Routine. Dreaded by some, loved by others. I happen to love routine; thriving with predictability and thoughtfully curated spaces of time. Kids specifically thrive in routine. Not that our lives need to lived with rigid, unmovable days drawn up on a chart with no exceptions or room for spontaneity. But I find with areas like school, a well practiced routine helps my kids know what is expected of them and helps our mornings run so much smoother.
Some homeschool families, like my own family as I was growing up, ran a tight ship with start times, snack breaks, and lunch breaks. I have found that a looser time schedule works better for my family. Try our what works for your family! When you’re trying new rhythms, try to stick to the plan for a week or two to see how your kids react. And I don’t mean the whining and complaining; I mean hopefully a calmness that comes with the predictability.
In our house, a strict start time doesn’t really fit in this phase of life. I work evenings a few days a week and if the evenings get late, I prioritize flexibility to sleep in a little bit the following morning and take things slower than the other days of the week. So because of that, we begin our school day anywhere from 8-9:30am or so. Give or take haha. I try to give my kids a heads up when we’re about 15 minutes out from starting. This way they can wrap up whatever activity they are doing and won’t put up a fight when I ask them to sit down for school.
Every school day starts with reading a Bible story and then we discuss the story using the S.O.A.P. study method.
Scripture – get into His Word!
Observation – what was the story about? What things stand out?
Application – how can this story apply to our lives today? What have we learned?
Prayer – we pray over our day and add any prayer requests in there.
We have read and enjoy the Kids’ Storybook Bible. Every story points back to Christ and it is truly so beautiful how the Bible and the whole world revolve around Jesus. The Louie Gigglio kid devotionals are also books we like.
Storybook Bible https://amzn.to/3CKQOw5
Louie Giglio Devotional Books
How Great is Our God https://amzn.to/4i12Ccm
The Wonder of Creation https://amzn.to/438uvea
Indescribable https://amzn.to/3QsPZuI
After our Bible story and prayer time, we dive into whatever chapter book we’re reading outloud at the time! My mom read so many books outloud to us growing up in a similar school morning routine and it’s one of the best takeaways from my own homeschool experience. The kids love the stories and as the list grows of books we’ve read together, I realize again and again how it is not time wasted; but it’s time we have spent together with a good book, a cup of hot chocolate, a cozy blanket on the couch, making memories and forming relationships that will last a lifetime.
The Read Aloud Family https://amzn.to/41jN2TK
Once we are done with our cozy cup of hot chocolate and the good books, we start the school part of homeschool. With elementary aged kids, we focus on reading, handwriting, and math. I have found that subjects like science, social studies, history and government, are all covered during normal everyday conversations. Whether it’s a question about something we see when we’re out and about, or conversations about what we see on a hike or at the park, or discussing groceries, how to plan a menu, and making lists, I am amazed at how much my kids glean from normal experiences in childhood! School and learning isn’t limited to a classroom or designated school time. We are always learning, even as adults! One of my goals for myself and our family homeschool is to raise lifelong learners. So my kids need to see me learn and dig into new topics or try and fail at something new.
Now onto the schoolwork. We use the Good and the Beautiful Math and I love the simply laid out lessons and review every day. We have used it for two and a half years now and I plan to use it as my daughter enters kindergarten in the fall! For reading, we considered Hooked on Phonics and a book called “100 Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read.” In the end we decided on “100 Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read” but both look like comparable methods to teach your child to read. Reading for my oldest has been an uphill battle, but he is taking such strides! I will be sharing more on his journey in future blog posts. But simply put, he has a condition called strabismus that makes it difficult for his eyes to point at the same thing, making one eye turn off. We have been doing weekly vision therapy at Omni Vision Learning Center in Monticello, MN. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough! Because of that, we have taken reading lessons slower, allowing time for him to not be frustrated and taking breaks when we get frustrated.
The Good and the Beautiful Math https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/products/math-2-course-set/
Hooked on Phonics https://amzn.to/3X7s6gl
“100 Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read” https://amzn.to/4gHWnJj
Finally, we include handwriting. We have focused so much on vision therapy, that for a while handwriting took a back burner. But we have recently added it back and it’s been a great addition. We use the Good and the Beautiful handwriting. The price point is great and it’s simple, straight to the point, and easy to follow. It also includes short Bible verses to copy, which I love!
As a homeschool family, we abide by state laws. Those requirements vary from state to state, but one way we daily keep up with state requirements is tracking what we do. What lessons we do, subjects, etc. Below is an example of what we use to track our schoolwork. It’s a simple table from Microsoft Word and can be easily changed to suit your needs. Use it as a launching pad for your own ideas and method of homeschooling!
Depending on your family dynamic, what your individual homeschool goals are, or how many kids you have, your routine could look similar or very different. I hope this outline of our day gives you a place to build your own routine. Find what works best for your family! That’s the beauty of homeschooling. It’s totally individual and can be shifted to meet your needs. Enjoy these days with your kids! And building a day you enjoy and that works for your family will help you do that. Happy homeschooling!
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