A New Routine

We're adjusting to the addition of new commitments to our routine. I pout a little about this but am trying to be gentle with myself and know that now is not the time to judge and analyze if this routine is right, but to just accept it and go with it for awhile. I can re-evaluate at Christmas break.

Our days:

Monday: Classical Conversations from 9-12, then break for lunch and play. 3 PM: Gymnastics

Tuesday: Home ALL day. RCIA for Mom and Dad at night. This is rough - boys don't get to bed until late. Last night it was 10 pm. Way to late for my kids.
Will will do Math, Reading, and Writing. consistently on Tuesdays. There will be review and discussion of CC material. Lots of map and globe perusing. Jack is learning his letters, and practicing writing them. He counts beans or plays in his room while Will does Math. He also is very loud. : ) I ask for patience during Math lessons. I also need to work on firming up more of a routine for this day. I revolt a bit on this. Part of me says just as long as we get it done, the other part stresses about "when" that will be.... if I just could have a set time we would all expect it and get it done.

Wednesday. Lake Farm School for Will. In the morning, before he leaves, I am making sure he finishes up any math that didn't get done on Tuesday so that a new concept can be introduced on Thursday, or more Review pages can be started. This will probably require no more than 10 minutes of his time. I should work to make Tuesday, ,Thurday and Friday mornings feel the same for the boys. Strength in rhythm. Lessons and chores in morning, play after.

Thursday. Math, Reading, Writing. This day will be at home in the morning, with occasional field trips after our lessons are done. This week we are going to the zoo. Evening is Boy Scouts (except no Scouts this week as we have a camping night this weekend).

Friday: Math, Reading, Writing. I have a homeschool calendar off line where I am more specific about our Language Arts focus. I am also looking into a Spelling program. There is a home school recess day that we can go to on Fridays if we want.

My goals for this first quarter:
Continue with Math-U-See program consistently.
Improve Will's reading.
Start a Spelling program.
Stay on track with CC memory work.

I have found that this memory works gives us a jumping off point into all kinds of wonderful subjects. Last week we learned the 5 Kingdoms of Living Things: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, and Monera. We talked about each of these, and checked out books at the library. We will have many more discoveries like this thru the quarter because of CC so I feel confident with our Science scope. We are learning the time line of history (at least one version of it). History covered.

We also will be studying the Saints this year. Right now we are reading books about St. Francis. We celebrate Michelmas, and Martinmas with Lake Farm School. We'll be making a Saints book that will include pictures, and narration from the books we read.

And above all of this - is the pure play of two brothers all day long as they journey this age of childhood TOGETHER. Its my greatest joy to watch them play.