Our 2009/2010 School Year

I just wanted to post our homeschool meanderings for everyone. We will be starting school September 1st, like we have for about 5 or 6 years now. We do school roughly 4 hours a day 4 days a week for roughly 45 weeks a year. Taking off Christmas and Vacation/life. Giving us a total of 720 hours of 'class room' school. The other 280+ hours (MO requires 1000 hours of school) will easily be made up in many other ways, mostly in reading, writing, and school video's.

Tyrus our 4 year old will be doing miscellaneous school because I don't usually buy curriculum for a child before 3rd grade. However my friend Karen gave me plenty to keep him busy throughout the morning hours and he loves doing school with his brother.

I will be rotating our school so it will look like this:

Everyday: English, Math, Reading, Spelling
Mon-Wed: Science, Music, Writing
Tue-Thurs: History, Art, Biblical Latin

For P.E. Devin will be volunteering at HOH every week on Tue or Wed from 2-4pm. He is also involved in Baseball, Basketball, and Bowling throughout the year.

Our Homeschool Schedule for 2009/2010:

7-9am All are done as a family except dress and rooms
-Dress
-Pick up rooms
-Cook/Eat/clean up Breakfast
-Garden chores in summer House chores in winter or a mix if needed
-Bible Time
-Get school books out and ready



9am Reading-we read lots of classical books out loud for this class
9:30am Math-U-See Pre-Algebra
10am snack
10:15am Spelling with Spelling Power
10:30am English Intermediate Language Lessons
11am Science Apologia Physical or History MOH II Early Church and Middle ages
11:30am Music guitar lessons or Art
12pm Writing Faith Writers or Biblical Latin for beginners
12:30pm lunch
2-4pm volunteer at HOH once a week

I also plan on having the children doing independent reading for at least 30min-to an hour a day or watch a school-ish video from time to time.

So what do ya think?


Faith

How I keep from losing my job!

Well we all know that a house wife is a full time job and add homeschool to the mix and your just bogged down with stuff to do. I know most 'out of the house' working people probably don't see it that way but we homeschool mom's know we never stop working. Between the chores THAT NEVER END BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE HOME ALL DAY the errands we must run because WE ARE AT HOME ALL DAY SO WE MUST HAVE PLENTY OF TIME the homeschooling we do which I know my list says it takes 4 hours but really...it takes more than that, their is the missing assignment, the baby interrupting, my grading, filing, making the next day’s schedule I bet it's more like 6 hours a day when all is said and done! Then there is also the normal day to day stuff like dinner, laundry, dishes, etc. It's a full time job!

So in this full time job you can get so lost without a schedule right? I have been doing one that I like and I posted it earlier but how do I stay on task, how do I not lose the schedule, etc. I am going to explain what so far has worked for me.

First I think of the schedule as a must. Yet I don't want a minute by minute guide to my day so I can do stuff like this (posting) with my morning instead of working out. I also make my schedule give us plenty-beyond plenty of room. (I scheduled 2 hours for chores when they actually take 1 hour) so we never get off schedule because the boys were playing, they broke something, or because someone called, etc. Most of the school time is actual school time so I have learned that if an interruption happens then we can eat into other time, like the way over scheduled lunch hour or the 2 hours of free time after school. I made sure to cover my ground. I also gave myself time in the morning for errands (8-10) and in the afternoon (3-5) if need be. If I know that I have something to do out of the house, I try to do those chores either really fast, the night before, or skip what I don't have to do.

Also about how I keep the schedule, if you read my old post you know my schedule system. Well I changed it up just a bit. First I no longer keep my white board next to the computer, instead I keep it on the frig. and instead of one big white board I purchased two smaller magnetic ones. One has an erasable calendar which I write all that is going on for the month and each person has their own color on the white board. So if Stuntman has something going on all his projects for the month are written in green, and so on. This is really neat to have. The other white board has my daily list of "to do" for the day. This white board includes all non-scheduled items like errands or extra cleaning that needs to be done. I also have the grocery list and the dinner for that day on there. I just erase the dinner from last night and right the new dinner. This also helps me to not forget to pull something out for dinner because when I grab breakfast out of the frig, the word dinner is staring me in the face. The grocery list on the frig is so cool because the markers are right there and as I run out of something I am not looking for a pen.

Okay now to keep track of my schedule. Well I use to have it taped to the white board but there is no room on my frig for that so I tacked the schedule on the wall next to the frig and pantry. This way I still see if first thing in the morning and throughout the day, it reminds me to stay on task. I think we all had it memorized after day 3 so it's not too hard to do. I like easy stuff!

Well I hope that helps other moms out there. I got my white boards for I think about 5-6 dollars each at Wal-Mart and they came with magnets and 1 black marker. I think I got my colored markers from Wal-Mart with magnets on them and stuck them on the frig as well.

you can see at the bottom of the calendar I do have a small version of our schedule. It does not have the detail list of our chores or school but it has the time of when we are suppose to be doing curtain things.

I pray this helps you as much as it has helped me. Now if someone can tell me how to keep my desk uncluttered that would be great!

Latte

Okay this school year is so far so good, but super crazy busy! The main reason it's so busy right now is my dear sweet husband decided to take me on a small vacation to "Aa de La Hospital" for 3 days and 3 nights. We did not get the private suite though, but we did have cable! Can you say FOOD NETWORK? And get this my husband did not eat almost the whole time we were there. I don’t know how someone can watch cooking shows all day and not eat! It seems he needed some stones removed from his gal-bladder (and the bladder itself) and the extra stay was because his pancreas was going kuku from it. So when I got home I was husband, wife, mom, and teacher!!!!!! Bet you did not know I could be all that did ya?

Well school last week went smooth aside from my having to hold the fort down. We did most everything on time and completed all the work. The only thing I need to do is look at his math to make sure he is ‘getting’ the work he is doing. I got into a stump last year where I hated grading math because there were SO MANY PROBLEMS! So I told Stuntman this year that if he got them most of his problems right he could cut back on how many he did...do you really need to do about 40 or more problems every day? and most being repetitive? Okay I now what your thinking so I will help you feel better, my house is super trashed! And not the normal everyday trashed, more like almost gross trashed! So I might have got school covered, but the rest is just a joke!


I forgot to add on my last blog about our school year that we homeschool year round...kinda have to because I will can not be tide down to this house 7 hours a day for 180 days (NOT INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS) I really don't have the stomach for that venture. I like saying on a Tuesday..."guess what today is a holiday" for no reason what so ever! Homeschooling year round also gives us EVERY Friday off for a 3 day weekend, long holidays so when my husband gets 11 days off for Christmas (that's right ladies, don't be jealous that I get my man for 11 or more days in December-though I SO my husband would like it in June so he could get more of his 'Hunny Do' list done) So year round schooling works out great this way. And because we homeschool year round we are able to do school 4 days 4 hours each day, isn't that super easy for all involved? And because our state law requires 1000 hours this alone gives us around 800. The rest he gets from 4-H, Field Trips, Life Lessons, Community Service, Bible Study, Educational shows and very little weekend homework.


I have a lot more I would like to post but there just is not enough time in the day, so for now....I will leave you with a teaser! I plan to post in the up coming weeks on 'Life with Cancer part 3'-if you have not read part 1 and part 2 now would be a good time. I also plan to post about why we vote republican-and our take on the parties running and their issues, about my homeschool favorites-I have many great ones I can't wait to share!, and many many more, I just can't remember them right now.

Latte

Our School Schedule and Bookieness

Okay here is our daily Schedule to start September 1st M-Th:

11 year old Stuntman:
6-8am Chores/Eat
8-9:45am Yard Work or Guitar Lessons
9:45-10am Snack
10-10:30am Reading or Language Arts
10:30-11am Spelling AVKO and Spell City.com(test every Monday)
11-12pm History- The Mystery of History
12-12:30pm Lunch
12:30-3pm KONOS and Math
3-5pm Free Time
5-6pm Dinner
6-7pm Family Time or 4-H
7-8pm Chores/Bedtime prep
8-9pm Free Time
9pm Bed Time

3 year old Little Thunder:
6-8am Chores/Eat/Cuddle time
8-9:45am Yard time/mom time
9:45-10am Snack
10-12am School more School or Play time
12-12:30pm Lunch
12:30-3ish Nap Time
3-5pm Play Time/Help Mommy Cook
5-6pm Dinner
6-7pm Family Time
7-8pm Chores/Bath/Bed prep
8-8:30pm Bed time

Age something something Latte Mom:
6-8am Chores/Prep Dinner/Cook
8-9am Yard Work
9-10am Little Thunder Time/Snack Prep
10-10:30am Reading time with boys
10:30-11am Spelling
11-12pm History
12-12:30pm Lunch /Lay Little Thunder down
12:30-3pm Teach Stuntman from KONOS
3-5pm Cook Dinner
5-6pm Dinner or Work
6-7pm Family Time or Work
7-8pm Chores/Ty bath time/Get boys ready for bed
8-8:30pm Little Thunder time/Story Time
8:30-9pm Stuntman Time
8:30-9pm Me Time/Hubby Time/Bed prep
9:30pm Bed Time

Age something something Thunder:
5:15-5:40am Chores
5:40-6:30am Drive To Work
6:30-4pm Work
4-5pm Drive Home/Get Groceries When Needed
5-6pm Dinner
6-7pm Family Time
7-8pm Rest
8-9:30pm Rest/Get Ready For Bed
9:30pm Bed Time


Click on any of the links above and below to see what products I am talking about.

Okay to give you the run down first I know our schedules look too full but trust me I gave plenty of room for most everything. It does not take 2 hours to do chores but it helps to have 2 hours cuz we are trying to wake up!~) Chores are usually stuff like, get dressed, make bed, clean room, walk/feed dogs, laundry and eat. For me morning chores include a small workout and shower...and hair and makeup. Little Thunder's morning chores only include getting his cloths out and eating and sometimes helping me.

On day's it's raining or too cold Stuntman will do his guitar lessons, I figure about 2-3 times a week.

KONOS is a unit studies,classical style, and an all in one program that covers Bible, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Literature, and health and safety. KONOS also like the mystery of history covers all ages so while I am teaching Stuntman I can also teach Little Thunder. Very cool! What is also very cool is it's only one book and all other resources I need to get I can buy on Amazon, get from the library, or at supply stores as needed. It is 'mom hands on' a few hours a week, but I think I need to be in my kids work more. Besides most of his other work is pretty easy so doing this a few hours a day of KONOS is not so bad. I am really excited because this is Stuntman's kind of school...Like we will do stuff like make an otoscope or a royal costume, learn sign language, make a bird feeder, go to the zoo, etc. Also this book covers character traits like Attentiveness, Obedience, Orderliness, Trust, Patience, Stewardship, and Honor. This book seems like loads of fun for a boy huh! They have cool stuff for a girl too.

Friday's I work all day or shop so the boys get to either go shopping with me, with trips to the park and library or go to Grandma's house. They don't usually have to do school on this day.

Well that is all I can think of, I pray that you enjoyed reading this.

Latte

Back To School Deals!!! Stock up now!!!

Okay if ya want to get some pretty great deals on items for back to school visit THIS lady's website and get a list of places that are selling back to school items for FREE, .01 cent, .05 cents, and a dollar or 2-3 dollar stuff!!!! I got 24 - 70count collage rule spiral notebooks for $1.20 !!!! That is right .05 cents each!!!! I wrote down the list of items stuck it in my purse and when I am out near those stores I will be geton me some deals!!! So go check out her blog!

Latte