morning time
30-45 minutes

Every morning, to start off our day of lessons, we do Morning Time.  This is a time for our whole family to come together and focus on the true, good, and beautiful.  This time sets the tone for our day.  It prepares us for living out an ordered education. 

Adding Morning Time to our day has allowed me the opportunity to give my children an education that includes singing, scripture, poetry, music study, artist study, habit training, and Latin.  These were all subjects that I knew I wanted my children to experience.  However, before Morning Time was a part of our day, I was unable to "fit them in" or "find the time".

To make things simple, I keep all books and materials that I need for morning time in one place, our morning basket.  I do not ever have to scramble at the last minute gathering materials because they are always together within easy reach.    

This is what our Morning Time looks like each day.  I hope it will give you some ideas for your own.

Monday
  • Solfa Singing Lesson (5 minutes)
  • Scripture and Poetry Memorization (5 minutes)
  • Focused Poetry Study (10 minutes)
  • Latin (10 minutes)
  • Classic Read Aloud (10 minutes)
 
Tuesday
  • No morning time:  Classical Conversations Community Day
 
Wednesday
  • Solfa Singing Lesson (5 minutes)
  • Scripture and Poetry Memorization (5 minutes)
  • Music Study (10 minutes)
  • Picture Study (10 minutes)
  • Classic Read Aloud (10 minutes)
 
Thursday
  • Solfa Singing Lesson (5 minutes)
  • Scripture and Poetry Memorization (5 minutes)
  • Hymn Study (10 minutes)
  • Latin (10 minutes)
  • Classic Read Aloud (10 minutes)
 
Friday
  • Solfa Singing Lesson (5 minutes)
  • Scripture and Poetry Memorization (5 minutes)
  • Habits (10 minutes)
  • Christian Studies (10 minutes)
  • Classic Read Aloud (10 minutes)


Picture
Our Morning Basket
​Scripture Memorization
  • Recite each scripture verse together from card box.  (1 from the daily tab, 1 from the odd or even tab, one from the weekly tab, and 1 from the monthly tab)
  • Card box system and verses from Simply Charlotte Mason.
 
Poetry Memorization
  • Learn one new poem and practice it until it is mastered. 
  • Once a poem is mastered, add on a new poem to learn.
  • Each day, recite all mastered poems so far plus the new poem you are learning.
  • Poetry memorization system and poems from Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization by the Institute for Excellence in Writing.
 
Focused Poetry Study
  • Focus on one poet’s work for many months.
  • Read one poem each week from that poet.  Read the poem twice.
  • Children put the title of the poem on a blank page in their poetry books.  Then they draw and color their own picture to go with that poem.
  • Discuss favorite parts, beautiful language, and images created in their minds from the poem.
  • Also, spend a day or two reading a biography of the poet and narrate it.  Add a picture of the poet into your poetry book as well.
  • Enjoy the Poems series by Simply Charlotte Mason
 
Latin
  • Spend two days a week working through one Latin lesson.
  • Prima Latina and Latina Christiana by Memoria Press
 
Music Study
  • Focus on one composer for many months.
  • Listen to one piece by that composer once a week.  Remain quiet while listening.
  • Allow dancing or drawing and coloring to the feeling and tone of the music.
  • Use "Listen and Learn" notes to aid in discussion of music.
  • Use Music by DK Smithsonian to share additional pictures and information about instruments heard. 
  • Also, spend a day or two reading a biography of the composer and narrate it.  Add a picture of the composer into your music and art book as well.
  • Music Study with the Masters by Simply Charlotte Mason
 
Art Study
  • Focus on one artist for many months.
  • Do a picture study with one painting from the artist once a week. 
  • Have children look at the picture silently for 3-4 minutes. 
  • Encourage the children to notice all of the details in the painting.
  • Cover up the picture.  Children should narrate the picture by telling back everything they saw.
  • Talk about the picture together by asking leading questions.
  • Display the picture in the home.
  • Spend a day or two reading a biography of the artist and narrate it.  Add a picture of the artist to your music and art book as well.
  • Picture Study Portfolios by Simply Charlotte Mason
 
Hymn Study
  • Learn one new hymn and practice it until it is mastered. 
  • Once a hymn is mastered, add on a new hymn to learn.
  • Each day, sing all mastered hymns so far plus the new hymn you are learning.
  • Singing the Great Hymns by Simply Charlotte Mason
 
 
Habits
  • Select one habit to focus on for many months.
  • Once or twice a week, read a lesson together on that habit.
  • Work on that habit every day.  Purposefully teach, practice, and praise that habit.
  • Laying Down the Rails for Children by Simply Charlotte Mason
 
Christian Studies
  • Read one Bible story each week.
  • Children draw and color a picture to go with the story in their Christian Studies book.
  • Christian Studies by Memoria Press and the Golden Children’s Bible