Back to basics

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  • September 30, 2013 at 1:07 am
    HollyS
    Participant

    If you were going to spend time focusing on good habits and organizing the house, what would you focus on school-wise?  I’m already starting to get tired (I’m 20 weeks pregnant) and our house became a disaster around the time my youngest was born.  I’m starting to fall behind already with this pregnancy and think we need to simplify things for a time.  I really need to pass off more jobs on my DC, but it’s not easy with them.  🙁

    So, if you’ve done this, I’d love to hear what your schedule was and what subjects you focused on.  I’ve thought about setting a timer and moving through it all as quickly as possible, but I think I still need some sort of priority in our subjects.

    September 30, 2013 at 1:54 am
    missceegee
    Participant

    Chores (happens first thing here)

    Bible

    Habit Training (incl. chore training)

    Math

    Reading Instruction &/or Literature depending on ages

    Penmanship

    Alternate a special thing – poetry/artist/composer/hymn/folk song

    Nature Study

    House Organization, etc. (list of projects or rooms to work through together)

    History (I’ve come to realize that anything in elementary years is gravy.)

     

    September 30, 2013 at 10:34 am
    Tristan
    Participant

    Our subjects when we do basics are “four R’s”:

    Religion – Scripture reading/study, singing hymns, or scripture memory fall under here. We usually focus just on reading the scriptures when we are in basics mode and I turn on a cd of hymns in the morning when waking children up.

    Reading – Whether you are working on phonics and learning to read, reading something aloud together, or a child’s individual daily reading, this is where it falls. At basics time I have independently reading children spend 20-30 minutes a day reading a book I’ve assigned. This can be anything, history, science, or literature. Just focus on one. Then I try to read aloud 1 book to the whole family each day, at least 1 chapter. I can do that from the couch, pregnant or with a new baby in arms. Again, this can be anything, history, science, or literature. Slow down and linger through a book.

    Writing – Learning to form letters children spend 3 minutes on copywork while independently writing children write for 10 minutes a day. This can be adding on to a continuing story, a note to someone, anything. I don’t focus on their spelling/mechanics, just on getting what is in their head on to paper.

    aRithmetic – Slog on through math. It’s just better to keep going than to end up on a long break and have children forget what they’ve learned. Even if it means you make no forward progress and just have review problems each day. Hold your ground in math!

    September 30, 2013 at 12:14 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    Holly, I should clarify. I listed my order of importance, not have to dos. Blessings, Christie

    September 30, 2013 at 12:33 pm
    Angelina
    Participant

    Tristan (love your list above!)…when you are in “basics” mode, do you have the older kids who are assigned the independent reading do an oral narration for you at any point in the day?

    October 1, 2013 at 3:33 am
    Claire
    Participant

    1. Bible Study/Scripture Memory/Devotions

    2. Character Training – Household Chores/Personal Development List/Volunteering/Church Obligations

    3. Literature/Subject Living Books

    4. Math

    5. History

    That would be my top five in order of importance in times of stress, wacky schedules, days with lots of activities, etc.  I’d add Science too but then I’d be tempted to add EVERYTHING back in there!  My kids would say I’m bad about thinking “anything is possible, in no time at all” which makes everyone crazy, but is just my nature.  I think everyone likes to work like their hair is on fire.  I’m trying to learn that in my household I’m the only one with that mentality. 

    October 1, 2013 at 10:31 am
    Tristan
    Participant

    Angelina – Yes, but we’re pretty informal. I rarely use the words narration in my request. If, by the late afternoon, a child hasn’t told me about what they’ve been reading I ask. “Hey, what happened today in your book?” “What are you liking about your book?” “What are the characters like in your book?” and so on. And I only ask one question like that to get them rolling. I find that it works well to do this with a child as I’m helping them with a chore or they’re helping me cook a meal or snack. It’s conversation while our hands are busy.

    October 1, 2013 at 1:59 pm
    HollyS
    Participant

    Lots of great ideas!  Thanks for sharing!  

    Here’s my plan…I’d love any feedback or suggestions!:

    chores/breakfast until 9

    School (as much as we can get through until 11:30:

    • “4 Rs” –love this concept!

    • History or Science–We are really enjoying these and I’d hate to give them up!

    • “one special thing”–we could even dto this during lunch!

    Lunch/clean up kitchen

    Afternoon project–decluttering/deep cleaning 3 days per week, nature study or handicrafts on remaining 2 days

    Literature–we’re working through Chronicles of Narnia, this would give me a nice break after cleaning

    Dinner prep while the older three play outdoors…or if I manage a crock-pot meal, we could head to the park!

    Dinner/dinner clean-up 

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