I did have a request for our schedule, so here it is. Some of the things we do overlap and some elements are in other subjects as we study. This looks much more complex than it is, but I'm trying to be detailed. Where the children's names are put in bold, the activities are concurrent, just in two groups. Jerome plays with Elijah and Amira in the afternoon, while the weather is nice, everyone gets pushed outside as much as possible during their breaks and playtime. I haven't included their morning preparations and chores, as those are largely before morning prayer. I also haven't included their before bedtime routine and chores, since that isn't part of the school day, and I imagine each family has their own routine anyway.

Geography and art are usually tied at least a little with their history lessons, as is their reading and the science is loosely tied in (we're dealing with mostly Greek and Roman history right now, and Astronomy is the science focus). Yasmina nurses, sleeps, etc. at will during our day. I'm trying to add Arabic formally this year, and I would like to add French to that next year. Since English, Arabic, French and Latin are the only languages I have any background with, I figure I'll stick with those. Obviously, I read to all of the children more than just in their allotted times in the schedule, this is just the reading that is specifically school related. Some of the more advanced books for Alexander and Dominic's school work that are more advanced than their reading level, I read to them while they do their chores. We also celebrate and discuss the various saints' days, feast days and fast days on their days, and during our daily office prayers.

During the week, Amira has ballet, a couple weeks out of the month Alexander and Dominic have cub scouts. I'm trying to get Dominic and Elijah back into gymnastics, if we can do so without spending a ton more, driving too far or making our schedule so busy that I can't handle housework and cooking. We'll see. Alexander is going to start baseball this year, as well.

Every Day:
7:00 a.m. Morning Prayer
7:30 Breakfast & Clean Up
8:30 Begin School

Monday:
All the children. Jerome usually plays with his special homeschool toys and books during this time. He listens and pays attention as he wishes, sometimes showing great interest, and sometimes doing his own thing.
Catechism Lessons/Prayers/Articles of Faith (~15 minutes)
Art Appreciation (~10 minutes)
History: Reading and Oral Question & Answer (~20 minutes)
Break (~30 minutes)
Split into separate classes, Jerome goes to his nap. Alexander & Dominic take the dining room table and Elijah & Amira take the coffee table
Alexander & Dominic: Math & Penmanship (~45 minutes) I have one of them work on his own penmanship while I go over math with the other, then while the math student is working on his practice, I explain the other boy's math to him and have him work on his practice while the other finishes up his work and penmanship.
Elijah & Amira: I have coloring pages, pre-writing exercises and story books for them to do while listening to classical music. I choose the music based on their Little Saints book recommendations. They do this while their brothers are working. When both older boys are doing their own work, I'll read a bible story and one or two of their story books to them. We also work on simple recitations. (~25 minutes)
Puzzles and Games, then free time
Alexander & Dominic: Spelling (~15 minutes)
Writing (~30 minutes)
Recitation (~15 minutes)
Everyone together get Jerome up from nap, prepare lunch, eat lunch. Clean up. (~60 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Reading (~30 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Phonics (~10 minutes)
Math preparation (shapes/colors/numbers/comparison/matching/time) (~10 minutes)
Little Saints activities (arts & crafts/songs/poetry/games/calendar/seasons/religion) (~15 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Chores (~30 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Clean up books, toys (~15 minutes)
End of school/work day. The children play, read, help out with cooking projects, do some animal care and play with other friends.

Tuesday:
All the children.
Bible History (~15 minutes)
Science: Reading & Discussing Lesson (~20 minutes)
Break (~30 minutes)
Split into separate classes. Jerome naps.
Alexander & Dominic: Math & Penmanship (~45 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Coloring pages, pre-writing exercises and story books, music. Bible story and one or two story books. We also work on simple recitations. (~25 minutes)
Puzzles and Games, then free time
Alexander & Dominic: Latin (~15 minutes)
Geography (~10 minutes)
Recitation (~15 minutes)
Reading (~30 minutes)
Everyone together get Jerome up from nap, prepare lunch, eat lunch. Clean up. (~60 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Chores (~30 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Phonics (~10 minutes)
Math preparation (~10 minutes)
Image of God kindergarten activities (~10 minutes)
Alexander, Dominic, Elijah & Amira: Homeschool PE
End of school/work day.

Wenesday:
All the children.
Catechism Lessons/Prayers/Articles of Faith (~15 minutes)
Arabic Lessons (~10 minutes), we haven't started this formally, I just have made the sounds at them, and speak to them in Arabic occasionally. They've picked up what they know from me the same way they picked up English, but I have a text book to try to teach them in a little more structured format the reading and writing, etc.
Split into separate classes. Jerome naps.
Alexander & Dominic: Math & Penmanship (~45 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Coloring pages, pre-writing exercises and story books, music. Bible story and one or two story books. We also work on simple recitations. (~25 minutes)
Puzzles and Games, then free time
Break (~30 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Spelling (~15 minutes)
Writing (~30 minutes)
History: Mapwork/Art/Writing/Projects (~20 minutes)
Recitation (~15 minutes)
Everyone together get Jerome up from nap, prepare lunch, eat lunch. Clean up. (~60 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Reading (~30 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Phonics (~10 minutes)
Math preparation (~10 minutes)
Little Saints activities (~15 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Chores (~30 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Clean up books, toys (~15 minutes)
End of school/work day.

Thursday:
All the children.
Bible History (~15 minutes)
Split into separate classes, Jerome naps.
Alexander & Dominic: Math & Penmanship (~45 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Coloring pages, pre-writing exercises and story books, music. Bible story and one or two story books. We also work on simple recitations. (~25 minutes)
Puzzles and Games, then free time
Break (~30 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Latin (~15 minutes)
Geography (~10 minutes)
Science: Notebook & Projects (~20 minutes)
Recitation (~15 minutes)
Reading (~30 minutes)
Everyone together get Jerome up from nap, prepare lunch, eat lunch. Clean up. (~60 minutes)
Alexander & Dominic: Chores (~30 minutes)
Elijah & Amira: Phonics (~10 minutes)
Math preparation (~10 minutes)
Image of God kindergarten activities (~10 minutes)
Alexander, Dominic, Elijah & Amira: Homeschool PE
End of school/work day.

Friday:
All the children.
Saint Study (~15 minutes)
Homeschool Mom Study Group/Play Group for our children
Library time and any section tests that Alexander and Dominic have.
Recitation of their bible verse to Rich and me.
Once a month we hear the children perform their recitations for the month.

Saturday
Occasionally we do bigger history, science or art projects as a family.

Labels: Family, Homeschooling