What Exactly is Normal?
Many times people have asked me what exactly we do during the day. We do not “do school” as such and so they are confused as to what we are really doing.
A normal day in our house! Wow! There isn’t one…
When we do school (at least what the children would call “school”) it is mostly phonics and copywork. One child drills another with some homemade flash cards while I do reading from Mcguffey’s with each child. Then we all sit down at the table to do some copywork – whatever strikes our fancy. We do have the Italic workbooks, but my older ones usually copy out their scripture memory work, or a poem or a quote. They decorate the page and put it in their binders. For spelling, my oldest two work through Rod and Staff workbooks on their own. We use a dictionary constantly in our daily life (my husband included) so my children have naturally picked that up and will use it if they feel the need. Read aloud consumes most of our time. We are currently working our way through:
Story of the World, Vol 3
John Bunyan (Heroes of the Faith)
More All of A Kind Family
Mission Stories from the Millers
Listening to Music (University textbook on how to listen to classical music)
Our Amazing World (Older nature encyclopaedia)
Exploring England: An Introduction to Nature Craft
Little Pilgrim’s Progress (although we’ve already been once through the original)
The Long Winter (by my husband)
The King’s Daughter and Other Stories for Girls
Diana Waring’s What in the World Tapes
Mrs G Tapes
Some bio’s about Bach (he’s our composer this term)
A Child’s History of the World (I use it as a sort of review for SOTW)
The Story of Canada
Plus whatever library books we have out (about 50 at any givien time!)
Laurie Bluedorn once said to read what you want to read and forget about what level your children are at. This has worked well for us. I’ve also abandoned books that I was not enjoying, telling my children as much of a reason as I could. In Charlotte Mason fashion, I mostly read one chapter or section from each book at a time, but we have been known to spend all day on one book!
Around the edges we try to fit in piano lessons (we’re all learning together) and Spanish and French (Rosstta Stone from the library)
We also have a time of worship in the morning which includes Scripture Fellowship Memory books (and prizes) and we are reading through the New Testment this year. I try to do a lap page type craft for the chapter.
While I read, the children work on Postal Bible Studies, a craft, drawing, or an assigned toy. Mostly we just all curl up on the couch and listen. I make it a habit to sit and listen when my hubby reads aloud (even though I could easily find other things to do). I think my children have really learned from this example.
Recently they started writing letters. They couldn’t find any penpals, so they just started writing letters to some other children in the city. The children wrote back, and now a few moms are writing me. This could be fun and a great way to learn copywork stuff!
After my oldest read Little Women, my children started a family newspaper. They often work on that as individuals or together.
We have a chore system in place and my children are responsible for quite a bit around the house although we really fall down in this area. My house is a mess right now - and I am really not exaggerating. Our basement is being built, so everything is on the main floor! Too much stuff, not enough room, and it spells disaster! I should mention that my children help out on house renos on Saturdays (our workday). They are learning to frame, insulate, drywall, paint, level floors, etc. I count this as school!
That’s it. I am trying to get more of a routine going, but I’ve been praying over it for about eight weeks and still have not felt any leading. I think God really wants me to focus on some stuff in my life, and I am trying to be open and honest with the children about this.
Whatever we are doing, we are usually doing it together. Many experts talk about how this is one of the most important things you can do for children (the family that works together stays together!)
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