First week of school!

We started our new school year this past Monday and since this week the Not Back to School Blog Hop topic is a day in the life. I thought I would give you a run down of how are school days go and do our weekly wrap up all in one post.

We kicked off our school year on Sunday with Schultuete(school cones), and an About me form I found on Pinterest for each kid.

 

 In the cones were candies, some dollar tree mad libs, bookmarks, a new shirt, a new character cup, a toy, a glow stick, and some other random things. 

Here they are telling everyone what answers they gave to the questions. This year Buster says he wants to be a Cop, Sweetpea said Chef, Buttercup said Dancer/Singer/Artist, and Buddy said a Teacher.

   

 Ok so on to a day in the life or week as it were. This school year I am running 4 Heart of Dakota guides so the easiest way I saw to keep things running smoothly was to plan to have one block of time for me to devote to each kid before lunch and one after lunch. The other kids either play or do independent work while I'm working with one. Here is a run down of a day around here: 

I set my alarm for 7:30 and usually get up a few minutes before that. The kids generally roll out of bed in this order, Buster, Buddy, Sweetpea, and then Buttercup. Sometimes the girls switch places but they are always last. Then we all eat breakfast. Once everyone is dressed and has eaten and I have my coffee ready we start school.

  

For the first block I work with Buttercup on Bible, Math, and Phonics. 

 

 During this time Buster does Bible Quiet Time, Poetry, and Science Exploration.  

 Sweetpea does her Handwriting, Hymn, and Explode the Code. 

 

 Buddy plays or does a workbook.

   

For the second block I work with Sweetpea on Bible Study, Math,Language Arts(Grammar, Spelling, Phonics.) Reading, and Poetry.

   

 While I'm working with her Buster is finishing the other subjects I mentioned and if he finishes before I'm done he moves on to either his Drawn Into the Heart of Reading book(He is reading the Hobbit right now.), or Spelling.

  

Buttercup does Handwriting or Fine Motor Skills, and Buddy plays or watches a short video.

 For the third block I work with Buster on Math, Language Arts(Grammar, Writing, Spelling, Dictation, DITHOR.), and Logic. At this point the other three kids are generally engrossed in play and making a mess creating towns of toys or towers etc. While I'm working with Buster I generally am able to get something going for lunch while making sure he is keeping on task.

Finally for the fourth block I have Buddy do his alphabet or number activity if he has one.

   

After lunch is eaten we go outside for recess. 

   

After Recess we have circle time. During this time we do Spanish, Composer Study, Artists Study, Catechism, Music, Folk Tales, and Geography. We do not do all of these daily. Usually about three things from this list per day.

   

Next I start our afternoon blocks. Buddy goes first and this is when I read to him from his Bible and a picture book, he practices his letter sounds, we do any other Little Hands activities, and listen to his Bible songs.  

 Buttercup comes next. During this time we do Storytime, History, Science, Rhyme, and her other activities/crafts/games.

   

While I'm working with the other kids Buster is doing his History Reading, Independent History, and History Project. Sweetpea is playing with either Buddy or Buttercup.

   

Once I finish with Buttercup I do Storytime, History, Science, and any other activities/projects/notebooking/crafts/vocabulary/geography etc. with Sweetpea. Some of these I can get her started on and leave her to finish while I move on to Buster.

  

For the final block I do Storytime, Geography and Bible Study with Buster.

Last but not least the kids are all required to do one chore before they can begin free time. At this time I clean up our school mess and stock our buckets for the next days work. The buckets are then placed on the floor by the book shelf so the table is clear for dinner. Once this is done I start dinner.

This is how are days go Monday-Thursday. On Friday we do a light morning of school(Spelling test, handwriting, Reading, and Khan Academy for Buster.), and then we have a mini co-op with my sister and sister in-law. We have 10 kids all together. Here is what we did this week.