What we do in our family studies time varies depending on the time of year. The consistent beginning is we sing a hymn or children’s church song, someone prays, and we discuss some scripture or topic that we apply scripture to. This often is where character discussion comes in for us. When we read about Esther we talk about how she chose to have courage (do something right even though she was afraid) and how we can too.
After that we may read aloud a chapter of our family read aloud, or look at a piece of art, or listen to a music piece, or do science together (reading, activity or experiment), or have narrations about history readings (not everyone is reading or listening to the same book, though we stay on the same general topic). This makes it possible for the kids to have their reading and study reinforced and brings up lots of conversation between siblings when one mentions something and it reminds another child of something they learned that fits in. (We do require that you do not interrupt, you wait until they are finished speaking).
Is it quiet? Mostly during read aloud, but lots of comments during just about everything else (and we’ve worked on the quiet in read alouds for years). They all want to share and talk and help.
For your 15 year old – you may want to free them from the group work beyond the first few minutes. My 14 year old does science separate from the rest of the kids (next in age is 4 grades younger). So she may choose to sit and listen in a bit on the younger kids science or she may not. She does share in narration for history in the group usually.
I have found that if we can’t do all our family subjects in the morning in a row then the best time to do another family subject is after a meal – because we’re all gathered at the table and aren’t waiting for someone to come from another room.
For art – have one day a week where you do art, then they can do it on their own the rest of the time.
For writing – I often have all the kids 5th grade and under doing the same art project, but they do it at their own preferred time of the day. So one child may do writing first after group work while another may choose to do their writing last. The last few weeks two of my kids were writing a Doctor Who adventure. Each day they were given the same task. Sometimes they did it at the same time, other days not. The next child wanted to do an ABC writing where they come up with things for every letter of the alphabet related to a theme. (Ex: A is for Austen, the writer of this book. B is for Mr. Bingley, the congenial soul. C is for country homes. D is for dance, where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy first meet.) The child after that is a non-reader so he told me what to write each day and I jotted it down. Again, my high schooler has a separate writing plan. That’s just the age she is at. She is working on writing novels this year.
Manners – yes, this is slow! One thing that helps – have a ‘manners meal’ each week where you all focus on one or two things to practice. Then have the kids pay attention at other meals to see if they can catch mom or dad breaking the rule. Oh, and this manners meal is a great time each week to use candles and other things to make it special. Also, consider planning a special dinner to invite a person to that the kids would enjoy listening to – a missionary, traveler, or someone who can tell stories from their childhood. Let them know it is coming up and you want to prepare by using your manners so that the person will feel comfortable in your home for dinner. (My kids didn’t realize that part of why we use manners is to make others feel comfortable eating with us, speaking with us, and being around us.)
