Progress

Our seventh week break is over.  It's hard to believe I started this blog seven weeks ago, but, there it is.

We were able to make good progress in some areas and not so good progress in other areas.  I'm making a few changes for this next several weeks to see if we can improve.

The first change is that, for content areas (as opposed to skill areas), we're going to a weekly block schedule.  That means we'll study science for a week, getting at least 3 weeks of science done.  Then we'll study history for a week, and then we'll focus on composition, using the kids' writing from the previous weeks' study of science and history.

The second change has to do with our daily routine.  There are certain health issues that are affecting my ability to get up early and Drew's schedule doesn't really give him much time at home with us.  To adapt to these two situations, we're drastically changing our daily routine.

Drew leaves very early for work and is gone for 13-14 hours each day.  Because he leaves so early, he goes to bed fairly early. The kids and I normally get up on the latish side, so we're going to work with that (most of the kids are night owls, like their mama).  We'll aim to get up at 9, give ourselves an hour or so for quiet time, then we'll eat breakfast together and have our morning Bible reading, memory work, and discussion time while we eat.  Once we're dressed and breakfast is cleaned up, we'll start our daily work.  

Our daily work will consist of math, English, Latin, French, phonics, spelling, copywork - those things that really are more skill-based and that need daily practice.

Since the little ones have so much less daily work than their older siblings, I'll take some time to work on their block subject while the older kids finish their daily work, most of which is independent.  Once everyone's done with their daily work, we'll eat lunch and clean up.  After an hour of working on whatever block we're tackling that week, we'll take some time to work on housework, yard work, baking, other creative pursuits, and begin preparing dinner and to spend the evening with Drew.  Once those tasks are finished, we'll read quietly until he gets home, when we'll put the books away.

After Drew goes to bed, we'll pull the books back out and study for a few more hours.  The little girls will go to bed when Drew does.  Joel will go to bed before the older kids, as will Rebekah, although they'll both work for awhile each evening.

I think that we'll get more done without the distractions of the phone ringing, email and mail arriving, and the other random things that happen during a busy day.  I also hope that we can get more done by doing fewer things each day, allowing me to concentrate and provide better accountability.

I also like the idea of the older kids having time to work without the little ones underfoot.  And I'm looking forward to some time to write and sew in the evenings.

So, that's the plan.  We'll see how it goes.

Since I didn't read as much of Jack's Insects to the kids as I'd planned, I'll be re-posting what we do read this week.  And, since this is Thanksgiving week, the kids started their science assignments Saturday and will work next Saturday for awhile, too.  I normally let things like Thanksgiving go, but we haven't been diligent enough, so this year our noses stay pressed to the grindstone.

SDG!