A Day In the Life

Each year our school routines change, and so I like to document what a typical day looks like every so often.  Here's a look at how things are going this year (including some repeat pictures because they demonstrate well).

Mornings: The kids take every chance they get to read between morning tasks.  It's our family's form of distraction.  Ha ha!  Any number of times each day I start a sentence with, "You may not read until..."

Right now our morning routine includes (besides snatches of reading moments): Dressing/ grooming, breakfast, making beds, morning chores (dishes for Logan and Annie, and usually laundry for me), personal scripture study (me, Logan, Annie), and I try to squeeze in a workout for myself.

We often cuddle in the mornings (still) and I don't like to rush, so we generally aim to start kidschool around 10 or 10:30am.  This gives us plenty of time for our morning tasks, plus extra (for reading, right?).

This year, I've taken to writing our kidschool schedule out on a whiteboard each day.  It doesn't actually change anything we do, but it's made a surprising difference with the kids.  I can tell them what is planned, but SEEING it seems to make them believe me or something. They pretty much always want to do what is planned, but before I was writing things out they'd misbehave and we'd waste a lot of time working on being nice to each other.  Then we often didn't have time for the final activity (I generally save the best one for last).  Now they stay focused on wanting to do everything on the list, so they cooperate with each other better.

Here's our general kidschool schedule:
-Family devotional (prayer, scriptures, songs, articles of faith, pledge of allegiance)
-3-5 Learning activities (one of which is almost always read aloud time)
     *Recent Example: Math Riddles, Doctor Doolittle Read Aloud, Human Body Book, Personal Goal Time
     *Another Recent Example: Story Game (write a sentence, pass, write a sentence, pass, etc...FUN writing practice), Alex Choose a Read Aloud Story, Logan Choose a Non Fiction Read Aloud (he chose a long book about Ellis Island this last time), Annie Choose a Math Activity

Some of the regular personal goals the kids are working on are: Book It! (below Logan is showing how he read the unabridged '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' for that goal), Cub Scouts, Faith In God, and dance.  They also set shorter term goals as they determine other things they want to work on.

 I don't tend to take pictures during kidschool much, but here's an example of what Alex might choose when it's his turn to select read alouds.  He almost always has a stack of books next to him (he even sleeps with a large stack of books).

For math activities, we continue with our 5 A day reviews as needed, use manipulatives to learn new concepts (i.e. Legos for division recently), use math riddle books that take us through a variety of concepts in a fun way (and give word problem practice), play math games, and hash out concepts as needed (rare because we can usually learn each concept by manipulation or through a game).  Annie and Logan are working at about the same level this year, but they both have their strengths in this area.  Alex is gaining confidence with counting and continues to show us that he understands numbers (even if he forgets their names and orders...ha ha!).  He joins us for activities that include concepts such as multiplication and division, and continually shows that he understands HOW it works.  In this picture, he is playing with a 'Perplexus' that Logan received for Christmas; he LOVES this toy and we've discovered that it is a fantastic way to practice counting.  Each obstacle has a number all the way through 125, so we count as he goes through.

This picture is hilarious, so I've included it.  Annie sometimes practices her tap and ballet dances during 'Personal Goal Time'.  This day she tied toilet paper on her ankles in order to practice with 'tap bows'.  Ha ha!

We study science, history, and social sciences largely through our read alouds and discussions, but we sometimes find ways of making these areas more hands on.  We gave the kids a 'Human Body Book' for Christmas that included the pieces to create a human model.  The kids couldn't agree if our model should be male or female so they chose a name that could be either.  Behold Aaron/ Erin!

We also include fine motor/ exploration activities such as painting, drawing, other art, puzzles, cooking, and logic games during our week. 

 After kidschool we generally clean up and then have free time (during which Abby naps and the others read, play, or pursue other interests) until dinner.  After dinner, we have family time as many evenings as possible.

I asked the kids to pose for this picture to show that they'd done a fine job with their cleaning (after the house had been DESTROYED), and much to my surprise Abby joined in.

This is the BEST picture I have of my four kids; Abby always resists!

Family Reading Culture

One of my FAVORITE things about homeschooling is our family's reading culture.  It's something we've nurtured intentionally, and it never gets old.  These kids read ALL THE TIME, and I can't get enough.  Every morning I come downstairs to see them reading while they wait for breakfast, and it just makes my heart happy.  As they read throughout the day, I continue to rejoice.  It is wonderful on so many levels.

They learn so much from everything they read.  I'm a firm believer in letting them read at all levels from quality books.  We seek to have quality books of all levels in our home.  There is something to be gained from a great book no matter what age it's aimed at.  There are story books that speak strongly to me, as well as heavy adult literature (War and Peace for example), and everything in between.  I think it's about what is gained.  A quote attributed to Mortimer Adler says, "In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you."  That's exactly how I feel.

Recently, I decided to take pictures of their many reading positions in just one morning.  I love how this (unintentionally) shows the many levels of reading they experience on a regular basis.  It's also a VERY typical morning around here.

Story books.

Logan moved onto a history book maybe?

Next I found him getting warm (the vent blows from under that cabinet) while reading '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'.

Annie moved onto something longer (Mrs. Piggle Wiggle maybe?).

After breakfast, Abby joined her sister.

Alex grabbed his own stack of books while waiting for Annie and Logan to finally eat breakfast and complete their morning work.

Logan decided to get dressed and then eat while continuing his book from before.  (I often have to tell the kids to take their books off of the table so we can finish meals.)

After he finished his morning work, he moved onto a science book while waiting for kidschool to start.

Abby also continued to look at books while waiting for everyone.

This is from another day, but I include it because it shows another aspect of our reading culture.  They see reading as a fun activity to do together.  Although they have very individual personalities and enjoy very different types of books, they still love to read together.  Annie especially loves to read story books out loud to Alex; they sit together with a stack of books almost every afternoon.

School Fun

January was WONDERFUL!  After a month of viruses, pregnancy issues (normal ones), car craziness (see our family blog), and holidays it felt SO good to have school as normal.  I was an especially wonderful momma because I included several messy activities during the month, including at least FOUR paint days (we're usually doing pretty good if we have TWO for the WHOLE year) one of which used permanent ACRYLIC paint.  Oh yeah!  Here are some of our more fun/ artsy activities from last month.

Abby has loved being included with her own activities.

Annie painted some sun catchers.

Alex made a birdhouse.

Everyone moved onto watercolor at some point the same day.

Abby loves to color.

 Logan made a goal to read the unabridged version of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' this month.  It was a good challenge for him, but he did it!

 Abby posed for a picture because she always wants to be included.

 Alex painted his birdhouse on another day, and apparently I failed to take a finished picture.

More suncatcher art.

Logan did some experiments with a rock kit.

Aquadoodle on another day.

Mid-January I found a gingerbread man kit at the store for $1.  Gingerbread decorating/ building is one of my favorite Christmas activities, and one that we missed out on this year.  So I bought the kit and we decorated gingerbread men during school one day.

Abby just wanted to eat the one she and I made.

Another fun activity was building a human body model while learning about our bodies.  Meet Aaron/Erin whose gender changes based on which child you talk to.

Being INTENTIONAL With Education

There are many ways to give our children an education, and what is best for each family will take many forms.  I believe it is important for ALL parents to intentionally seek what is best for their own children.  Needs, abilities, and resources vary greatly.  With that being said, and without being an expert, I'd like to suggest two things to all parents in order to honestly make/ confirm (if your children are already school age) this important decision.

Take an inventory and do some research. 

By an inventory, I mean ask yourself three honest questions. 

1.  'What are the most important things I want for my child/ children?'  Look at ALL aspects of life.  My answers to this question for my kids include things like love for their Savior, strong family relationships, good work ethics, and a love of learning.  Actually, those are my top four.  Put your answers in order so you can see what your priorities are. 

2.  'What do I want to see academically for my child/ children?' or 'What do I think he/ she/ they should learn?'  For each, answer 'Why is this important?' and then prioritize that list.  Be sure to answer 'why' for each thing.  If you find that your honest answer is because you feel some sort of pressure from the 'experts' or the world around you and you don't have another good reason, be willing and ready to evaluate/ research if that thing IS important or not; then decide for yourself.  Really focus on your child's strengths, weaknesses, interests, and learning style(s) when you do this part.

Part of mine looks something like this: Love to learn because if they love it, they will do it willingly, continually, and they will learn so much more.  Be allowed to go at their own pace because that will make it a happy experience and, in truth, I can't actually MAKE them learn very much.  Learn to read because books allow them to learn just about everything.  Learn certain life skills (i.e. cooking) because I believe it's important to contribute to the family and I want them to be able to take care of their own families someday. 

3. 'What would the good and bad aspects of 'X type of education' be for my family?'  Make a list for each and consider things like academics, family relationships, friendships, work, play, ethics, and morals.  Look at your previous priority lists for some guidance on this.  I've found that focusing on my top priorities tends to help things fall in place.

If your inventory leads to a private or public option for education, research that.  There are many types of schools available.  Be sure that you are doing what is best for YOUR family considering all factors.  There may be groups (i.e. facebook, yahoo, local parent groups, etc.) dedicated to supporting these options.  Educate yourself on what will be taught in 'X' school and others' experiences with it.

Now, if your inventory leads you to consider homeschooling, let's talk about some research.  You might be thinking: 'How do I do this?',  ' CAN I do this?', 'I don't know where to start!'  It's scary to take the road less travelled, especially for the first time.  Actually, I'm convinced that is THE hardest part about homeschooling, at least for many. 

While I believe strongly in the method I use, I recommend reading about multiple methods to see which ones will best fit with the priorities you've identified in your inventory.  There are so many ways to go about homeschooling (canned curriculums, winging it, child led, parent led, specific philosophies like Charlotte Mason, unschooling, etc.).  Identifying what will fit your family best will greatly increase your confidence and save you much frustration (and probably money too).  I will add that prayer played an important role in our family's decision.

It can also be really helpful to join some of homeschool groups where you can ask specific questions, and glean from the other conversations.  These are available on facebook, yahoo, locally just about everywhere, and probably many other places that I'm unaware of.  I'm part of several on facebook including a few for my specific style, a general one with others from my religion, and one for my local area.  They are a great source for support, information, and ideas. 

Here's a very short 'how' with what has worked best for my family and which I think can be applied to all situations.

1. Environment.  I've found that creating a great learning environment is inspiring.  For us it's very simple: we have lots and lot of books...everywhere...and we are regulars at the library.  We also have very limited electronic media use.  Kids will naturally gravitate to and use what they are surrounded by.  This is especially true when distractions are minimalized, which is why we limit electronics so much.  A great learning environment will look different in every home.  Some people will have lots of art supplies available, some will have maps everywhere, some will have lots of educational games, and many have a combination.  Identify your biggest distractions and reduce them, at least for school hours.  Some common distractions are media, messes, and noise (including crying and fighting children).

2. Love of Learning.  If I aim for a love of learning, I find that I can usually figure out how to teach my children on their level AND make it enjoyable for all of us.  It helps me keep an appropriate amount of pressure for school activities, and helps me relax enough to receive inspiration for what they need from me.  I can't say enough for allowing a child to work at their own pace and according to what they REALLY need.  The right pace makes all the difference in the world.  It means the difference between a happy experience and a miserable one, and it lays the groundwork for a child to willingly learn their whole life through.  It also takes much LESS time for a child to master something when they are allowed to learn it WHEN THEY ARE READY.  Academic skills (which is primarily what most are focused on at the elementary ages) can often be learned very quickly; we waste a lot of time and effort, and risk developing a 'hate of learning' when these things are pushed at the wrong times.

3. Reasonable and Realistic Goals.  When I look at my own priority list, and consider my own strengths, weaknesses, and life factors (schedule, family duties, environment, etc.), as well as the same for my children, I can set good goals for our school days.  The priority list is HUGE in this.  I have to be reasonable with myself and my children.  When I am, things are happy and smooth.  

Last, on the topic of research I'll briefly mention the method I subscribe to.  It's called a Thomas Jefferson Education: Leadership Education (TJEd).  Basically it's a principle based method that can be applied in any setting.  It gives an understanding of HOW children naturally progress through learning phases, and principles to best guide them.  I love it because it allows me to teach academics the same way I teach my kids our religion.  It's natural, happy, and inspired.  I'm able to throw out anything that doesn't work and pull in anything that does.  If anything I've said previously, or in my blog posts ring true for you and your family, I HIGHLY recommend looking into TJEd.  The intro book is a very easy, straightforward read.  Here's the webpage: http://www.tjed.org/  A good place to start is by reading their introductions on the 7 Keys and the Phases of Learning.

Finally, I'll share a couple of resources.  Here are two FABULOUS homeschool blogs:

http://simplehomeschool.net/

http://www.lolipoplearning.blogspot.com/

Update

School is moving along, and I haven't been taking many pictures, so I tend to forget the things the are noteworthy.  Overall, things are happy and interesting.  Some of what we've been up to includes: lots of reading (shocker, I know), science experiments, Cub scout activities, pen-paling, and lots of discussion.  So, pretty much like normal, but normal is SO good.

These pictures are on our family blog, but they totally relate to school.  This gratitude tree was a school activity one day.

We also had our first snow day (where we skipped school to play in the snow) last week.  :)

Finally, we'd like to announce that our 'class' will be growing soon!

Fall Fun

We've been having a fantastic school year so far.  It always feels great to get back into our routine, and we are constantly having enjoyable learning moments.  School is FUN and learning with these kids is the BEST!

Based on photos, here are a few great moments:

We spent some time flying and learning about rockets.

We re-commenced cooking lessons.  I let Annie and Logan cook different items SIMULTANEOUSLY.  That is HUGE for me.

Of course, we're always reading around here.  We actually maxed out our library card last week.  Oops!

One afternoon I was feeling rather UN-inspired so we went outside to play a math game per request.  The kids liked it; I felt rather blah about it.  THEN we saw a neat looking caterpillar during our game, and then another different caterpillar.  This led to some research about what kind they were, and that led to hunting for more bugs and more research.  Before I knew it were having a really interesting lesson.  As if it couldn't get better, we found this toad just as we were winding down to go back inside.  That led to more research, of course, and before I knew it our morning was over.

 

At some point we started this science experiment.  We're testing to see what happens to jelly beans and smarties in different liquids.  Two weeks later, they're still sitting on the counter because we decided to give them longer to disintegrate.  I think I'll draw the line at three weeks.  LOL

 These pictures were after 24 hours. 

Alex has a head for numbers!  He's been requesting his own math lessons every day, so we've been playing with it.  I've been super impressed with this little guy.  He doesn't remember how to count above a certain number without help, so instead he groups things into smaller numbers to figure out how many there are or how many he needs.  I can give him a scenario and he'll add, subtract, or multiply objects to find the answer.  It's hard to describe without seeing him do it, but it's very abstract for such a little guy, and I didn't teach him to do it!  This picture was taken on a day we used Legos for math.  He LOVES it!

We've been going to the library almost every week this fall and have found many interesting things to learn about.

Our book collection is ever growing as well.  Yesterday I rescued a full set of Childcraft books for $3.75, and they were in perfect condition!  Yes!

We also had a field trip to a show about the Wright brothers.  It was really neat to learn about their lives and how they invented the airplane.  We had some great discussion afterward.  (Pardon my bad phone pictures; I wanted to document our day.)