Order of our day
One of the most helpful things you can do to achieve an ordered education at home is to create an order for your days. I think of it not as a strict schedule, but a rhythm. It is a little like a schedule because I list the times each activity should happen. This helps me to be sure that everything is getting its proper amount of time and that there is actually time for everything. The times help guide my day so that I do not spend too much time on one thing and then do not have time for another. But it is most like a rhythm because I know that I want the time to flow from one thing to the next without a stiff start and stop. We do not stop a lesson mid-sentence or mid-math problem just because the clock says it is 10:30. I do want it to feel natural. I want it to flow. If the order to the day does not feel natural, it just does not work. It feels off, and we can all tell. I pay close attention to the kinds of activities that are next to each other in our order. I want to give my children times of hard work followed by times of more restful learning. I want the day to flow from very active pursuits to more inward and quiet pursuits.
I try very hard to make each day of the week follow the same order. When I know the order of our day and my children know the order of our day, there is less fumbling around, less wasted time, and everyone knows what to expect.
When setting up my days, first, I put in place all the things that must happen at the same time each day. For us, that is breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then I put in Morning Time and read aloud times because they must happen every day. Then, I work around those times and put everything else in between.
You probably will notice that our lessons are short. They are short on purpose. I always expect my children's full attention and best effort in every lesson. To help them accomplish this, I teach short lessons. I do not want my children falling in the habit of giving me anything less than their full attention and best effort. If lessons are long, they may develop the habit of not giving their full attention and best effort. So, I simply do not allow this to happen. I am present during their lessons to ensure full attention and best effort. If I ever see these standards beginning to slide, then I slide right up alongside them to help. Another big bonus to short lessons is that children will feel like they can do it, because they know it is just for a little while. What could be more motivating to a young child than knowing that they can do it and they will be done soon!
6:00 am: Rising!
Wake up, shower, get ready, make beds
7:00 am: Breakfast
8:00 am: Morning Work
M=Baking Day, T=Community Day, W=Soup Day, Th=Washing and Ironing day, F=Nature Study Day
8:30 am: Morning Time
Solfa Singing Lesson
Scripture and Poetry Memorization
Poetry Study, Music Study, Hymn Study, Habits
Latin, Picture Study, Christian Studies
Classic Read Aloud
9:00 am: Sophie’s Lessons (handwriting, math, reading)
9:30 am: Audrey’s Lessons (handwriting, math, reading)
10:00 am Ethan’s Lessons (handwriting, math, reading)
10:30 am: Circle Time
Seasonal Songs and Poems
Seasonal Story Time Read Aloud
10:45 am: Art Time
M=Coloring Day, T=Community Day, W=Modeling Day, Thursday=Painting Day, Friday=Handwork Day
11:00 am: Outside Play Time
12:00 pm: Lunch
12:45 pm: Story Time Treasures Read Aloud
1:00 pm: Nap Time, Quiet Time
Begin with Independent Reading on Couch Together
Quiet play and other pursuits
Work-out time for me
2:30 pm: Spelling, English, Writing Lessons for Audrey
3:15 pm: History, Science Lessons
4:00 pm: Play Time and Dinner Preparations
5:30 pm: Dinner
6:30 pm: Bath Time
7:00 pm: Bedtime Fantasy Stories Read Aloud
7:30 pm: Bedtime
8:00 pm: Rest Time for Mom and Dad
I try very hard to make each day of the week follow the same order. When I know the order of our day and my children know the order of our day, there is less fumbling around, less wasted time, and everyone knows what to expect.
When setting up my days, first, I put in place all the things that must happen at the same time each day. For us, that is breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then I put in Morning Time and read aloud times because they must happen every day. Then, I work around those times and put everything else in between.
You probably will notice that our lessons are short. They are short on purpose. I always expect my children's full attention and best effort in every lesson. To help them accomplish this, I teach short lessons. I do not want my children falling in the habit of giving me anything less than their full attention and best effort. If lessons are long, they may develop the habit of not giving their full attention and best effort. So, I simply do not allow this to happen. I am present during their lessons to ensure full attention and best effort. If I ever see these standards beginning to slide, then I slide right up alongside them to help. Another big bonus to short lessons is that children will feel like they can do it, because they know it is just for a little while. What could be more motivating to a young child than knowing that they can do it and they will be done soon!
6:00 am: Rising!
Wake up, shower, get ready, make beds
7:00 am: Breakfast
8:00 am: Morning Work
M=Baking Day, T=Community Day, W=Soup Day, Th=Washing and Ironing day, F=Nature Study Day
8:30 am: Morning Time
Solfa Singing Lesson
Scripture and Poetry Memorization
Poetry Study, Music Study, Hymn Study, Habits
Latin, Picture Study, Christian Studies
Classic Read Aloud
9:00 am: Sophie’s Lessons (handwriting, math, reading)
9:30 am: Audrey’s Lessons (handwriting, math, reading)
10:00 am Ethan’s Lessons (handwriting, math, reading)
10:30 am: Circle Time
Seasonal Songs and Poems
Seasonal Story Time Read Aloud
10:45 am: Art Time
M=Coloring Day, T=Community Day, W=Modeling Day, Thursday=Painting Day, Friday=Handwork Day
11:00 am: Outside Play Time
12:00 pm: Lunch
12:45 pm: Story Time Treasures Read Aloud
1:00 pm: Nap Time, Quiet Time
Begin with Independent Reading on Couch Together
Quiet play and other pursuits
Work-out time for me
2:30 pm: Spelling, English, Writing Lessons for Audrey
3:15 pm: History, Science Lessons
4:00 pm: Play Time and Dinner Preparations
5:30 pm: Dinner
6:30 pm: Bath Time
7:00 pm: Bedtime Fantasy Stories Read Aloud
7:30 pm: Bedtime
8:00 pm: Rest Time for Mom and Dad
