Homeschooling Update

This post is in response to your question, Katherine (though, I admit, I don't need much encouragement to talk about it).

Though my original homeschooling plans that I posted about back in August were slightly derailed by morning sickness, we got back on track in early November and things have been going well since then.  The routine/agenda has not changed much, but I'll type it up again since it's been six months.  Our day usually goes something like this:

During breakfast, we use a learning calendar to practice weekdays, months, seasons and weather.  I also have a binder that we go through that includes the Lord's Prayer, this week's memory verse, our address & phone numbers, birthdays, and a section of good and bad habits that we discuss each morning.  (I type these habit sheets up and add clip art based on whatever I think needs some attention at the time, i.e. washing hands, flushing potty, chewing with mouth closed, making eye contact, etc.)

Sometime during the morning hours, worked in around the kids playing, running errands, and me doing housework, we make our way up to their bedroom for these activites:

Get Ready--Get dressed, brush teeth & hair, tidy room, make bed

Bible Reading--Mommy reads her Bible silently while boys look at picture Bibles and each choose a story

Bible Story--Mommy reads chosen stories to boys

Exercise--Push-ups, abs, squats, jumping jacks, stretches, etc.

Read--Read Five in a Row book and other books aloud

Spanish--Listen to Hear Say CD, look at pictures in workbook and practice saying words

Games/Puzzles--Play board or card game and/or do floor puzzles together

After school time in their room, we go downstairs for more play time and (usually) 30 minutes of PBS (favorite shows are Curious George, Caillou, Dinosaur Train & Super Why).  Next is lunch and then naps, though Caleb usually only naps once or twice a week.  After nap time, we work in these afternoon activities between playing outside, taking baths, preparing dinner, tidying the play room and any remaining housework.  (On the days Caleb doesn't nap, I try to do his math and phonics lessons while Ethan is sleeping).

Table Time--Alternate coloring, scissors & glue, handwriting, drawing, painting, etc.

"FIAR" Activity--Alternate subject lessons throughout week from Five in a Row

Phonics--starfall.com and sight word flash cards reading practice (Caleb)

Math--math workbook followed by a PBS math game on computer (Caleb)

Music--sing along with daily song list (custom made on iTunes) and then listen to varied music while playing

I only try to get through all of this stuff four days a week and reserve one day for play dates, mornings at the park or other "field trip" outings.  I'm pretty flexible about the agenda, since this is just preschool, and we frequently skip an item or two to make room for a doctor's appt, trip to the library for story time or something else that comes up.  (I just try not to skip the same thing more than once in a while.)  Up to this point, the kids enjoy all or most of what we do each day. For me, I love having a flexible schedule and being able to participate in their learning.