Someone discovered he really likes blue kool aid.
This week was chocked full. I’m still finding the days fly by as I am aiming to balance the needs of the age range. Preschooler. Kindergartener. 4th grader. 7th grader. 8th grader. Plus I have this little passion for taking pictures. Plus, we have to stay busy for all the hands on learners around here. Maybe you’ll see this reflected below?
For me, I’ve found the Lord naturally balancing my day with two early risers and two older ones needing to stay up late for a visit with mom and dad. Middle Girl pretty much demands my attention in the late afternoon with hands on projects. That makes for a long day. Getting up before the sun and going to bed late. This past week might give you an idea of how it may or may not go…
Pre-K and K: We start our homeschool day with the Little Ones First while the older three are finishing up their Before 8:45 List. Here’s a sampling of what we might do: 1. Once a week Slow & Steady Get Me Ready activity for 3yo – identifying and folding shapes | 2. Saxon Math K Pictograph of our family by 5yo (with a row for the family cat) | 3. Reading the Early Reader’s Bible | 4. During dictation, 5yo did a drawing of the poem we read in her Draw Write Now Journal | 5. Morning Room Time for 3yo while I helped others with Math | 6. Hearing and Helping Rod & Staff book – counting rain forest animals
Then, the younger two enjoy Morning Room Time (Lil’ Buddy pictured bottom, center in Room Time) while I help the older three with Teaching Textbooks Math (taking turns on the computer).
We continue to work through other subjects: Rod and Staff English, Spelling Workout (for 4th grader), some start into Tapestry of Grace assignments and readings.
Tapestry Highlights: Geography – Charlemagne’s kingdom and Arts and Activities – practicing juggling like a jester. We are so enjoying all the many notebook and coloring pages available with our membership at Notebooking Pages.
One More Thing (sometimes more) after lunch: Every day, while the children are finishing up lunch, we begin one more subject. Either Visual Latin, Answers in Genesis: God’s Design for Life – Human Body, Apologia Biology (older two), Nature Study with Handbook of Nature Study or a Tapestry study.
Language: 1. 7th grade Grammar with Rod & Staff | 2. More Visual Latin fun | 3. Being verbs | 4. Dictation (poem excerpt from Language and Thinking for Young Children by Dr. Ruth Beechick
Enrichment is sprinkled in throughout the week with the eldest two’s elective studies, church and homeschool group activities: 1. setting the table | 2. spontaneous puppet making followed by several shows | 3. Practicing a Thanksgiving play for our Unit Celebration | 4. Eldest Boy is still loving Draw Squad!! (Not pictured: studying and listening to Vivaldi, Drama Troupe practice, piano lesson, church choir practice and our monthly Enrichment Day with our homeschool group. And, Nana stopped by for a new pastel art lesson. And we entered art work in our State Fair!).
Science/Nature: Weeds, Seeds, Insects & Signs of Fall Outdoor Hour 1. Nature walk at Mama Ann’s | 2. Lil’ Buddy’s feather find! | 3. Signs of Autumn notebook page from Handbook of Nature Study | 4. watching a butterfly drink from the hummingbird feeder | 5. Sandy Skeleton with AiG Human Body | 6. 9yo’s camera phone photo of Wednesday night’s sunset. Not pictured: working on science projects for science fair in a few weeks!
Making: 1. cities | 2. Strawberry cupcakes from the Cook Box | 3. leaf pile | 4. Homemade laundry detergent
For mom: Late afternoon, during Afternoon Quiet Time, I enjoy just about 10 minutes for me! 1. a coffee break mailed to me from my best friend across the country! | 2. My first time trying a VIA | 3. Slow Cooker Homemade hummus at $5 dinners. Not pictured: monthly homeschool moms meeting – hooray!
Then we head into family time with Hodgepodgedad. Our favorite bedtime read this week is definitely Pete The Cat: I Love My White Shoes!
Ultimately, friends, it’s a daily asking for wisdom. Daily placing these children in His care, asking for his instruction, asking for forgiveness!, talking over all the many options for social activities and upcoming events with Hodgepodgedad. And praying through the overwhelm of the task. And finding snippets of time late in the evenings, early mornings and during afternoon quiet time to write for Hodgepodge and the other sites we contribute to.
“By myself I can do nothing.” John 5:30
Helpful Technology Habit: Keeping up the habit of sharing a helpful habit on Fridays! Today it’s Hodgepodgedad. He shared about the free internet security software we use for iDevices – all the roaming technology from laptops to iPod in Taming the Wild West. A post at Habits for a Happy Home.
Many thanks to our Friday hostesses. Camera Phone Friday hostess Dawn Camp @ My Home Sweet Home. You can learn how to do neat photo collages from Dawn. She has a tab entitled Camera Phonography.
And be sure to check out what fellow homeschoolers are up to. A link up of all the weekly wraps with Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
So, are you ready for all things fall?
I love this peek at your week. So full, so fullfilling. I like the way you broke it down to times of the day. I love seeing how you weave the different ages and needs together to make a beautiful pattern for your week. I have learned so much from you, my friend.
Visiting from the Weekly Wrap-up. Enjoyed reading your post! It’s amazing how much is accomplished in one day, and yet none of them are the same:) Your photos are great!
I really appreciate how much time you put into this wrap-up, Tricia. I think it is amazing how God equips us to handle so much. I only homeschool 2, but it’s funny how my littlest gets up early and we have some quality school time before his big sister is even out of bed. Then, when he is more tired and taking some quiet time in the afternoon, she and I get to work together.
Don’t think I’ve told you how much I enjoy reading your blog – you do a great job!
Phyllis, Shawon, Mary – thank you for your sweet comments! Support from fellow homeschool friends means so much.
What a busy week full of activity! I know well the juggling act of trying to manage many ages and stages at once as last year, I was homeschooling from grade 8 down to pre-K, but this year, our oldest 2 are in school and my younger 5 are all within a few years of each other, so I am not doing as much juggling this year. It sounds like you are doing it very effectively though!