Daily School Schedule

1.       Morning Prayers*

                   Monday - Thursday:  Rosary

                   Friday:  Stations of the Cross

2.       Saint of the Day*

3.       Pledge of Allegiance/Calendar*

4.       Religion       

                   a.  Aubrey - Kindergarten Catechism

                   b.  Alexis - Our Holy Faith, Grade 3

                   c.  Abigail - Faith & Life 5

5.       Arithmetic

                   a.  Aubrey - Counting with Numbers

                   b.  Alexis - Rod & Staff

                   c.  Abigail - Rod & Staff

6.       Spelling/Phonics(Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

                   a.  Aubrey - Little Angel Reader A

                   b.  Alexis - Rod & Staff Spelling

                   c.  Abigail - Rod & Staff Spelling

7.       Penmanship (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

                   a.  Aubrey - Copywork

                   b.  Alexis - Rod & Staff Penmanship

                   c.  Abigail - Rod & Staff Penmanship

8.       Grammar (Tuesday, Thursday)

                   a.  Aubrey - Poetry Memorization

                   b.  Alexis - First Language Lessons - Level 3

                   c.  Abigail - FLL - Level 3

9.       Reading

                   a.  Aubrey - Storytime

                   b.  Alexis - Independent Reading/Read Aloud to Mom

                   c.  Abigail - Independent Reading/Read Aloud to Mom

10.     History (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 

                   a.  Aubrey - Free Time

                   b.  Alexis - How Our Nation Began

                   c.  Abigail - My World of Neighbors

11.     Science (Tuesday, Thursday)

                   a.  Aubrey - Science & Living in God's World - K

                   b.  Alexis - Exploring God's World

                   c.  Abigail - Concepts & Challenges in Science Book 1      

12.     Read Aloud Time (Afternoon Snack)*

Working the Schedule

At the beginning of every class, I get everyone seated and ready, set a timer for 20 minutes and then Abby and Alexis work on their own.  I work with Aubrey at this time.  At the end of the 20 minutes (or less depending on the subject) Aubrey is allowed to go play.  Then for the next 10 minutes or so, I work with Alexis, then she is dismissed to play with Aubrey.  For another 10 minutes I work with Abigail and then she is allowed to go play.  Then we take a break.  I set the timer for 10 minutes so I don't let the time get away from me.  The ten minutes or so is enough time to fold a load of laundry, make a quick phone call or pay a bill or two.  When the timer goes off we start another academic period all over again.  I learned of this method from the Classical Conversations Foundations Guide.   Although I do not follow their curriculum guide, this method of scheduling has been very helpful to me. 

Today was our first day of school.  Phewww!  This year is very different because my oldest daughter is in college and I'm only homeschooling three!  I decided to be much more structured this year than I have in the past.  I wrote the following schedule out for the girls so they would know what to expect.  They loved the structure and there is plenty of "wiggle" time built in.

Morning Meeting:  Morning Prayers, Pledge, Devotions, and Friendly Defender Flash Cards 

Math

Break

Spelling and Writing

Break/Snack

Grammar

Reading

Break

Lunch/Break

History (M,W,F) or Science (T,TH)

Art or Music or Baking or Quilting or Nature Study

We started school today at 9:30 and we finished around 2:30.  We took an hour and a half off for lunch too!

"Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours." 2 Thess. 2:15

I am glad to be back to blogging, finally!  We survived the "Nutcracker Season" for another year, had a wonderful and blessed Christmas and are settling nicely into the rhythm of the new year. 

This May we will have our first homeschool graduate!  Our oldest daughter will finish her homeschool studies at the end of April and celebrate with a cruise to Cozumel.  Guess who the lucky parent is who gets to go along?  Yep, that would be me!  Our homeschool co-op plans a trip each year for interested seniors and each student must be accompanied by a parent.  Dear husband has graciously volunteered to be "left behind" and entertain the younger set (We have 3 other daughters ages 9, 7 and 4).  I am looking forward to spending this time with my oldest girl before she begins a new chapter in her life.

This year's studies have gotten off to a very good start.  After 10 years of curriculum schizophrenia   I have finally found what works for US.  We have a core curriculum consisting of Latin, Spelling, Arithmetic, Music.  These are our "must-do" subjects and are done each day without exception (along with our Morning Meeting).   The resources for these subjects are:

Latin:  Latina Christiana I & Ludere Latine

Spelling:  Spelling through Copywork (I can't remember the exact title of the book but it is available through Queen Homeschool Supplies.

Arithmetic:  Rod & Staff Workbooks & Ray's Arithmetic (for mental math)

Music:  We are learning to play the recorder.  We use the Recorder Method for Young Beginners Book 1.   I saw this book mentioned on Linda Fay's fabulous blog  "Higher Up and Further In".  It is great!  It comes with a CD for independent practice.  I only do one lesson a week with them and then the rest of the week they practice their song with the CD.  The girls enjoy it very much.

We listen to and sing with our "Wee Sing America" tape (which I have had for years!)  I think it is important for the girls to learn patriotic songs and memory gems from our country's history.  We listen to this every day during our morning meeting time.

We also are doing a variation of "Composer Study".  Last year I bought the CD, "Classical Music for Children".  Included with the CD was a list of activities to go with each piece of music.  For example, last week we listened to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart.  The girls had to walk to the time of the music with a beanbag on their head without dropping it!  Lots of fun and laughter. 

Wow! I've written alot!  Tomorrow I will post about our Morning Meeting and our weekly studies.

Have a blessed day!

Debbie

Mom to 4 girls!