Wednesday, September 23, 2009

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!!!



7 comments:

Dr. Wifey said...

glad the boys and YOU are enjoying homeschooling and that you have a routine down! cool that PE is included in the curriculum as well

~PakKaramu~ said...

Visiting your blog

black betty said...

i think this is absolutely awesome!!! i WISH i could homeschool mine. seriously...

you are such a wonderful mom... and thank you for your words of encouragement on my last post. i needed to hear that...even if it's hard to accept what others see. i need to learn to HEAR what they are saying.

love ya. mean it.

Allison said...

You rock! Sounds like God is blessing your family big time!

K Storm said...

So glad that homeschooling is working out so well for all of you...that flexibility can really allow you to concentrate on specific areas. Wonderful!

Sezme said...

Good luck! :)

Beth said...

So glad that your boys are doing well with homeschooling. It IS scary to think we hold their education in our hands. I was teacher trained and we started homsechooling 2001 when my girls were 4th and 2nd. They are now in 12th and 10th grade and STILL love homeschooling. I KNOW what my kids are studying, we have time for serving during the day and best of all they TALK to me! By the way, my early bird daughter used to start school at 6:30, but the teacher didn't show up until 8! :-)