For some of you school may have already started a few weeks ago. For us, though, today is our first day back at school. We school year round, but our summer is more 'lite schooling' and we also take the month of August off so we do have a first day of school.
This is our sixth year of homeschooling, but I still have those anxious feelings of how we are going to accomplish everything that I have planned. After spending a month sleeping in and doing just about whatever you want to do, the thought of waking up at 6:00 and having demands on my time makes my stomach do flip flops. Usually we just plunge in head first on the first day of school. This year, though, I felt like we needed to get into the groove gradually. We have a lot on our plate this year academically, and I wanted time to prepare my kids for all that was ahead.
Two weeks ago we started doing Morning Time (MT). We spent an hour reading the Bible, reciting Latin conjugations, and poetry. We also took this time for read alouds, Shakespeare, Greek Mythology, and nature study. We divvied up the latter subjects so that our time wasn't totally overwhelming. This was a good time for us. We all enjoyed our Morning Time preview.
Last week, we did a preview of our workboxes. Yes, we are another family that fell into the workbox craze. My kids love these boxes. They have asked to start ahead of time with the workboxes. I used this opportunity to start up with the 3R's as well as the fun things that I put in the boxes. We upped our learning time that week with both MT and workboxes.
This week, we will go whole hog with MT, basics, and workboxes as well as our unit studies for science and history. I don't think it will require much acclimation, though, as we have slowly eased our way into our routine. I think we will handle every oncoming school year in this manner. It just makes life a lot easier. I haven't had any moments of anxiety this year trying to figure how we are going to schedule it all in. Due to doing things slowly, I already know how we are going to manage time-wise. I like that feeling.
Julia lives on the Canadian Prairie with her husband, homeschooling their 3 children (10,8,6) and is attempting to give them a Classical Education.
Comments
Workboxes
2:35 PM, Aug. 31, 2009, posted by Anonymous
Can you explain what workboxes are?
workboxes?
2:44 PM, Aug. 31, 2009, posted by Anonymous
I'd like to know what workboxes are, too!
Untitled Comment
We like to ease back into school too.
Workboxes
9:02 PM, Aug. 31, 2009, posted by Anonymous
Workboxes are a visual version of a written list. There are many different variations. Many people use plastic shoeboxes--one shoebox for each activity. I use the workboxes for the 3r's plus the fun stuff. So one box might have their math book, box #2 might have an art activitiy, box #3--grammar, etc. This has changed our learning time as it keeps all of my children occupied and it also helps them to be more independent. Written lists don't work for us but the boxes do. I can't remember the website of the original idea but if you Google Sue Patrick's Workbox system I think you will find it.
Blessings,
Julia
