Our day typically starts around 7 am. The kids have jobs as soon as they hop out of bed. They are to go potty, get dressed, make their beds, and make sure their rooms are picked up. We have breakfast around 8 am. Our school time begins as soon as breakfast is cleaned up. We begin with circle time, a time to come together. A time for me to pray blessings upon each one of them. A time to learn biblical concepts, a time to learn colors, shapes, numbers, the alphabet. A time to learn songs. Circle time also teaches that there are times we have to sit still, times we have to wait our turn to talk, times we have to sit, listen, and learn. Even if there are monster trucks to play with, crayons to color with, or anything else close by that might be vying for our attention.
At the beginning of this school year the twins would sit down in their chairs for their “sit down work”. Because, again I am training the twins that there are times and places we have to sit and do “work”. The twins started the year coloring, learning to use scissors. The twins turned three this month, with the graduation to the three year bench mark, the twins are now entering preschool. After circle time we head to the kitchen table. Maddie begins her kindergarten sit down work. The curriculum we have chosen to go with is My Father’s world. A classical education style of learning that is a unit study curriculum.
These are eternal matters that Mark and I as parents cannot ignore.Now, while Maddie is doing her kindergarten sit down work, the twins will be doing their sit down preschool work. Their preschool work includes picking up cotton balls with clothes pins, using syringes to pick up water and move it from one place to another, molding and shaping play-doh. Experiencing rough textures, smooth textures, experiencing the five senses. These are all very important, but just as important, the twins are learning they are to listen AND obey the FIRST time! They are learning character such as being honest, telling the truth, loving unconditionally. They are learning that there is a Lord Jesus Christ and he loves them VERY much. They are learning they are sinners in need of grace and there is ONLY one person who is able to save them from their sin. Math, reading, and science are important here on earth, our kids need to know them. But character training and biblical training are just as important
After our work is done at the kitchen table, we either watch an educational video that goes along with what we are learning. For example since our unit this week is on rocks, we watched a video on Rocks and Minerals, we also watched a video on Volcano’s. If there is not an educational video to watch, then the kids may either go play and ware off energy or they may sit quietly and read/look at books.
After lunch time it is rest time/nap time. Rest time for Maddie is less and less about sleeping. These days she gets a bit of computer time, practices reading from her reading basket (books I know she can read by herself). Her and I play learning games or sometimes games just for fun. This is also a rest time for me! A time for me to finish laundry, watch a movie, take a nap, etc. The twins at three years old still need naps to function till bedtime. They do ok without naps from time to time, but it’s not a good idea long term.
After nap time is usually considered free time. They are encouraged to play downstairs in the basement were we have our toy room. We often cuddle and read books, have snack time.
This is a typical day, a glimpse into what we shoot for our day to look like. This does not mean this is what we always do. There are times when one of the kids is sick or I’m sick. Times were my husband has a day off, so we take the day off to enjoy our time with him. There are also times when Maddie needs a mental break from sit down work. We take breaks to go ice skating with our homeschool group. We take time to go bowling, be a part of 4-H. Which requires constant schedule changes. Our schedule works for us, we don’t work for our schedule. Which means there are times when we have to adjust our schedule for everyone”s sanity! There are times we need to adjust our schedule because God has brought something into our day we cannot ignore. Flexibility is the name of the home schooler’s schedule.