Well, at Gena's request, I've decided to share a bit on how we traipse down the homeschooling path.  Each day is different, I assure you.  But we do try to adhere to a general routine. 

     After morning chore duties have been accomplished and Queen Mommy has started a load of laundry, we all convene in our little "school room" for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by singing "My Country Tis of Thee."  A few stretches, then we settle down to listen to our Bible passage for the morning.  I found that by having everyone take turns reading our selection (We've been in 2 Samuel lately) I can accomplish some of their reading aloud for the day.  Sometimes I just read it all or have Connor read if I want to sail through quickly.  After a prayer for the day, for good learning attitudes and diligent spirits, we practice our Scripture memorization.  The littlest ones have some puzzles and activities to keep their hands busy.  Sophie loves to draw while she listens. 

Next everyone begins their seatwork...math, handwriting, spelling, and grammar as I float among them helping as needed.  I found that doing math with a 1st and 2nd grader at the same time was a little too demanding, so I make sure they are staggered for that so I can explain things to one child, while the other is accomplishing things that are easier to do without Mom's help.  My fourth grader is so independent, he wanders off to a corner and tackles his subjects quite diligently usually.  He uses Rod and Staff English Grammar and Singapore Math.  As one finishes, he or she is given toddler duty and relishes the "break" to go help take care of  little ones by playing with them. 

Mid to late morning, I like to take a break and get everyone outside for some fresh air and playtime.  Bikes, trampoline, checking out the spring bulbs, tricks with the dog...PE, right? 

 

Our trailer-rig! 

Connor likes to practice riflery with his BB gun.

After lunch, I read to Jamie (3) and Suza (1) and then put them down for their naps.  Now we can get to the MEAT and potatoes of our schooltime that we all enjoy...our read-alouds, history, and botany.  I've been a dedicated Sonlight user.  We're enjoying Apologia's new elementary science books by J. Fulbright.  Usually we pile on Mommy's four-poster bed while the afternoon sun streams in the window.  The kids draw or read along at my shoulder.  After reading botany or history, they often make a page for their notebook to record what they learned that day.  I do a little phonics with Sophie from An Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading by Wise and Buffington.  S. loves the activities in it.  I have M. read out loud to me from the Sonlight 2nd readers.  

At this point, Mom the director of events, is feeling quite drowsy and usually begins to doze on aforementioned bed while the children supposedly have "quiet read and rest."   

Finishing up their botany pages...on nonvascular plants today! 

Looking up locations of various countries from our WWI studies.
Some of this year's great books!

Our supply nook.

I have our timeline up in the dining room.  It didn't fit in the library. 

Field trips to town are always relished.  We love to get to the library and then walk down the street for ice cream at Sherer's. 

  Hope you enjoyed a peek into our homeschooling days!

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Posted by amada

That is a really cool summary of your homeschool day. It sounds like you have things under control and running smoothly! You're kids look like they actually enjoy school. Way to go. Great pictures too.

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Posted by blessedmom3

Thanks for letting me peek into your homeschool. Your kids are so cute. I love seeing all those books in the background too.
I am leaning towards using Sonlight again. My oldest would be doing Core 200- yikes and I'd combine my other 2 children doing Core 3 ( which I already have the books).
Blessings, Cheryl

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Posted by grace4gayle

it's nice to know that another mommy gets that nappy feeling too! I also use sonlight (this is my first year) and I absolutely love it. I like the no-prep and all the cuddles while we do the read alouds.

Gayle

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Posted by quietcajun

I loved reading and seeing your pictures about your homeschool day! What a fabulous photo essay!

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Posted by chickadee

what a great look into your homeschool day! we do our big stuff during nap time too.

i love the little pull along seat for the toddler behind the tricycle. where did you find that?

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Posted by Coopers4Him

We also use Sonlight and I just got JF's Astronomy book for next year.
~Terese
ps: Your children are beautiful!

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Posted by mominpa

I enjoyed seeing your 'life' in action.

I really enjoyed how you start your days...I am going to try to implement that..(the flag, song, and stretching...GREAT IDEAS!! We have the flag hanging, but we don't follow through like we should!

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Posted by sonshine4u

Thanks for the fun peak in your homeschool routine. I have been trying to figure out what curriculum to use for next year and was thinking about doing Sonlight, I also am curious about the J. Fulbright science and we are currently using the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading....Sounds like we are on the same page with things!
Do you use Sonlight for all the grammar, reading, writing and math? or do you just use it for history? This is all new to me and my oldest will be in 2nd grade next year...middle in K and youngest...pre-k.I tried using the Story of the World for our history...but we weren't very inspired. Any feed back would be most helpful! :)

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Posted by CTdittmar

In answer to your Language arts & math questions. We have used Sonlight for language arts in the past, but this year we did not. M & S (1st and 2nd) have been in Abeka's Language books. For Sonlight's LA, they have you buy a spelling workbook, vocab (optional) Explode the Code (which we've continued) and then they have LA activity sheets from which your child copies or is read a dictation sentence to write. Then the next day they do activities with that sentence, such as re-writing it, finding the nouns, underlining verbs, circling things. So each day reviews a number of different grammar concepts. They also use grammar songs in one of the years (LA 3 I think?) which was fun and comes with activities. I switched to the more traditional grammar book (Rod and Staff) for Connor that is more like what I taught out of when I taught school. It's just more familiar and methodical to me, though Sonlight's is very thorough...just a different approach. Sonlight's LA program early on k-2 I think offers sight-word Bingo and some other games with phonics like GO A-Z, that are a real fun addition to the week's schooling. Sonlight sells 3 or 4 different math curriculums rather than publishing their own as Abeka does. They offer Saxon, Singapore, Horizons and Miquon with a write-up on the pros and cons of each. The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer has an excellent review of math programs as well which also mentions Math U See. We've been very happy with Singapore.

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Posted by Happyhome

It is always such fun to see how other families spend their days. Thanks for sharing yours.

Blessings,

Angela

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Posted by PreschoolersandPeace

Hey! We have that same palm tree wallpaper in our laundry room! And where did you get that darling trailor for your trike? There's a two-year-old here who would love taking rides in one of those.

Thanks for sharing,
Kendra

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Posted by WaitingontheLord

Thanks so much for sharing all of that!

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Posted by TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS

I enjoyed reading about your homeschool day!
Thanks for sharing,
Maria

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Posted by nsremom

Loved reading this and seeing your lovely pictures. Your son with his BB gun looks so serious. If only my boy and yours could lollygag around our property toting their BB guns. I have NO friends who have given their sons the gift of a BB gun. In fact, my sister in law thinks I'm nuts. Oh Well. To each his own! I appreciate the responsibility it brought to him. He's as serious as can be when he's holding it!

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Posted by dawilli

Thanks for sharing that great sneak peak into your days, it sounds great. It's fun to hear how others do it. Our schedule seems to always be changing, but we try to get thru the basics most every day...
Enjoy the spring,
ali

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Posted by SupComTabz

those pics are so adorable

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