Our Homeschool Schedule 2016-2017

As we enter our 4^th year of homeschooling, I have a pretty good idea of what works for us and what doesn’t.  I am extremely Type A and would prefer to have every second of every day scheduled out and planned.  I’ve learned over the years, however, that having that mentality doesn’t seem to work well with reality since life with many children is unpredictable at best!

We start our year in the summer and have been in school for about 6 weeks.  Our basic schedule rotates around a simple morning routine on 4 days a week – eat breakfast, get dressed, do tablework.  For us, tablework consists of handwriting, math, grammar, spelling, and catechism.  This usually takes about 1-2 hours for both children.  Then we generally take a play/snack break and then read from our morning basket for about an hour.  Our morning basket consists of literature selections for each child, books related to the things they are learning in our various co-op classes, bible, saint of the day readings, and fun books from the library.  We are still trying to figure out a time to add in Gabrielle.  She is officially PreK this year and is begging to learn how to read, do math, etc. like her older siblings.  So far, we have been giving her little worksheets and projects to do while the older kids work.  Last week we had a morning when the older kids picked up their free-read chapter books right after breakfast and I had about 30 minutes to work 1 on 1 with Gabrielle.  I might continue trying this out at least a few days a week.  Also, depending on the weather, we have been walking across the street to the park to play for a bit either before we start school or after we finish.

This year, we are doing all of our non-table subjects through co-ops.  It makes it easier on me to spread the subjects out to other teachers rather than just having it all on my shoulders.  We are continuing with Robotics and Toastmasters (on alternating Monday afternoons) with our Jr. FLL Team.  As a group, we also decided to do a few other classes together, so we are also doing history, art appreciation, and science together this semester (on Thursday afternoons).  Next semester we will continue with history but switch to music appreciation and life skills (sewing, cooking, etc.)  We are also continuing with our co-op through our church, which is on Wendesdays rather than Fridays this year.  Gabrielle is doing Five in a Row with her PreK/K class, and the older two are studying science, STEM, and U.S. Geography in the Fall (N.M. Geography/History in the Spring).  In addition, the kids begin music classes this year on Saturdays.  Michaela is taking Piano, Rafael Guitar, and Gabrielle a beginning music class.  The two older are also continuing with the children’s choir at church on Wednesday afternoons and Homeschool PE will be on T/Th starting next month.

It sounds terribly busy, but it is actually quite relaxing to be home all morning and get out a bit most afternoons.  And more than anything, it is what seems to work well for our family.

Here is what our schedule looks like.  Other than classes/co-ops, our times are not exact.  We go with the flow and change as needed.

Thanks for reading!

My Curriculum 2015-2016

Now that we are in our 3rd year of homeschooling, we have pretty much settled on the various curricula that work well for our family, at least for our core subjects.  We do core subjects individually and all other subjects as a family.  I consider us eclectic Charlotte Mason homeschoolers if that is even a thing.  We use Mater Amabilis (a free online Catholic Charlotte Mason program) as our spine, and adjust where necessary.

Michaela - 2nd Grade
Michaela is a 2nd grader and is at grade level for most subjects except for being a year ahead in Grammar, and a year below in Handwriting.  I am so happy that she is reading well so she can do quite a bit of independent work while I work with Rafael this year.

Math: MEP Year 2
Phonics: Prescription for Reading Level 4 and 5, reading practice
Spelling: All About Spelling Level 2
Grammar: First Language Lessons Level 3 AND Primary Language Lessons (Half of each)
Handwriting: Writing Our Catholic Faith 1 Manuscript and 2 Manuscript
Catechism: Faith and Life 2, St. Joseph First Communion Catechism
Literature: Book lists from Mater Amabilis Level 1a

Rafael - Kindergarten/1st Grade
Rafael is technically in Kindergarten, but for various reasons is above grade level in most subjects.  He has a late November birthday so is pretty old for his grade.  He also is a second kid, and as often happens with later children, learned quite a bit in his earlier years by watching Michaela and sitting in the room while she had her lessons.  On the other hand, he very much has the physical attributes of being a 5yo boy - namely being fidgety and a bit hyper at times!  I pay close attention to make sure that is not struggling with any of the subjects, but so far he is completing the advanced levels with ease.  He IS slightly behind on handwriting, as is Michaela.  My fault for not making that a priority and for not helping them develop their fine motor skills as much as I should have!

Math: MEP Year 1
Phonics: Prescription for Reading Level 1 and 2
Spelling: All About Spelling Level 1
Grammar: First Language Lessons Level 1
Handwriting: Writing Our Catholic Faith Pre-K Basic Strokes and K Manuscript
Catechism: Rosemarie Gortler Books
Literature: Book lists from Mater Amabilis Prep Level

Gabrielle - Tot School
Gabrielle is a whirling 3yo bundle of energy!  She BEGS to do school like her siblings, so I am letting her participate by doing Tot School.  We did tot school with the other two when they were little so I am pulling from my old blog and from Pinterest to put together some tot boxes that she can work independently on while I am helping the older two.

Basic Skills: tot boxes that work on basic skills such as counting, shapes, colors, alphabet, etc.
Handwriting: Tot Boxes that develop fine motor skills
Catechism: Leading the Little Ones to Mary
Literature: Five in a Row and other books from Mater Amabilis preschool literature list

Family Subjects
Religion:
Bible - My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories
Virtues - Program for Achieving Character Education (PACE)
Family Catechism - Tell Me about the Catholic Faith

Social Studies:
History - Connecting with History - Ancient
Earth Studies - Rivers and Oceans Plans from Mater Amabilis Level 1B
Geography - We'll be using Galloping the Globe in the homeschool co-op through our church

Science:
Science - Plants and Animals Plans from Mater Amabilis Level 1A, Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (BFSU) in our co-op
Nature Study - Handbook of Nature Study Blog Monthly Newsletter prompts

Fine Arts:
Art - The Seven Elements of Art
Artist Study - Art History overview/appreciation in the first semester, Impressionists in 2nd Semester (various sources - post to follow)
Composer Study - overview/appreciation (various sources - post to follow)
Music - Making Music, Praying Twice

Misc:
Spanish - Flip Flop Spanish
Habits - Laying Down the Rails

Does that seem like a lot?  Come back tomorrow to learn how I fit it all in!  Thanks for reading!

I'm Linking Up!

Puzzle Checklist: How to Turn Completing Schoolwork into a Game

Do you have a younger homeschooled child who moans and groans when it comes to finishing schoolwork?  Perhaps your child has problems staying on task, or perhaps just wants to know when they can finally be done so they can go play outside!

Once upon a time I had a laminated visual checklist hanging on the classroom wall with pictures of our subjects along with little checkboxes which we would check as we worked through them.  My little type-A daughter inherited my love of checklists so this setup worked very well for her.  When I started teaching my son last year, however, he could absolutely care less.  I knew I had to find something else to help him get through his work.

I ran across this great classroom completion chart a couple of years ago, and finally decided to implement my own version at the end of last year with my kids.  I was amazed at how well it worked!  It gives a great visual of how many subjects they have left in a fun, engaging way. 

Want to make your own?  It is so easy!  Print and laminate a picture of your child's choosing.  Cut it into as many pieces as you have subjects for.  Ours are for our "core subjects".  This year Rafael has 4 main subjects (phonics, handwriting, math, grammar) so we cut his puzzle into 4 pieces.  Add magnets to the back and you are done!  We use workboxes so I put each puzzle piece into the corresponding workbox drawer.  They get to put up each puzzle piece onto our whiteboard after we finish each subject.

Thanks for reading!

1st Semester Schedule 2014

We are in the middle of our 4th week of school, and our schedule seems to be settling into place. It took me a few weeks to work out the kinks of our originally planned schedule, but we've finally figured out what works for us. For now, of course. :)

 Here is what our current schedule looks like:

Basically what it boils down to is about 1-1.5 hours of Morning School which covers all our core work. Then we have 1-1.5 hours of Afternoon School that basically covers all of our family subjects and anything that would be difficult to do with our toddler running around and getting into things. (Yay for naps!)

All of our family subjects are divided up by a specialty (Social Studies, Science, Fine Arts, and Religion) per day.  This was a change from our original schedule where we tried to do a bit of everything every day and it seems to be flowing much more smoothly.  Thanks for reading!

2014 Curriculum - 1st Semester

This year the children are working on separate levels for their core subjects and together for everything else.  So far it is working out well and saves me quite a bit of time over what we would have spent had they been working separately!  Below are our subjects for the semester and which books we are using for each.

2014 Curriculum

Thanks for reading!

Schedule Spring 2014

I'm loving our schedule for this semester so far.  It is more of a guideline than a schedule, but it helps me see what needs to get done each day, and leaves plenty of wiggle room in case we are having an awful day.  It leaves room for an "outing" each day, but more often, we will use that outing time to catch up or play outside.  I quickly learned last semester that an outing everyday leads to more stress than it's worth!  We also may change things around depending on if an afternoon activity is available to us instead of a morning one.

I also am using a new scheduler/lesson planner this year that I love!  The problem with most schedulers are that they don't have enough subject spaces for a CM'er to use.  This one is absolutely perfect and fits a whole week on one page w/ a little bit of room to write lesson numbers in.  Go to the Thiel Academy to get your own copy!  She offers it in both a pdf and a word format so it is super easy to customize for your own needs!

Spring Curriculum 2014

We've had a few changes this past semester in our curriculum as I have read more of Charlotte Mason's original writings and adjusted to what actually works for our family.  It is amazing how SURE I was of our curriculum choices at the beginning of the year and how quickly we outgrew them!  After our first semester of homeschooling, I am more aware of my children's learning styles, my own teaching style, and the unpredictable nature of homeschooling in general - but especially with a feisty toddler around!  Based on this understanding, here is the curriculum that I've chosen for the rest of our 1st year.

The beautiful thing about homeschooling is that I can move the children ahead or spend a bit more time in a particular area based on how they are doing in each subject.  Michaela is more than ready for 1st grade material in many areas, but is still deficient in others.  Rafael, because of his late birthday, wouldn't be starting Kindergarten for another two years.  He wants SO MUCH to do school with his sister, and it is amazing what he has learned just by sitting in on Michaela's lessons.  We have decided to start him in Kindergarten in July (at 4 3/4y) instead of waiting another year.  So basically, for both children, we are using this semester as a transition to the bigger work load they will each begin in July.

Michaela - almost 6 - Kindergarten/1st Grade

Handwriting - Catholic Handwriting Skills - K
We've decided to start Michaela on cursive for many reasons, including it being very helpful for lefties.  This wonderful article was our inspiration.

Phonics - Rx for Reading: Teach them Phonics
Michaela is reading well for her age thanks to our 1st semester curriculum.  We will be reviewing basic rules first and then moving on to more complicated phonics rules that will last into 1st grade.

Grammar - 1st Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind

Math - MEP Year 1
We switched to this from Right Start Math a couple of months ago and are enjoying it.  I've looked ahead at future years and am satisfied with where the curriculum is leading.  The goal is logical progression through and mastery of ideas and mathematical concepts, not simply teaching kids tricks so that they test well.

History - Living books from American History

Geography -  Living Books from each major continent

Literature - Mater Amabilis
Winnie the Pooh
Happy Times in Noisy Village
My Naughty Little Sister
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook
My Father's Dragon

Rafael - 4 - Pre-K

Literacy & Handwriting - Language Lessons for Little Ones

Math - MEP Reception

Literature - Mater Amabilis
Angus Lost
Blueberries for Sal
Make Way for Ducklings
Brambly Hedge Books
Caps for Sale
Dandelion
"Harry" the dog books
James Herriot Treasury
Katy and the Big Snow
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
The Little House
Little Bear books
Millions of Cats
Petunia books
Stone Soup
Swimmy
The Story of Ferdinand
The Velveteen Rabbit
Wheel on the Chimney
Thomas the Tank Engine Collection

Family Subjects

Science - Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding

Nature Studies - Handbook of Nature Studies
This text will be our spine, but we will be following along with lessons on the Handbook of Nature Studies blog, continuing our nature outings with our Charlotte Mason group, and new this semester - working through the activities on Outdoor Nature Challenge with another co-op.

Religion
Bible - Catholic Bible Stories for Children
Catechism - Little Acts of Grace 2
Pro-Life Curriculum - The Huntsville Respect Life Curriculum (Pre-K/K)
Liturgical Year/Saint Study - Catholic Mosaic, My First Book of Saints
Saint Study - 115 Saintly Fun Facts
Virtue Study - Virtues in Practice

Art - Drawing with Children

Music - Classic Tunes and Tales

PE - Homeschool Family Fitness

Spanish -Usborne First Thousand Words in Spanish

Habit Training - Laying Down the Rails

Handicrafts - Misc.

I'm excited about our curriculum for this year!  My next post will be on our new schedule!

My Students

Meet the stars of our homeschool: the students!

Michaela - 5
She loves math and science and craves order in her day.
(Did NOT get that from me!)
Wants to be a teacher in a school when she grows up.

Rafael - 3
He loves handwriting and math.
He is a total bundle of energy!
Wants to be a Grandpa when he grows up.

Gabrielle - 18 months
She's not a student yet, but she certainly tries!
On any given day she can be found climbing furniture and emptying out all our school bins!

We are participating in the "Not" Back to School Blog Hop!

Our School Room

While we do most of our schooling outside of our official schoolroom, I find it easier to keep things organized when there is a central location for all of our materials.  Plus, as Michaela attended a public preschool, she is comforted with the appearance of "real school" style decoration.  This may change as our homeschooling journey continues, but at this point, this is what we both need.

Our schoolroom is actually the baby's room.  As she is still sleeping in a crib, her room was the best option.  She is contained at night and can't make any messes.  She naps in the big kids room so that we can utilize the schoolroom at that time.

Our School Room

We have a small table for one on one work.  It is really too small, even now, so I am sure we will replace this with a larger one at some point, or just do our work at the kitchen table.  We also have 3 workbox towers.  I don't use them as "real" workboxes - just to store our supplies.  I also store misc. supplies on top and on the sides.  Above the table is a checklist we use to make sure we get our daily work done.  I don't really need this, but Michaela enjoys checking things off on her own.

Along one wall I have our simple pocket chart schedule.  I love it because I can easily move things around if we get off schedule.  I also have a simple pocket chart calendar (source: Our Aussie Homeschool), and a picture that shows them their options for free choice time.

On the same wall, there is our old coffee table with a book display in which we put all the books we are currently using.  Next to it is a basket with most of our Religion books.

Along the other wall I have a cabinet that holds most of our misc. school supplies.  Tucked in between it and the wall are a couple of pillows and a blanket that the older kids sometimes use during quiet time when they are listening to audiobooks.  Next to that is a shelf that holds most of our library books (we had just returned a lot, so it is a bit sparse).  We also have several educational posters scattered about the room to help with decoration.  :)

That is our school room tour for now!  Thanks for reading!

Our Schedule 2013

The first few weeks of our semester were spent trying to find a schedule that works for our family.  Finally on our 3rd week we found our rhythm.  Michaela is EXTREMELY Type A.  It's important that she has a schedule, but for my own sanity (and the reality of having little ones) I need something flexible.  We discovered that a simple pocket chart schedule works best for us.  She gets the satisfaction of seeing us complete tasks in order, and I get the satisfaction of being able to easily move tasks around when our day doesn't go as planned.

I don't have exact times for any of these, but I will post our typical order, and about how long they take.

Here is my post on curriculum if you want more information on that.  I plan on posting more in depth details of what we are learning every few weeks.

I use a basic teacher planning book to write out the details of each of our lessons.  I plan 3-4 weeks at a time, even though I have a basic idea of what we will be learning throughout the year.  Every week I also print out a sheet with the basics/title of our schedule and put it in a sheet protector.  We then cross things off as we go through them.  Sometimes I swap one thing out for another in each category - for example if I have a time-intensive Special planned for that day and the kids are just not focusing that day, I'll swap it our for something in the same category that is a bit lighter.  An example of my sheet is below:

Thank you for reading!

Our Curriculum

After months and months of stressing and planning, and re-planning, and more stressing, I finally found the curriculum that speaks to my soul.

We have decided to teach in the Charlotte Mason style, specifically using Mater Amabilis - a free online Catholic Charlotte Mason program.

What is Charlotte Mason?
"Charlotte Mason was a British educator who believed that education was about more than training for a job, passing an exam, or getting into the right college...[and] that children are able to deal with ideas and knowledge, that they are not blank slates or empty sacks to be filled with information.  She thought children should do the work of dealing with ideas and knowledge, rather than the teacher acting as a middle man, dispensing filtered knowledge.  A Charlotte Mason education includes first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through books in each school subject, and through art, music, and poetry."  http://www.amblesideonline.org/WhatIsCM.shtml

She emphasized using "living books" - books that are written by someone with a passion for the subject and that engage the mind, rather than dry textbooks.  It's a character education emphasizing the learning of good habits.  Other important characteristics are short lessons, nature study, and narration.

Here are more great links to read if you are interested in Charlotte Mason:
http://simplehomeschool.net/7-characteristics-of-a-charlotte-mason-education/
http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/what-is-the-charlotte-mason-method/
http://materamabilis.org/ma/intro/

Michaela's Curriculum - Kindergarten - Age 5
Handwriting - We practice Manuscript handwriting using printables from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  Once she finishes these we'll move onto a simple handwriting practice book that I purchased from Target, and eventually move on to copywork.  She also gets a bit of freeform writing practice in her phonics curriculum.

Phonics - Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

Math - Right Start Math

Rafael's Curriculum - Preschool Yr. 1 - Age 3
For Rafael's first of two preschool years we are starting off fairly simply.  We are doing a weekly letter, number, color, or shape.  For the alphabet we talk about the letter sound and what words start with that letter.  We also do lots of pre-writing activities such as building our letters, numbers, shapes, colors out of playdough, wikki stix, finger tracing, etc.  He probably only spends about 10-15 minutes a day on these but he enjoys them and it makes him feel like a big kid.  :)

Family Learning
Science - Living Books and Nature Study

Religion - We do bible study (Catholic Bible Stories for Children), Saints/Virtue study (living books and Virtues in Practice), Liturgical Year (living books), and Catechism study (living books, Call to Faith).

Art - Young Artist's Basics, Discovering Great Artists

Music - Teach Your Kids About Music, Living Books

We also do home ec., spanish, geography, history, poetry, music appreciation, art appreciation, PE, and health using a mixture of living books and resources I've made/found.


I hope later to post a list of the living books that we use, as well as a schedule of what our days look like.  Thanks for reading!

Why We Chose to Homeschool

There is not any one reason we chose to homeschool.  It's something that we've thought of doing for years but have been waffling back and forth on.

Academics

My husband and I are very academically minded and have never been content with the thought of sending our children to public school where their love for learning could be easily squashed.  My husband is a teacher at a public charter middle and high school and he frequently sees kids come in who don't know how to think because they have always been "taught to the test".

Religion & Character

As Catholics, we are extremely uneasy with the socialization that our children would encounter in public school.  We want them growing up deeply immersed in their faith - making it such an interwoven part of their lives that they would feel lost without it.  We don't want them learning social skills that go directly against our beliefs.  We want them growing up to be kind, loving, forgiving, engaging members of society that are on fire with their love of Christ and want to share it with the world!  While it can certainly be done in public school, I think it will be so much easier to start them off with a strong solid foundation at home. 

Those are the two main reasons and I'm sure I'll talk more about them more.  Please share any comments or questions you may have.  Thanks for reading!