We homeschool all year round in this household, but that doesn't mean we homeschool intensively all year round.
Over the summer we do the basics plus fun stuff.. the basics are .. Math, English and the various books we read.
The fun stuff this summer was... doing some music, working on some science, Veritas Press history and enjoying God's creation.
About six months, off and on throughout the year we work harder, we add in geography, focused science, Phys Ed, history n(reading/hands on etc), arts and bible. One month here, two months there and such like.
LAST year we homeschooied in bits and pieces throughout the day. So we'd some reading in the morning, take an hour to do whatever, then we school a bit and then do whatever .. so our schooling happened but it was very spread out.. and that at times proved to be problematic in that if something came up.. we'd miss out on doing work. Not so good for our long term goals.
This fall semester we have an international student living with us, this forces us to be up and at 'em earlier in the day, and take in turn allows us to be more focused on getting work done before lunch. (WOOT WOOT).
Today was a bit tough.. I had some rebellion going on, but I introduced the lad to some changes. For some reason this helped. :) Go figure.
1. A new list. I bought this whiteboard, meant for going into lockers, with this wipe off crayons. I can put our task list on these boards and they can be wiped off when completely. See that blank spot.. that's stuff wiped off already. Dailies are done in black, cleaning in orange, changes daily in read, and hope to do in green and blue.
The fun past is I bought TWO of them. So my arty boy can draw things while I read books or instructions and keep the wigglies out. :)
See we hate schedules in this house.. we really do. BUT we like lists. :) So we can make our lists, colour code them so we know what's most important, and then it works! At least for us it works. :)
Over the summer we do the basics plus fun stuff.. the basics are .. Math, English and the various books we read.
The fun stuff this summer was... doing some music, working on some science, Veritas Press history and enjoying God's creation.
About six months, off and on throughout the year we work harder, we add in geography, focused science, Phys Ed, history n(reading/hands on etc), arts and bible. One month here, two months there and such like.
LAST year we homeschooied in bits and pieces throughout the day. So we'd some reading in the morning, take an hour to do whatever, then we school a bit and then do whatever .. so our schooling happened but it was very spread out.. and that at times proved to be problematic in that if something came up.. we'd miss out on doing work. Not so good for our long term goals.
This fall semester we have an international student living with us, this forces us to be up and at 'em earlier in the day, and take in turn allows us to be more focused on getting work done before lunch. (WOOT WOOT).
Today was a bit tough.. I had some rebellion going on, but I introduced the lad to some changes. For some reason this helped. :) Go figure.
1. A new list. I bought this whiteboard, meant for going into lockers, with this wipe off crayons. I can put our task list on these boards and they can be wiped off when completely. See that blank spot.. that's stuff wiped off already. Dailies are done in black, cleaning in orange, changes daily in read, and hope to do in green and blue.
The fun past is I bought TWO of them. So my arty boy can draw things while I read books or instructions and keep the wigglies out. :)
See we hate schedules in this house.. we really do. BUT we like lists. :) So we can make our lists, colour code them so we know what's most important, and then it works! At least for us it works. :)
2. Our most used supplies are right at hand. Solutions was having a "we're closing this store and moving to another site" sale so we got these handy little drawers. one in black, the other in white so we can tell them apart. My crayons for the boards go on the top of the black one (they were currently in use).
Everything is right at hand. Pencil sharpeners, erasers, pencil crayons, pencils, cutting tools, pens (and white out), and markers. It's so handy the lad was quite pleased. "I don't have to look for things anymore mom!" :)
Everything is right at hand. Pencil sharpeners, erasers, pencil crayons, pencils, cutting tools, pens (and white out), and markers. It's so handy the lad was quite pleased. "I don't have to look for things anymore mom!" :)
3. Another change is we'll be dividing our time up. So no more doing ALL our computer work all at once. We'll do some computer stuff, then do the breakfast dishes, then do some our black and red list upstairs in the bookroom, then have lunch and if there is any computer work left do that right after lunch (or before lunch if we have time). I hope this will keep us more focused and keep the boy moving so he won't be feeling weighted down by "I have to do all this stuff and don't get a break for nothing).
It overall worked well once the lad got into the groove of schooling again. The lad seemed quite pleased by the end of our day. :)
It overall worked well once the lad got into the groove of schooling again. The lad seemed quite pleased by the end of our day. :)
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