Harrington Harmonies: Back to School Ready: Weekend Edition #1

What is a Homeschool Day like in the life of a military child?

So much changes for a military child, so routine is essential for both he and I.
After summer and the disruption of so many things with the move, I welcome the routine of the homeschool day. After morning stuff (breakfast, getting ready, and doing chores) the homeschool day begins.

We start our day with putting out our flag and saying our pledge. It's important to me that we honor that which dad has sworn to protect. We are very proud of our country.

This year we are using Sonlight Core D as our main curriculum. But I'd say we'll be doing Sonlight...light. I like to pick, choose, substitute and omit when it feels appropriate.

Our school day could be explained as "Blocks" of time, each being 20-30 min. Now keep in mind that I am homeschooling an active fourth grade boy. After almost every block, a 10-15 min. break is mandatory.

1. The Catechism Block (starting at about 0830)

This time is for prayer, reading the bible, celebrating feast days, the liturgical season, reading about the saints, or memory verses.

Boys love adventure, so we found a creative way to make memorizing verses fun through Dragon Raid.

Above our homeschool bookshelf is a bible poster from Dragon Raid and below is our Bible with Latin translation. Once he learns the verse he can also learn it in Latin. This reinforces what he's learning in Latin and the incentive is that in the game he can get more points for it!

My husband plays this learning system game with John for fun as part of his Dad's and Dice gaming club for bringing fathers and sons together. Within the game, by reciting bible verses you defeat monsters. It uses Christian allegory similar to that of The Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings.

I have already been finding him memorizing the verses on his own time and attempting them in Latin.

2. The History and Geography Block. (0900)

Some of our Historical Fiction Readers.

Sonlight has wonderful history readers and most of the curriculum is weaved around the reading of historical fiction. I really enjoy this type of history. There is also the use of a timeline and mapping places and events from the reading.

3. The Reading Block. (0945)

This is when we do our Read-Aloud and discussion of vocabulary as well as comprehension. Of course some days if time is off, the read aloud can easily be skipped over to be done at night before bed at which time it seems a treat to get to stay up a little later. Homeschooling truly is a lifestyle!

During the reading block he also reads his reader. This is the perfect time for me to step out for a bit and change out laundry or vacuum or whatever. When I return, we have discussion over what he read.

Two essentials for our school. Handy storage for current reading and the library box which will get rolled back and forth to the library for rotating supplemental books. I find myself getting a lot of how to books for project ideas.

The reading area is very important. A good 1-2 hours or more a day is devoted to reading. But of course I am sure there will be times when we retire to the living room for more comfort.

4.The Math Block. (1030)

From my Teaching Textbooks Review, you would know that both my son and I have had great success with Teaching Textbooks (TT) for math. It is a good change of pace for him to do a subject on the computer. This is an area that he can work on independently; TT is so user friendly that it can be done at anytime which is a plus for me and "trying to get it all done".

Daily Mass:

At 11:30 we go to daily Mass. This is the anchor of our day. We are blessed right now to be only a block away from the Chapel. A little gift from the Lord to me! And I plan to take full advantage. Even if I don't get the plan accomplished in other subjects, if I get to mass I will consider the day a success!

Then we have Lunch and Recess time. For us recess is simply free playing time.

Saving the best concentration times of the day for instruction time, after a nice lunch break we hit...

5. The Language Arts Block (1300)

This is when we do the last "R" of the three R's- the writing. This block includes one or more of the following:

Sequential Spelling (Read my Review)

Handwriting Without Tears

Prima Latina and/or

Grammar Lessons from Sonlight Core D- mostly dictations and writing exercises.

I have gotten so tired of Dry Erase, that I decided to go to traditional chalkboard theme for the new homeschool room paired with rainbow colors. This board is used for dictations and vocabulary. Another one is used for spelling words.

This year one of my goals is for him to be writing the dictations without copying my modeling. As we begin he will be doing it still as copywork.

And lastly,

6. The Science Block (1345)

Science is John's favorite subject. Since we are doing Sonlight Science F- Anatomy and Human Medicine, something we both have an interest in, we save the funnest thing for last! This time is a great close for the day often doing projects and experiments. And I am looking forward to this book for our human body experiments:

Science becomes a bit more fun with books like this one.

This is a typical school day Monday through Thursday.

Friday we do only Block 1. This allows me time for the other things in life that need to happen...grocery shopping, cleaning, activities, doctors appointments, you name it.

By the time we finish up schooling it's time to get ready for dinner preparations and evening relaxation time. Every homeschool is unique. What's your homeschool day like?