a picnic in the sun.
6. Having my brother help me fix my new Logitech MX620 Cordless Laser Mouse :)  Thank you Buddy !!
7. Seeing family members become well after being really really sick.

To join in you are welcome to add your post on Seven Little Australians and Counting using the Mr. Linky form (please link to the individual post) and include a link back to Erins post. If you haven't a blog we would still love to hear your voice, just leave your stories in the comments

Blessings

Sir N's First Sonlight Box Day

I bought my very first core** and Science, Handwritting, and Math from Sonlight way back in 1998 and my first two roses really enjoyed the journey.

With Sir N starting school this year I decided to update my original Core K ( now called Core A)

My First Box Day

I remember my very first box day so vividly.  This box arrived and was far smaller than I had expected for $750!  I unpacked and stacked the books in my room and was worried about what my husband would say.  I took Sonlights advice and read the IG (Instructors Guide) which said put the books away and spend a week preparing.  Best advice ever, and I am so glad that I took it. 

After the first week I knew I had made the best investment ever.  That IG was worth it's weight in GOLD!  and the $750 was a small investment into books that were worth every minute we spent together reading and learning together.

FedEx tracking

I have really enjoy the advent of the internet it has really added to the anticipation of receiving my box.  I eagerly watched my boxes progress accross the globe and was so surprised at the speed and efficency of Sonlight. 

Last friday (5 Aug)  I placed my order on line in Australia just after lunch and my box arrived here on Tuesday morning (9 Aug) !

A picture is worth a thousand words so here is our story:

"Mommy can I open it NOW?"

Granny joined us for box day and showed Sir N how to wear his new paper scarf!

"Ooooo Mommy some more of those crayons!"

"Look how BIG that lightening is!"

"mmmmm that's interresting"

"Look they are swimming with the dolphins"

"Yes I can fit in the box!"

And so our new Sonlight adventure begins.  This week is a week of preparations and next week Monday will be day one of our 36 week year of Core A and Science A with Sonlight.

To read more about our curriculum choice for 2011 and 2012 you can have a look at my Curricula page.

What have you planned to use with your families Home School adventure this year ?

Blessings

** Sonlight® Core programs use the subject of History as the foundation for your homeschooling curriculum. This history focus provides a framework for your family to better understand literature, scientific theory, philosophy, and a wide-range of other subjects. A history backdrop also helps you see how what you are learning ties together throughout your home education.

You have a choice of 18 Core packages for your Pre-K through 12th grader. Each Core program includes a year's worth of History, Geography, and Literature curriculum for your homeschool.
Quoted from the Sonlight Website.