Day One: A Peek into the Week of a Homeschool Family

So I will start by saying that by far, the hardest part of today was trying to keep a running log of the days events. I am not likely to do this again( logging time) this week but I wanted to give you all as readers a realistic view of how our family runs. 

8:30-9:00 Cajoling kids out of bed- they are not morning people, I wonder where they get that from ? Me: Bible reading ,devotional, coffee infusion.

9:00 Enforce morning routines- thank you "Accountable kids"

If you have not heard of "Accountable Kids" before check out their site:  http://www.accountablekids.com/

Here is a Picture of our Accountable Kids boards . Please excuse the poor lighting!

9:30 Breakfast and clean kitchen

10:15 Morning walk with kids and dog

10:45 Home -drinks

10:50 Bible and craft:

Read Genesis 8- flying dove craft. Play music for kids while they craft . Me: run another load of laundry and fold dry laundry.

Our doves when they were finished. We decided that since "L" colored his black it would be the raven in the story.
There are variations to this craft and you can find the template at: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mflyingdove.htm

11:30 Science and snack while I explain Observation/ Investigation activity

Investigation activity ( physical properties)

Tell kids not to scream at each other over the observation items they need

12:00 Have L work on reading with me while he waits for the girls to finish charting( I helped him write his observations down so we were done first)

In order to cut down on the amount of time it would take to allow all three kids to construct and fill in a chart I pre- make the charts and print them off so the kids just fill them in.  

12:05 K: Mulitplication.com while we wait for A to finish charting

12:10 Read science text, review new vocabulary, and do review questions with all of the kids.

I usually pre- type and print out their vocabulary words so that as we read the section together they can take turns reading the definitions aloud as we come to that topic.

12:30 Grammar jingles as a group- all kids

12:40 Girls: Diagram sentences, work on verb tenses and write letters to person of choice.

I always want to share this and forget. Window crayons! The best invention ever! If you don't have a chalk or dry erase board you can use any window instead. 

Sentences for diagramming  on the window. When you are done simply wet a paper towel and wipe away!

L: Multiplication.com( addition and subtraction)

1:00 Start lunch while girls write , reload washer and dryer, fold clothes, assist kids as needed.

1:30- Kids use tickets for “T.V. Time” while they eat. ( accountable kids)

I eat and play on the internet then decide that the kids show( Nanny 911- they love watching the “bad “ kids ) is more interesting so I watch with them. Tidy kitchen ,soak lentils for dinner.

2:00 Start school back up: L and I work on a math lesson, girls: Spelling and Reading Comp.

2:30 Quickly reply to chat from hubs online while A feeds dog before we start. A: Math lesson, K Reading: 30 min.in chapter book, L: math worksheet.

2:45 Happy dance! A caught on to math lesson much faster than we allotted time for- work on worksheets. Run a another load of laundry( if you didn't realize yet- it's laundry day).

3:00 K: Math- test, lesson, and worksheets, L&A 30 minute reading in their selected chapter books.

3:30 School is out! 30 minute tidy of house, kids ask to spend more time cleaning their room- um yes!!!!!!!.......

4:15 Coffee with the hubs – kids free time ( accountable kids)

A& L Cranium fort kit

K: Painting

5:15 Start kids baths and dinner

5:35 Dinner is working- I unload the dishwasher and re-load. Hubs works in the garage kids come in and out of showers / play/ spend time with J in garage. I work on this blog post.

6:25 Dinner

6:50 Clean kitchen

7:10 Shower- Kids playing

7:30 Emerge refreshed LOL! Kids cleaning up for the night

7:35 – 7:55 E-mail /correspondence

8:10 Reading aloud with kids( 1 chapter each from their selected book)

9:20 kids brush teeth and in bed

9:40 post to blog post.......

After this I will probably need 20 minutes to get tomorrows supplies together

Then have tea, spend some time with my husband and go to bed.

Oh ya!, and repeat tomorrow ….....

In case you are interested here is the recipe for the lentils:

Soak lentils for a few hours before cooking( I start ours soaking at lunch time)

About 1 hour before you want to eat:  To a large pot add

 4 TBSP Olive oil

1/2 a diced red onion

1 tsp. curry powder

1 celery stalk( I leave it whole because we don't eat it. It's just there for flavor.

3 medium carrots ( diced)

1 large bay leaf or 2 small

1/4 tsp dry thyme

1/4 tsp dry rosemary

Sweat these down over medium low for about 10-15 minutes

add 1/4 cup tomato sauce

2- 32 oz. boxes of vegetable broth- or chicken 

2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp pepper

3/4 tsp. salt

Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 40-50 minutes

Serve with brown rice and a salad or vegetable.

I hope this was informative and I will see you again tomorrow! Same time, same place!