We are into our 5th week of school, and I have to say that this is better than I had even hoped.  I have changed some things around already, but we are in a good routine and having minimal frustrations by my oldest.

First thing in the morning the kids come downstairs dressed (WOO HOO!) and make themselves breakfast.  My older two, Austin (10) and Nathan(8), make breakfast of either eggs or oatmeal.  I love this!

Then we start our school day.  I make every effort to begin by 9 am.  Austin and Nate work independently (or with minimal help) on grammar and spelling.  Austin will do spelling first, then grammar  -  and Nate does the opposite.  When they are done with those 2 things, they spend 20 minutes reading independently.  I really like having this time with the younger two, Adam(6) and Lauren(4).  I can do almost everything I want/need to with them in that amount of time.

After our Language Arts we most often break out Story of the World.  We are reading through the 3rd book now.  I sit on the couch - and the kids all sit around our coffee table and color their notebooking pages.  All 4 are LOVING the history.  I cannot tell you how much I hated history in school - so Story of the World has seriously rocked my world!  We spend a good amount of time making notebook pages about what we have read, doing map work, occasionally doing activities. 

Then it's time for lunch.

After lunch we generally spend some time on math as a family.  I plan on making a blog entry completely devoted to our math.  I have searched high and low for a math program that was interesting enough for us, wasn't workbooky, and was fun.  I decided to not use one - and the kids are really making progress, and I can actually track their progress and work on skills where they may be lacking/struggling. 

Then we are done for the day. Most often before 1 pm we are completed.  I feel good about how much we are completing - and feel that we are making progress.  Both of which have stressed me out in prior years.  We are adding in Latin soon - but it will be in the morning lineup in with other Language Arts. 

I forgot to mention that we will be alternating Science with History as soon as I get our new Science book.  I can't wait.

I do need to get more art and music in.  I used to teach music, and I am honestly ashamed that I haven't done more music education wise.  BUT... we are starting piano lessons with my oldest two.  Austin has expressed an interest in playing flute, so he may be getting a flute for the holidays.  We'll see how he does with practicing the piano on a regular basis.

I hope to blog a little more often.  My goal is to blog about a serious to me topic once a week.  My first one is going to be all about how we are doing math.  I seriously think this is a fun, unique, effective way.  ;)