Homeschooling at Anne’s House 2010-2011

I guess it’s getting to be a tradition. How is Anne going to homeschool her children this year? Well, it’s been a busy summer and I’m feeling a tad disorganized, but here are my plans for the coming year.

We’re in the middle of developing curriculum for several subjects because we haven’t found things that are a “perfect fit.” But what do we do in the meantime?! This year, we’ve decided to use ready-made curriculum, much of it from ABeka, to help us out as we put the finishing touches on our own curriculum. (I’d sure appreciate your prayers for this year, that we get some of these major projects done! Curriculum in development is marked with an * below. More information can be found here.)

By the way, for the 2009-2010 school year, we’ll be homeschooling a 9th-grade son, a 6th-grade daughter, a 5th-grade son, a 3rd-grade daughter, and a 1st-grade daughter. We also have a younger girl, age 3, and a baby son. (And a dog, and two cats, and a partridge in a pear tree…)

We start our school day breakfast and family worship, which consists of

• Keys for Kids
• Bible memory verses
• Catechism
• Prayer time
• Singing

Next the older children do chores, while I work with Baby on some developmental exercises. While I’m helping Baby, my 6th-grade daughter does some math drills* with my 3rd-grade daughter, since this is the age when we really emphasize memorizing math facts. My other children each start taking turns playing for short periods with my 2-year-old daughter.

At 10:00, after Baby goes down for his morning nap, we gather around the school table for a short music lesson*. Next we do some grammar together, using my own lesson plans* as well as occasional Language worksheets from Abeka. Then we finish with some writing, currently using Writing Strands and Complete Writing Lessons for the Middle Grades.

Then my oldest son heads off to church with his Pastor Dad, where they’ll spend the morning together. His Dad tutors him in a few subjects, but most of it he’s now able to do on his own. I help him with Spanish in the afternoon. (Whew! It looks like a lot!)

• Geometry from Abeka
• Biology from Abeka
• World Geography from Abeka
• Bible Study*
• Bible Memory from Awana
• Chapter Books from Sonlight
• Literature from Abeka
• Spelling from Abeka
• Health from Food Renegade
• Piano
• Art from Alpha Omega
• Keyboarding from Abeka
• Practical Drafting Workbook
• Spanish from Abeka

Meanwhile, I’ll do some one-on-one tutoring with my school-aged kids. We’ll do some phonics, spelling, reading, and math, using Abeka and All About Spelling. When I’m not working with someone, he or she is responsible to do independent assignments, such as Bible reading, chapter books, history and science reading, copy work, and and music practice. I finish up by snuggling with my youngest daughters on the couch, reading Bible stories and picture books.

By now, Baby is awake again, ready to be fed. Next we make lunch together, the kids taking turns helping me in the kitchen. Other kids jump at the chance to get on my computer for typing practice and emailing friends.

At lunchtime, I read to the kids from a chapter book, usually historical fiction listed in Christine Miller’s All Through the Ages.

After lunch, the kids clean up the kitchen while I again spend some time with Baby and then tuck the youngest kids into bed for an afternoon nap. Next we head outside or to the basement for P.E., health, and games. The stretching feels good to me, too, as I’m still recovering from having a baby this last year.

Now it’s more one-on-one tutoring, as I check the independent work my older children have done so far today. I also have them narrate to me what they’ve read in their Bible reading, chapter books, history and science. I finish up by tutoring my oldest son in his  Spanish.

By now, I’m pretty tired! I send the kids outside or to another part of the house for play time, while I either lie down for a quick snooze or check my email. At supper, we spend time discussing history* together. In the evening, I take a few minutes for a piano lesson with one of my older children. Otherwise, the rest of my day is devoted to either working online (making e-zines, answering customer email, or working on curriculum development), working in the kitchen, or spending time with my husband.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into our homeschooling days!