Settling Into A Routine

"So, how are you liking homeschooling?" I have been asked that question a lot lately. The questions are sincere and I am very glad to sincerely answer, I LOVE IT! More importantly, my boys love it too. Last year was such a rough school year for all of us that we are all happy to be settled in a routine of learning and enjoying learning.

My boys are smart. I wasn't worried about that. However, with all the unnecessary junk that Big Guy has had to deal with at school the past few years, he had lost his love of learning. That was truly at the top of my prayer list as we started this adventure.

One of my initial worries was that I was going to have a hard time getting the boys to transition from summer into school since they didn't have to get up and go anywhere. Why did I worry about that? The only person who has had that trouble is ME! The boys are up and going as early as 6:00 in the morning sitting and working on their morning work. Big Guy has gotten in the habit of making my coffee to help entice me out of the bed. Please, boys, let me sleep to 7:00!!!

They LOVE this advantage of homeschooling. I print their lesson plan for the week on Sunday night. Below is an example of one day so far for both of them:

Big Guy

This Day on History: On this day in 1789, the Supreme Court was established.

SAT Word of the Day: culprit n. A guilty person.

Logic – 5 Minute Mystery

Bible – Day 4 (Genesis 8-9)

Morning Work: Factmonster Word Quiz/Analogy/Spelling Bee

History: Review Chapter 9 for Chapter Test/Volcano Project Due (Studying Napoleon & Nicholas I)

Science: Chapter 11: Aristotle and His Teacher (Quest Sheet: Compare and Contrast Plato and Aristotle)

Pre-Algebra: simplifying expressions with exponents

English: Developing Paragraphs by Using Examples of Telling an Incident

Continuing Project: Book Report on Swiss Family Robinson

Foreign Language: Greek Roots

P.E. 30 minutes

Art: Homework for Co-Op Art Class

Little Guy

This Day on History: On this day in 1789, the Supreme Court was established.

SAT Word of the Day: culprit n. A guilty person.

Logic – Mind Benders

Bible – Day 4 (Genesis 8-9)
Morning Work: Factmonster Word Quiz/Analogy/Spelling Bee
History: Review Chapter 9 for Chapter Test/Volcano Project Due (Studying Napoleon & Nicholas I))
Science: Lesson 25: Uranus
Math: Timez Attack

Easy Grammar: Day 84-86 Verb Review

Daily Grams: Day 84-86

Foreign Language: Greek Roots

Reading: 30 minutes

Spelling City (Put your words in alphabetical order.) Test tomorrow.

P.E. 30 minutes

Art: Mark Kistler Lesson 3 pg. 41 Shading

It looks like I am KILLING them with work doesn't it?!? Well, they are up working at 6:00 and by 10:30 they are done. Free as birds to do what they want to do. Read, build, do science experiments, take field trips, go to the library. Whatever!

I have talked to other homeschool moms and they tell me this is right on target. When they are at school they have to wait for other students, take bathroom breaks, stop for a hundred things or wait their turn to ask the teacher a question.... but at home they can go at their speed.

Now if I can just keep up with them!!!