more play. a home schooling update.

And so it goes, we are in week EIGHT.  Week eight people!  It's strange because my boys are still young enough that not having them attend public school feels normal.  It seems as though we are in a very long extended holiday with learning thrown in there somewhere.

Although we have generally found a simple rhythm to our days, each day is completely different from the next.  Having a toddler will do that for you.  We have a loose schedule that we follow, which allows for maximum flexibility.  This is something that does not come easily to me but I am learning.  Oh boy, I am learning!

We usually begin school around the ten o'clock hour but honestly we do the bulk of stuff during Nicholas' nap time.  My older two are still young enough that they need my guidance and Nicholas is at the age where he wants mama constantly.

I like to kick start our school day with scripture study.  We are currently focusing on the Book of Mormon at the moment.  That is usually followed by drawing time.  This part tends to be Tyler's favorite.  I choose a form/shape and then tell them to incorporate that into a drawing of whatever their heart desires at the moment.  Some days they color for 15 minutes, other days they could easily spend 45 minutes.  I use this time to read aloud to them.  Right now we are currently lost in the pages of a Roald Dahl book, The Witches.  It is very fitting for the month of October.  After we've wrapped  that up, we spend 10-15 minutes doing our first language lesson and then it's lunch/break/nap time, depending on what the clock says.

During Nic's nap we do Right Start Mathematics, which we all do together.  I was having Tyler work through Life of Fred but he wanted to switch over to Right Start with Benny.  I really really like this math program.  So far they both enjoy it and are doing quite well.  I think this will provide a solid foundation for them to work with.  I want to transition them over to Life of Fred when we complete Right Start (level B) and supplement with Right Start games.  Oh and Tyler also does xtramath.org.

We try our best to fit in our Nature Study journals and our current theme for the month, which just so happens to be bats and spiders.  History right now is all about the American Revolution.  We tend to alternate history and the theme, a sort of flip flop.  Art slides in there, along with baking and lego building contests.  We've learned to finger knit and make a felt ball garland too!

At night, Tyler cuddles up with me in bed.  He reads.  I read.  It's so completely cozy.  I love this part.

All in all, it's about 2-3 hours of school each weekday.  I try to hit the key parts (reading, drawing, math, scriptures) and anything extra is bonus.

I will go ahead and say that we all seem to enjoy each other mostly, with bursts of annoyances here and there, like any family has.  But I will be so bold as to say that with 8 weeks in, I can see a future of home schooling.  For now anyways.