Today we finally got back into gear! After almost three weeks of hit and miss school days because of illnesses and hospitalizations, we are all stating to feel good enough to get back to work. The boys need some improvement, but I'm working on that. I lucked out a few weeks ago at a garage sale and I found these old beginner books for phonics. I just wanted those, but the lady made me buy the whole box I found them in for 1.00. Well, what a jackpot I hit! It was filled with Kindergarten to 2nd grade worksheets for phonics, letters, basic concepts, shape matching, holiday activities and crafts. It's stuff that I remember having in 1st grade. We just finished up a Native American theme unit and I found some Indian villiage worksheets in the box which were a nice addition to todays work to close that unit. I feel so lucky!

I'm always curious how others homeschool their kids, what curriculum they use, how they schedule it, so I thought I would share ours. I've pieced it together and learned a few things along the way.

For Pre-K

Books:

Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons

Manuscript handwriting (to go with the reading book, at this site): http://www.donnayoung.org/penmanship/100ez.htm

Hooked on Phonics Math workbook (Kindergarten)

For 2nd Grade

Books:

Flash Kids Books for:

    Reading, Spelling, Math, Language Arts

BNB (Basic not Boring Series)

    Science, Social Studies, some math and supplemental reading and spelling  

    activities)

Alpha Omega Horizons Math (Jesse prefers this book)

Beginning Excercises:

Right brain, left brain activities

Weather chart

Pledge of Allegiance

Read one library book outloud to all

Scripture

Girls:

Reading

Writing

Math workbook or activity (lace cards, sorting, bug pattern charts, or counting bears)

Theme activity (craft, story, activity)

Science and social studies are done about 2 days a week, and usually included in the Theme activity

9:00 They watch Little Einsteins for music.

Boys:

Reading

Writing

Math

Spelling or Language Arts

Theme Activity

Science and Social Studies/History switch off every other day.

Themes we have done or are preparing to do:

Jungle Animals

Farm Animals

Apples

Native Americans

Pioneers

Holidays (theme for the month or week in advance)

Explorers

I'll add more as we do them. I really love doing the themes, it got the kids excited and I even learned stuff too. We start at 8:30 and by 11:30 we are done, then the boys work for one more hour on stuff they didn't get to and need more one on one help with. I try to reserve afternoons for nap time and errands and clean up time. After 3, when the school kids get home, then all the kids go out and play with the neighbor kids. We have now started moving scripture time to evenings and I'm really considering getting the boys up earlier to do their academics before 8:30, which is when Jazi arrives for school. We all seem to be pretty good morning people, and most of the time Hannah and Simeon sleep in so it gives us some nice uninterrupted quiet time.

So, this is our schedule, most of the time. Hope it helps you in your schooling or gives you an idea of what we do.