Our Busy Little World
Aug. 10, 2006 - Autumn School Plans
Wow, I've tried to post this entry three times and it keeps freezing up on me, and erasing! So if my thoughts seem scattered, it must be that my brain is weary of typing the same thing! Let's see if this works . . .
I've just finished making plans for our first semi-official year of homeschooling. I do say semi-official because Isabelle will just be four this year, and as such I don't need to worry about any huge academic expectations. I'm also relaxing more as I learn how much little ones pick up on their own or almost on their own at these ages - Isabelle can read three letter words (with short vowel sounds) pretty consistently, knows lots of "math" from discussing daily life, and has just taught herself to draw all kinds of letters and pictures! This year is kind of a trial run to get used to having more school times throughout our days. Anyway, back to my plans. I'm hoping to use eight months out of the year, four days a week for the majority of our schooling, to go along with Matt's schedule rotations and work weeks. This will leave us the last month of Spring and all of summer to relax, read of course, and work on other projects. I think this will work great for our family! I don't have much actual "curriculum" this year, as I don't think I need too much yet, but we do have lots of wonderful books to explore! We use repitition a lot - reading the same books many times - the girls come to love them and learn their content well. On the four days Matt's working, we'll have school in the times listed below. On his days off, we'll use those same times for our housecleaning, and playing outside as the weather permits. Here's what my plan is looking like so far (and of course I'll just tweak it if needed, as we go along):
0630-0800 - my time to wake, dress, nurse and feed Juliette, read and pray, eat breakfast (I'd get too dizzy if I waited for the girls), and get the girls' vitamins and breakfasts ready.
0800 - munchkins up and dressed, teeth and hair brushed, etc. Morning chores: BELLE: fold pjs and make beds HANNAH: put laundry from hampers down the chute. Belle can serve herself and her sisters some cheerios if they finish early.
0830 - Girls eat while I read the story from Veritas Press Old Testament Bible/History cards. I'll read the same story each day for a week, so they remember it. We'll also talk about the habit we're practicing that week (ie: looking people in the eyes when you're conversing, responding politely to questions, chewing like a lady, etc).
0900 - ME: tidy up kitchen and start laundry BELLE: tidy up under table with broom or vaccuum HANNAH AND NAOMI: play with dollies and strollers JULIETTE: down for morning nap.
0930 - play together with all the girls; practice playing kindly
1000-1100 - School time in the living room. The girls will rotate between snuggling on my lap and playing on one of the two carpets with preschool toys on them (puzzles, counting bears, cutting food set, etc). I will read:
*A few pages of our little history books (The Beautiful Girlhood library from vision forum), while the girls also can dress their dollies in the matching "historical" outfit.
*whichever special book we're looking at that particular day of the week (rotating between Johannah Bluedorn's "The Story of Mr. Pippin", "My Mommy, My Teacher", "Little Bitty Baby Learns Hebrew" and our little science books together: "Animal Babies In Ponds And Rivers" and "Are You A Ladybug?")
*Some books of the girls' choice from the bookshelf: story books, baby books for the little ones, old favorites like "Little Bear", etc.
1100 - ME: nurse Juliette and make lunch BELLE AND HANNAH: tidy up preschool toys, then alternate playing with blocks and lincoln logs, and playing with the dollhouse NAOMI: play in playpen.
1130 - eat lunch with all the girls, then read our memorizing passage till they know it (we did the ten commandments and Deut. 6 for awhile, so this fall we'll work on shorter NT passages that help with what they're working on character-wise; ie: I Corinthians 13 passage on love). Also talk about whatever "healthy and safe" habit we're practicing (like washing hands, etc).
1200 - ME: tidy up from lunch BELLE: tidy under table HANNAH AND NAOMI: alternate playing with blocks or dollhouse, Hannah can hang out on counter if she'd like. JULIETTE can hang out in her chair or the playpen.
1230 - play time all together!
100- Naomi to bed (or can join us if she's not seeming tired yet) then school in the school room. Girls rotate between the magna-doodle and it's accessories and an art project (stickers, scissors, crayons, paper, etc) or my lap whilst I read:
*One portion of Psalm 119 or one of our Johannah Bluedorn illustrated Psalm books (I have it planned out so we'll read through the entirety of Ps. 119 through the year - each portion for a week, and have the illustrated books in between)
*A chapter or so of our longer books (Mario, A Belizean Boy, Rosa Of Linden Castle, and Teddy's Button)
*A couple little books of the girls' choice, if we have time
*Practice letter sounds with Belle (aka phonograms), and "play" practicing letter sounds with Hannah, as she likes to do what her big sister does!
200- Hannah and Juliette to bed. Isabelle and I fold laundry together then do the Penny Primer (the first little reading lesson in the TATRAS set) and perhaps try to "read" a little book together (I have the Veritas Press reading primers, the McGuffey's and the Rod & Staff ones - Isabelle has lots of special books!)
230- "Drawing With Children" for me and Isabelle to learn to draw together!
300 - Isabelle goes to bed. I can read my Bible if I didn't in the morning. Thursdays this is my "phone date" time with one of my best home-teaching friends, Christine, in California.
330-430- my free or project time: can research, work on projects, read, bake bread if needed, blog of course, rest, etc . . . Nurse Juliette when she wakes up.
430ish - get the girls up, snuggle in Belle's bed and read a bit of "Little Pilgrim's Progress", then defrost meat, play outside if time.
5ish - I start dinner, making phone calls as needed. Girls all have chair time in the kitchen.
530ish - Finish dinner and set table. Girls practice standing time. Sing songs, and Isabelle can help with setting the table and getting bibs snapped on.
6ish - eat dinner with all
645ish- I tidy up dishes BELLE: pjs on then play with daddy HANNAH: garbage can job then play with daddy NAOMI AND JULIETTE: with daddy, he get's pjs on (isn't he great?).
715ish - Family Worship
8ish - Naomi and Juliette to bed. One chapter of "Little Pilgrim's Progress" with the older girls if we didn't get to it before. Bless and tuck girls.
830-1030 (at which point I will hopefully get to bed on time!) - free time with Matt, since he'll be on day shift 
- we can read, blog, listen to sermons, watch a movie, snuggle, etc, etc, etc . . .
"School plans" for me include re-reading through Teaching The Trivium with the Basically Bluedorn discussion group :-)
School plans for Matt are that he has officially applied to Whitefield College - a reformed Christian school where he can use distance learning to work toward his goal of a bachelor's in education, then his goal of entering Greyfriar's Hall!
Well, I think that's it for now- it feels so nice to have a plan. We're all so excited for autumn to come, for many, many reasons! In case you didn't know, it's my FAVORITE season, hence why it is Isabelle's middle name!
Comments
Aug. 10, 2006 - Thanks for sharing...
Posted by luvmy4kids
your schedule! It is always nice to peek into the day of others who have little ones. I don't know how I could make it without a plan!
Aug. 10, 2006 - That's great.
Posted by OnlyByGrace
My little ones are getting so big now and I just love reading about other little ones and their progress. Boy does time fly. Just yesterday my oldest was 2....no he is going to be 17 this month. :) Time flys and it is a joy to read your blog and watch your progress. God Bless.
-Pam
Aug. 10, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Tiany
Loved your post and peeking ionto your Fall schedule! I have been blessed with a few of your ideas and will take them with me if thats ok :-)
Blessings to you and yours!
Tiany
Aug. 11, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by mamaduso
Oh my goodness. I am tired. You do so well. I was never nearly that purposeful in raising my toddlers. I barely survived it!LOL
Susan
Aug. 12, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by teena6
Where did you find My Mommy My Teacher? I guess I could google it but wanted to let you know I LOVE your blog. I love your schedule. WE have olders but I am doing stuff with my littles similar to yours.
I love your "tea time" with your friend and I have a friend like that in Texas. Maybe we need to do something like this.... even once every two weeks. I miss her so.
blessings,
Teena
Aug. 12, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by TwaddleMeNot
Thanks for the encouragement, ladies! Of course, Tiany - please feel free to use whatever ideas will work with your family. Teena, "My Mommy, My Teacher" is written by Johannah Bluedorn, and you can get it at a bunch of places including their website. The Bluedorn's website is www.triviumpursuit.com
