Friday, December 14, 2007

Our Daily routine

Here is our daily routine that we generally follow:

Morning:

I don't set an alarm in the morning, but I usually wake up between 6:00 and 7:00. Here is my morning routine:
  • unload dishwasher
  • Plan dinner/thaw meat
  • Coffee & Bible reading/prayer time
  • Check /write to do list(usually do this when the kids start school)
  • Shower & dress
  • wipe down at least one bathroom (we have 4) if I'm ambitious I'll do all
  • Breakfast - we all make our own breakfast but sometimes I'll make a big breakfast (or
  • andrew will)
  • take vitamins
  • start washing (I try to get a load ready the night before)
  • read to sophie
  • prayer & bible study w/kids
  • make sure all kids do morning routine: make bed, wash up or shower, brush teeth, and personal bible reading
The older three boys have morning jobs that they rotate doing each week. They are: feed the dog, empty basement humidifier, and scoop kitty litter. Sophie and Christian usually play together after they do their morning routine.

We start school between 9:30 & 10:00 (the kids stay up late, they really need to start getting up earlier). The older two boys know what to do and get to work. Isaiah starts with silent reading and I have Christian and Sophie sit at the dinning room table with me. I get Sophie busy with coloring, puzzles or math blocks, then I help Christan.

It sometimes takes some coaxing to get Christian to sit down and focus, but once he does, he usually likes to get all his work done at one sitting. The order that Christian likes to do his schoolwork in is: Math, Explode the code (phonics), Bible, reading (he reads aloud to mom), and Language lessons.

After Isaiah reads, he joins us at the table and he works on math and Language arts. I work on correcting papers and I'm also available if Andrew and Charles have questions or need help. When Sophie gets tired of quiet play I have the boys rotate watching her for 20 or so mins each. We work until noon then we have lunch and break.

Afternoon:
After lunch the kids go outside and play and I put Sophie down for a nap. Sometimes she sleeps, sometimes she doesn't. I put the laundry in the dryer, then I usually use the computer at this time, read or just put my feet up for a few. After a long break, the kids come in and sometimes have hot chocolate .

Then the boys me help with house cleaning. I assign them each a job. If there is a lot to do, I'll make a list of what needs to be done and the boys look it over, choose a job and put their initials next to it ( I work along side them). After they do the job they look at the list and choose another job till we're done.

Next we finish up whatever school is left, usually history and/or science. Sometimes we do crafts, music or baking. I also read aloud to the kids in the afternoon. The kids play educational computer games or draw or find other creative things to do. Some days Andrew has speech or debate class. The other kids go to a weekly homeschool hangout where they usually play indoor or outdoor sports and the younger kids have playtime.

Evening:
We eat dinner between 5:00-6:00 and everyone helps with clean-up. One night week Isaiah and Christian go to an AWANA club and Andrew and Charles go to youth group. On the other nights the kids spend time with Daddy. They play ping-pong, watch TV (although our TV is now broken) and play board games or video games. On the week-ends they sometimes get together with friends.






2 comments:

  1. Whew - Tracey - it wears me out just to read that.Some day you'll have to take a vacation. I think the way the kids assume responsibilities around the house is great. When I mentioned passwords, I also have the same problem on my own blog. BC

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  2. It is a lot of work, but it's very rewarding. I enjoy it. Summertime is my vacation. :)

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