Well here it goes: A week in the Turner's Homeschool
(2nd grader, 1st grader and a pre-K'er...using Sonlight Curriculm w/ a bunch of add in's)
I would love to tell you that I rise at 5:20 am to go to the gym (like I actually used to do!) but right now I'm allowing myself to sleep in till 7:30am- yes I am awoken by the children...I realy dont like it that way but that's just the way it's been going (ok...I've gotten in the bad habit of staying up too late! Im working on fixing that problem:)
7- 7:30am- kids wake up, wake eachother up, crawl into my bed and tell me to get up :)
while I get ready and make breakfast and very strong coffee, they watch PBS kids.
Breakfast/ Read-a -louds
Once Breakfast is on the table and coffee is inhaled I call them in to eat and start our day.
While they are seated and eating I know I have their full attention so this is actually where I get a good chunk of our 'schooling' done.
We go over our scripture verse of the week, I read them a passage out of their children's Bible and then a piece of children's poetry. For history we are reading a book on missionaries- I read that to them and then a page of Osborne Time Traveler's. By this time the 4 year old has had enough and I let him leave the table but the older two stay for one more read aloud. That would be a chapter out of our current 'chapter book' ('Dr. Dolittle' right now)
When breakfast and read-a-louds are done, I clean up the kitchen and the kids get dressed and brushed.
4 and 6 yr. old are then able to play the leapster, take turns on a phonics computer game, or just free-play- while 7yr. old practices his violin for 15 min. with me.
When violin is done 7yr old is then free- while I call in 4 yr old to do phonics with me on the bed,
we then go to the table to learn to write letters, numbers, shapes, mazes, and other pre-K types of fun stuff. This only takes 10-15 total.
Now on Mondays- I would show a Science dvd and then read a science book and do a science activity/ experiment.
On Tuesdays- we look at an Art book and then do some type of art lesson or craft
Once a week I still leave open to actaully go out and do something- like a playdate, a museum, library, appts, or claim it as a 'stay home day' when the morning routine is done and they are playing good together I just let them play until lunch- other times when they seem bored I start them on their individual afternoon school work early.
Lunch-
Again, I take advantage of the fact that their mouths are full of food and they are quiet and I will read either their chapter book, science or history while they are eating lunch.
After lunch 4 yr old goes down for a nap.
I work with 6 yr. old at the table while 7yr. old reads his book on the couch for 15 min. and then is free to use computer.
6 yr old at table still needs me w/ her...she does phonics/reads to me, then math, a little Language arts instruction, handwritng, copy work, and a couple pages out of a 1st grade work book.
6yr old then naps or plays in her room quietlty
7 yr old then comes to the table.
He does his 'independent work' while I make tea, pick up the house and get dinner prepped if needed. He does math, cursive workbook, and copywork by himself. I check it and then we have tea & a snack together. (maybe my favorite part of the day?)
I then do spelling with him, Language arts instuction, and go over money & time.
He is very focused and can whiz through it all except language arts....he doesnt like to write and get creative- so that is where I spend most of my time w/ him.
By 3:30 the other kids are up and they have a snack.
I put on 'Liberty Kids' (history movie) or let them pick out a DVD or play Wii while I check mail and emails (ok maybe FB too.)
Tuesdays we go to Ballet/ grochery store @ 4:15 otherwise I will start dinner and again....clean up the house.
Thursdays- I try to cram all of the above into the AM only- which is do-able if I skip
4 yr old pre-K and Language arts w/ older kids.
6 yr old goes to weekly occupational therapy in the afternoon and then 7 yr old goes to violin lessons.
Fridays- I do just the basics - reading , math, maybe copywork...after lunch we go to our weekly Homeschool Group from 1-3 (60 something kids! It's a really fun group:)
Once a month the kids go to a homeschooler's Nature Club on Mon. afternoons
and 7yr old goes to a Homeschooler's Lego Club ( how fun does that sound!) on the 1st Friday AM of every month.
Sometimes I feel like I'm running on a treadmill all day (without the benefit of calorie buring) and worry that Im not giving my children the best...and other days I look around (sometimes I have to look hard through the forts and mess) and can litteraly be brought to tears by the joy I find in raising these kids and teaching them to learn, create and love.
As crazy as it can get, I still want to freeze these days in time...
