Day in the Life

Happy Wednesday Ya'll!!  How are ya?

We are just moving right along here. Flying through these weeks as usual. How about another "Day in the Life" of a homeschooler? I'm not really a fan of the word "homeschool" but it seems to be word most commonly used out there, so use it I must at times. I prefer "home education." The word "school" reminds me of a school of fish. What we do around here doesn't really look like a school of fish, maybe more like a three ring circus. With wild jungle animals. Hahaha!! Anyhow, I like to think that, as a family, we are educating ourselves and most it is done at home. So there you go.

In previous posts I've told you a bit about our story, what our mornings generally look like, and meal times. Next up would be afternoon lessons. First though I will have to jump back to mornings for a minute. Most of us home educators also have babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers in the mix. Challenging? Um, yes. THE challenge. As a result, schedules and routines must be reconfigured on a regular basis.

This year we have come to find that the best routine seems to be to try and squeeze in the most brain-intensive subjects when Mr. Mace is napping in the morning. Oh God help me when he gives that up! Start praying now! I have no idea how I'll manage that one.  I suppose I'll just have to brainstorm something and then jump in two feet first again. For now though, we are doing okay with working super hard on our math and writing during that 10-12 am window.

Few other notes about our morning routine:

• checklists. This has been a small, yet effective addition to our day. Quite motivating for the eldest three. Each morning I write up a checklist for each child on our whiteboard easel. That way I don't need to give much direction when I am busy with some other task. I just tell them to start on their checklists. The checklists are varied from lesson assignments to "play outside for 30 minutes" to "fold your laundry."  It's a win-win situation because then we all understand the day's expectations.
• flashcards. These have become first on the checklists. In the past I have the kids do math facts on the computer, with apps on the iPad, worksheets, or pre-made ones from the store. I've never been completely satisfied with any of those options for a number of reasons. Now the boys make their own. Best system by far! They only make the ones we are studying at the moment. For example, we've just started multiplying and dividing by eight. The boys made flashcards for all the multiplication and division facts for the eight. Then, when they review their facts, they are only practicing 1 through 8. At the end of this week they'll be making cards with the facts for nine. 
  

Now here is an authentic look into a homeschoolers life. A little side lesson as we work through out long division. "Listen guys, three of my main goals for you are #1 that you will go to heaven #2 will become independent #3 will learn to focus on the task at hand. You have a chance to practice independence and focus right now. Give it whirl." (haha and for once the pep talk helped!)

• writing. This is our first year officially writing. *Gasp*  For Charlotte Masoners, this is common. I may talk more about that at a later time but for now, lunch is on the stove. It will have to wait. Anyhow, we are using the reputable program, "Institute for Excellence in Writing."  I purchased the instructor program, which is basically a DVD seminar. The boys are doing the "Student Writing Intensive A." We all watch the introductory lessons with Mr. Andrew Pudewa (who we love!) and then we follow-up with lessons already assembled in the binders that came with the program. The first main skill we worked through was writing "key word outlines." Basically the boys learned to read a short non-fiction articles, take notes, and rewrite the article. By the end of the unit, the boys were doing this process completely independently. Right now we are the middle of the "story sequence model" unit. They have been learning how stories are structured. We read a story together, they take notes using the "story sequence chart" and rewrite the story. They are allowed to change characters and setting if they would like. Along the way, Mr. Pudewa teaches the boys about "dress-up" or how to add style to their writing. Accompanying each assignment is a check-list of dress-ups they must add to their compositions. It has been working for us. We will probably continue with the same program next year. I have fumbled around a good bit but we've worked through it together. I love that about home education. None of us is perfect or has it all-together but we do have each other. We talk about our struggles, think about solutions, and work it together. Learning accompanies struggle, I believe, if approached with an open mind.
  

Well darn, I gotta go. We'll have to chat about our afternoon routine later. Our tummies are grumbling! Take care ya'll!!  I love you! Please, keep in touch! Drop me a line and tell me where you are at these days.