Old School Monday: Back to School 2014

Old School Monday Back to School Party!

When: This upcoming Monday, September 29 from 11:30 - 2:00.

Where:  Vintage Faith Church, first floor classrooms

Yes, most of us have been officially back in school for at about a month now, but it is never too late to celebrate the transition into a new school year! 

This gathering's theme is Show and Tell.  Your children are invited to bring something they have done or learned so far this school year, or they can share something special they did last summer.

As always, you can eat before you come, or bring your lunches to eat while we all catch up on how summers went and how school is going so far. : )  And please bring a finger-food snack for the group to share!

Invite your friends!

Anyone want to volunteer to lead a gym game afterwards? I'm thinking HORSE, or something that involves lots of running. : )  If you are inspired, just let us know in the comments!

Hope you are all having a great start to the school year, and I look forward to catching up.

lisa

Old School Monday, Next Week!

Hello everyone!

It's our April Old School Monday, and we have a very fun theme for our gathering:

It's the Old School Monday Show & Tell Day!

 When: Monday, April 28, noon-2:30 p.m.

 Where: the usual downstairs classrooms there at Vintage Faith Church

Your children are each invited to bring one remotely educational thing to share with the rest of us.  It could be a musical piece they want to play, or something they have made, or a new skill they have acquired.  (Would prefer we not show off new toys or favorite objects, if we can--unless they have historical value!) Moms, this can also be a great time to encourage your kids to wrap up a project or assignment--for some of our kids getting to share to the group might be good incentive!

And Moms, you too are invited to bring something to share!  Last month Ali brought some great historical books to show--this time, in keeping with "book week," let's each bring one book that we really like. It can be educational, or just a good piece of writing!

We will definitely have story time too!  If any of you would like to read a story aloud to the group, just let me know!  Otherwise, I will cry my way through something good, I am sure. ; )

Questions or comments?  Please leave them in the comments section to this post, so that all may benefit.

Old School Monday St. Patrick's Day party!

Hello fellow moms!

Next Monday, March 17 is our next Old School Monday gathering. Normally we try to meet the last Monday of each month, but with St. Patrick's Day on a Monday, I could not resist the opportunity.  We are learning about the Christian saints here at home, and how perfect that now at Old School Monday we have talked about St. Nicolas, St. Valentine, and now will get to learn about St. Patrick!

So as usual, the gathering will be from noon until 2:30, there in the first floor right-hand classrooms.

--We will have circle time and read a story about St. Patrick. (Anyone have a favorite version of this story you want to bring and share?  Just let me know in the comments! I don't always have to be the one who does this part of the gathering.)

--I would love to have a craft or quick and easy science project for the kids to do--anyone have ideas?  If so, let me know!

--If your kids are working on the Book of Months project, please bring pages to share!

--And let's make this a green party!  Please bring a green food item to share. 

--As always, you are welcome to bring lunch for your family, or to eat before you come--whichever is easiest for your family!  But would you please remember to bring plates, napkins & cups for your family.  We're striving to make our gatherings as waste-free as possible. : )  Thank you!

Old School Mondays--TOMORROW and the rest of the semester!

Ok, Vintage Homeschool Moms, time to get out your calendars:

Here are the tentative dates for Old School Mondays and other Vintage Homeschool Days!

TOMORROW, January 27: our first Old School Monday for 2014! We have some fun things planned, including sharing time--so please encourage your child/ren to bring something to show or tell that they are learning here at the start of 2014. 

Friday, Feb. 14: our annual Valentine's Day party

Monday, Feb 24: Old School Monday

Monday, March 17: Old School Monday/St. Patrick's Day party

Friday, April 11: Old School Timeline Day

Monday, April 28: Old School Monday

Friday, May 23: End of School party

Unless we specify on special events, all of these gatherings will take place in the usual rooms there at Vintage Faith (downstairs in the Children's Ministry building) from 12-2:30. 

We have some other fun events still in the planning, but I will discuss this with you all tomorrow and then later here on the blog.  For all these events, I'll be sure to post any info you need to know in advance (usually about a week before).  Be sure to subscribe by email to the blog so you don't miss out on information!

I hope to see you all tomorrow! 

Old School Monday, NEXT Monday, Nov 25--Traditions Day!

The Freedom From Want by Norman Rockwell

It's time for our November Old School Monday!  Our theme this time will be "Traditions," and we will be talking about family traditions, and the tradition of Thanksgiving.

When:  Monday, Nov. 25
Noon-2:00*
Where: the usual classrooms, Vintage Faith Church


*Those children who are interested may bring something to share with the group about a special family tradition they have. It does not have to be specific to Thanksgiving--any family tradition will be fun to hear about!  Those who have been working on the Book of Months might choose to bring a page from their book to share.

*Does any mom want to come prepared with a short book to read to the kids and/or a short talk about the real history of Thanksgiving/Pilgrims?  I have a book I can read, but I know some of you have researched the sometimes forgotten history of this holiday, and if any of you have a passion to share, please let me know!

*I was not planning on this being a party or special food event this time, so as always you are welcome to bring lunch for your family if that is helpful, but there is no need to bring a food treat to share. : )

Questions? As always, please leave them in the comments below, so everyone may benefit from the answers.


*please note we will have to end a little earlier than usual, because I have to get to another homeschool event by 2:30. : )

Ye Olde School Medieval Monday, NEXT week!

image (and fascinating discussion of trombones in ancient art) found here

Welcome to Ye Olde School Medieval Monday

October 28, 2013

Vintage Faith classrooms

noon - 2:30

Children are welcome to dress up in Medieval-Renaissance appropriate clothing.

Please bring a finger food item to share--we will have a Medieval feast!  *It is perfectly fine to bring food that is not historically accurate.*  We will be talking as a group about the foods they would have eaten at this time, and why, and so it is will work well if we have some foods they would not have eaten. : )   If you would like to bring a food that is more historically accurate, I have found some web pages here, here, and here for starting points.  *Whether you bring historical or modern food, please choose something that is not very messy and can be eaten with fingers.*  

Some quick food options from Medieval times:
--dark bread (rye, barley, wheat)
--cheese
--figs, dates
--apples, plums, pears
--grapes
--roasted nuts
--chocolate gold coins (for taxes ; )
--sausages
--apple cider

For extra ambiance, see if you have any wooden or metal plates or bowls to serve your foods in.

Please remember to bring plates, napkins & cups for your family.  We're striving to make our gatherings as waste-free as possible. : )

If you and your children would like, the kids can also come prepared to share a favorite book that takes place in or a historical character that lived during the Middle Ages or Renaissance periods in world history.  Each child who comes prepared will share briefly, if they desire; older kids may write and present a report if mom wants. ; )

Questions or comments?  Please leave them in the comments below, so that everyone may benefit from the discussion.

 

Old School Monday gatherings--Beginning THIS MONDAY!

Hello Vintage Homeschool Moms!  There are even more of us this year, with lots of new homeschooling families to welcome.  Becky and I have thought up a few fun events for this Fall that we want to invite all of you to.  Please pass around this info to all the homeschool moms in your circle!

Our first Old School Monday is this next Monday, Oct. 7, from  noon till 2:30.  As usual, we will meet there in the two right-hand downstairs classrooms in the Vintage Faith Children's Ministry building.  This will be our annual "back to school" share day, and our theme is "What We've Been Up To."  This is a great opportunity for your kids to prepare something to share with the group. 

Some things your kids may have been up to, that they might want to share:
--What they did this past summer
--Something they learned this week
--Something they did recently that was exciting
--Someplace they went recently

You get the idea.  There are also many ways your kids can share their information:
--They could make a display
--Or make an old-school poster board presentation
--They could write a story
--They could show some photographs
--They could write a play and act it out
--They could write an old-school report
--They could present an interpretive dance
--The new moms hopefully realize I'm joking. But yet, I'm not!
--They may do it individually
--They may collaborate with siblings or friends.

Again, you get the idea.  There is only ONE rule:  Any child who participates must have a writing element in his or her presentation.  It can be as short as a page, or paragraph, or sentence, depending upon the age of the child.  But there must be writing of some sort in the presentation.

I apologize for not posting this sooner and giving you more time to get all into it--and yet, I know most of us do these things only a few days beforehand anyway. ; ) 

So, there you go!  I hope you encourage your children to participate, if they want to.  But no one has to if they don't want to. However, any child who participates will earn a prize!

And let's make this first gathering a party!  You are welcome to bring lunch for your family, or to eat before you come--whichever is easiest for your family--but please bring one food item to share with the group.  Also, please bring your own dishware & cups. 

But of course if nothing else we hope you just bring yourself and your kids. : )


Here is roughly what Monday will look like:

12:00 - 12:30 -- arriving, setting up displays, eating lunch for those who want to bring theirs
12:30 - 1:00   -- Circle time, introductions, story
1:00 - 1:30     -- kids can share whatever they prepared (don't forget their writing!)
1:30 - 2:30     -- kids can play in the gym, moms can chat!

Hope to see you there!


The rest of the Vintage Homeschool Moms gatherings we have planned this Fall:

Monday, October 28--The Old School Medieval Monday (Middle Ages costumes optional)

Monday, November 25--The Old School Monday Timeline Day

Friday, December 20--Our Christmas Party

In the past we have had an Operation Christmas Child shoebox filling party, which would need to happen by early November.  If anyone is interested in doing this, please let me know.  The likely date of such an event would be Friday, November 8. 


Any questions or comments?  Please feel free to leave them in the comments below, so everyone may benefit from the discussion.

Old School MATH Party! This MONDAY, Jan 28

Old School Monday Math Party

Monday, January 28, 2013

11-2

Vintage Preschool classrooms

Hello everyone!

My girls all finished their math programs before Christmas, and I am so proud of them.  Per our tradition, we are going to have a Math Party to celebrate, and we want to celebrate the math accomplishments of all your kids too.

So part of our next Vintage Homeschool gathering will be all about math!  Please have your kids come with something to share (if they want) to show something they are doing in math, or something they completed in math of which they are proud.  We will have share time so everyone who wishes to share gets a turn.

We will have the gym that time too, so does anyone know of a good physical game that involves any math?  I would love it if someone knew/would lead such a game!  Send me an email or leave a comment if you are game. (Ba dum dum!)

As always, you are welcome to bring your lunch for your family.  This party you do not have to bring food to share (unless you want)--my kids will each make something to bring that represents the colors of their math book covers!  (But if your kids want to do the same, of course they are welcome to--we don't want to hinder their creativity!)

Hope to see you there!

It's the Old School Monday FALL PARTY!

Photo credit

What:     Homeschool Families Fall Party
When:    Next Monday, October 22, 11-2
Where:   Vintage Faith Church, our usual classrooms and the gym

We will start out with lunch, so please bring lunch for your families* and also one food item to share with everyone. 

Then there are two special events planned:

--Share Displays.  12-12:30.  Each child or family is welcome to create a display of something they want to share with the rest of us.  It might be what they did over the summer, or something they have been learning about that excites them.  All displays should have a writing element (which can be as simple as the child writing captions for photos, or as elaborate as descriptive paragraphs) and displays that utilize a math element (graph or chart, calculations, even simple addition that fits their topic) will receive special acknowledgement.  Prizes will be given to all participating children!  Children may set up their displays as they arrive, so families may look around and admire the kids' handiwork at any time, but we will set aside a half-hour starting at noon for the children to talk about their displays, if they wish.

--Fall Book Projects.  12:30-1:30.  I will share our next book project for the 2013 Author's Fair so anyone interested can get a head start on it with your kids, and then I will lead the kids in a guided book project on the Bill of Rights.  Any kids who are interested and who are school age are welcome to participate.

Throughout our time there, we will have plenty of time for chatting, catching up, sharing ideas, and letting the kids play!  If any parent wants to lead a game in the gym before or after our other activities, please let me know!

This is all free, and any homeschool families are welcome to join us and participate.  Please invite your friends too!


*Please remember to bring your own cups, plates, utensils, etc. We would like to make these events as waste-free as possible. Thank you!

Vintage Homeschool Moms Back to School Party!

Hello all!

So, it is that time again.  Can you believe it? I thought it would be fun again to have a party/open house to celebrate the start of the new school year.  Since most of us can no longer make Mondays, I was thinking we would have it there at church on Friday August 26th instead, at our normal time of noon-2:30. 

I am checking with the church to make sure we can use the building at that time.  But even if the church classroom is not available, let's keep the time and date on our calendars and we will make it a park date instead, ok?  Check here for any changes, but if you don't see an UPDATE to this post, that means the original plan to meet at church is a go. : )

So, either place we meet, bring a lunch for your family and a food item to share with the group! 

Also, talk to your kids about your goals for this Fall, and have each kid come up with one learning goal they have that they can share with the group (or one thing they are going to be learning about that they are excited about, like dinosaurs or handwriting or something). 

And please spread the word and invite your friends!

lisa c.

Change of normal schedule--NO OSM this Monday

Hello Moms!

Due to most of our regular families not being able to come this next Monday to our normal Old School Monday gathering, we will not have it this month. Instead, we will schedule an "End of the School Year" party for a different date!  So if any of you like this idea and want to request a certain day that works for you, please let the rest of us know in the comments, and we will get the ball rolling on that.

Sara Greco, since you will be moving away (boo!), please let us know if there is any chance you would be able to join us for one last event, and we can all say goodbye.

Hope you all have a great week.

Lisa 

Our Next OSM--let's finalize the day, please?

Hello Moms!

Our next OSM is scheduled to be at the usual 4th Monday of the month--but this month, that means we are scheduled to have it the day after Easter. 

I would like some feedback, please!  Will everyone be around and able to come that day?  It is an important gathering, as it is when we will be assembling our "What's Above" books, AND learning more about Japan.  At least, that's what we had said we might do--Laura, the books we will assemble immediately, so most of the gathering time will be available for learning.  Do you want to finish sharing your Japan studies with us that day?  If not, let me know!

So all you moms, please tell me if you would come Monday the 25th to OSM from noon to 2:30 or if we should reschedule.  Thanks!

lisa c. 

Old School Monday--THIS Monday!

Hello Vintage Moms!

Just a reminder that our next OSM gathering is this upcoming Monday, March 28 from 12-2:30 pm.  We are going to finish talking about China, and start learning about Japan--Laura is going to lead us in our Japan studies, and I think she is going to share some about the tsunami and ways we can help.  Please join us!

As always, please feel free to bring your lunch along, and since we have recently been frustrated by some of the supplies there in the classroom, we might want to bring back the Monday Boxes--everyone bringing their own craft kit with scissors, glue/gluestick, tape, markers, etc.  We will still use what the room offers, but it seems like often what we expect to find easily is nowhere in sight!  : )  I'll continue to bring the supplies we need for more specific projects.

Hope to see you all there!

lisa c.

Old School Monday pics

Old School Monday--THIS MONDAY! And its all about China

Hello Vintage Moms!

It is THAT TIME AGAIN. Can you believe it?  So this MONDAY, Feb. 28 come join us for OSM.  We are going to learn a little bit about China, hear a traditional Chinese folktale, and do a little Chinese New Year's craft, maybe do a little Tai Chi, and some of our gang will give a surprise performance! 

Time is noon to about 2:30, as is our new "usual."

TO BRING:
If you are interested in joining our Chinese studies for the day, maybe talk to your kids about China a little, and have them bring something from home that was made in China.  Bonus points to any family who brings any Chinese snacks. ; )

I just posted some fun links to things online for anyone interested.
Can't wait to see you all!  Have a great rest of your weekend.

UPDATE: Next Old School Monday--NEXT Monday!

Hello Vintage Moms!

Next OSM is planned for next Monday, Jan. 24 from noon until about 2:30. 

Please come, and invite friends!  You are welcome to bring your lunch or eat before you come, whichever is more convenient for you that day.  I have heard our new time is working well for moms who need to coordinate with morning or afternoon naps--or both--so hope to see all you moms we have not seen for a while.  No pressure, but if you read this message then we would love to have you and your kids there!

I'll have some schoolish things we can do, and of course we will provide opportunity for the kids to run around--if the weather is beautiful, maybe we will make some of it outside!  And for this time, or any time, if any of you moms have a fun schoolish thing for the kids, just let us know in the comments to any OSM post and please go ahead and bring it!  Sometimes school plans and projects work really well in a larger group setting, or will help get your kids eager about their learning, so keep OSM in mind as you make your school plans. : )

UPDATE as of Sunday afternoon:  If you Moms see this, our fun activity will be making thumbprint art!  I will provide books on this technique we can all look at, and will provide the paper and stamp pads!  (I will also bring stamp pads we can use for other valentine's cards, but will only pull them out if we think the older kids want more activity) But if you have washable ink stamp pads, I am sure they will come in handy, so please feel free to bring them.  But be sure not to dress your kids in their cutest outfits tomorrow!!!  While my stamp pads are supposedly washable ink, it never hurts to be careful. : )  And if you have some while paper you think would be good for this project that you don't mind sharing, please bring it, just so we are sure to have enough.   

This craft you can do with as you like, but if you want, turn these into Valentine's cards, and be ready for our Valentine's Day party!  I am hoping we can get the classrooms for Friday, Feb 11 for our party--keep a watch for details!
--lisa c.

Hostess needed for next Old School Monday!

Hello Vintage Moms!

We had scheduled our December OSM to be one week earlier than usual because of the Christmas week, so it is on the calendar for NEXT MONDAY, December 13.  But I will not be able to attend after all, so I am checking to see if anyone else is interested in hosting.  You would just need to get there a little early and make sure you can get in (Sharon is usually around, and there is usually someone in the office at that time) and then what you do during the time together is completely up to you!  I was planning on teaching everyone a Christmas carol and doing an easy bit of holiday art, but you could just make it a party if you want!

If no one feels up to hosting this time, that is understandable at this time of year.  We can just make our next one in Jan.  Either way, would you all please leave a comment so we know everyone is getting the information?  Thanks, and Merry Christmas everyone!

lisa c.

Old School Monday TOMORROW!

Hello Vintage Moms!

Tomorrow, OSM, rain or shine!  Lots of gym time for kids to run off the past rainy days, and a couple of fun activities for everyone!

12:30 - 2

Hope to see you there!

lisa

Old School Monday Calendar for the rest of the year!

Hi Vintage Moms!

First of all, I want to give a big hand to the couragous moms who came to our Back-to-Old-School adventure, braving temperatures up to 103 degrees to go get some good, locally-made ice cream.  (sound of me clapping vigorously.)  Seriously, Moms, we knew it was hot, but I never imagined it was THAT hot.  And we survived.  Special mention goes to the moms who pushed babies in strollers over a hill in that heat.  You rock.

I hope you can now look back and chuckle! 

We are coming up on our next OSM, and I hope to see you all there!  Do you like the new time?  Sara Greco, Lisa Lebowitz, are you able to come at the new time?  Please let me know and we can continue to adjust the time until it seems to work the best for everyone.

So here are the dates for the upcoming OSMs:

Oct. 25
Nov. 22
Dec. 20 (1 week earlier than usual because of Christmas)
Jan. 24

I'll try to post more later about my plans for this Oct. OSM, but I do have two things to say in advance:

1) If anyone has a great Fall/Harvest idea for us to study/make that day, please share it! (I have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that one of you mentioned a great fallish idea, but of course I don't remember who you were or what it was!)

2) Next time we are definitely going to have our curriculum swap!  Anything the least bit schoolish you have at home that you don't want anymore--bring it to share!  You can post here in advance if there are books you would like to sell, to see if anyone is interested.  But this is mainly for cleaning out the cupboards and passing along what you don't need--because one homeschool mom's clutter is another mom's next unit study!  ; )

Hope you are all doing well!

Lisa C.

Old School Monday--MONDAY! ; )

Hi Moms!

It's here: Our first Old School Monday of the new school year!  We are meeting this Monday, Sept. 27 at a new time: 12:30.  There were people who could not come last year when we had it in the morning, and then some people who could not come in the afternoon, so let's try this and see what we think. Here is the agenda for this Monday:

*Meet at 12:30 there at the usual classroom at Vintage.  You can choose to eat lunch before you come or bring a sack lunch for your family.

*At the beginning of the summer, I told you all that our first OSM we would do the "What I Did With My Summer Vacations" booths again--well, because of the timing of things this year, we are not going to do that after all. BUT if your child has something to share, esp. something he/she has written or made over the summer or here at the start of the school year, please bring it!  We will start off with a little Show and Tell for anyone who wants to participate. : )

*We will hang out and chat until 1:00, when we will head out on a little field trip/adventure to celebrate the start of our new school year.  We will be walking down to the little path that leads over to Harvey West, and on our way, we will stop for ice cream cones!  So bring $ for ice cream, if you want to partake, and if you don't want to, or if you come late, just meet us at Harvey West. 

*While the kids play, we moms will get to hang out!  In particular, be thinking about what you would love to see happen during our monthly OSM gatherings, and think about if there is any activity/lesson you and/or your kids would like to "host" anytime this fall.

*We'll hang out there at the park until about 2, and then we will walk back and end about 2:30 (perfect timing for those who are going on to Musical Mondays). 

So this Fall Old School Mondays will meet the 4th Monday of every month, at 12:30.  Go ahead and mark your calendars for Oct. 25 and Nov. 22.  In December, because of the holidays, we will meet on the 20th.


***If you have any curriculum or school/art supplies you no longer want hanging around your house, bring them on Monday!  We will have a homeschool stuff swap in the adjoining classroom and make sure all interested moms get to look through (without the kids hanging on you). 

****And please invite friends!