First day fun & tips for your Homeschool

Summer is quickly ending {sniff sniff} and when August arrives we slowly begin our homeschool year. I would like to share with you some tips and encourage you! I have a passion for homeschooling, I have to first say that I never planned this for my life, God did. The path for schooling for my children was never prayed for, I had to send my first child to school for a year and half to finally see what the Lord wanted me to do. Pretty sad that he had to YELL for me to hear!

First of all I have to say this, learning is natural. Each day your child is learning. They are processing information, building, using their imaginations, trial and error.. And God created our children to be this way. Children are so incredibly smart and their interest in the world around them facsinates me.. they love to learn!!

Mothers, do not stress yourself and try to make your homeschool a mini public school at home. One of my favorite quotes is by Dr. Ruth Beechick:

"Homeschooling is naturally natural. Dont work too hard on making it artifically schoolish."

First day Fun
Last year we took a field trip to the childrens hands on muesum..it was alot of fun! We have started lessons but our offical day is coming up soon, my children are hoping for another trip to the muesum~ I love making the 1st day special!

We also like to dress up & take 1st day photos~

My goodness my children have grown so much in a year!

A new tradition will be a tasty breakfast! We will be trying Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal & warm Apple Butter on hot biscuits.

Our Routine

First thing, this is not exactly how my day goes everyday. The best thing about homeschooling is being flexible. I use this guide when we get off track and it is my hope for a normal day.  

Our homeschool day begins with two B's: Breakfast & Bible. Its such a joy for me to sit down and enjoy breakfast with my children while discussing a Bible story and scriptures.

After we break for chores. I joyfully clean along side my children praising them for their hard work and help. I also pray over them to have happy hearts. My children know that they are needed in our family and we trully love their help. Stick to age appropriate chores. All of my children are expected to make their beds. More examples is my oldest son checks on all the trash pails, my daughter may sweep or organize the childrens books, my youngest checks our pets water dish.

Next we meet back up at the table, hold hands and pray for our day and for our homeschool. We usually begin with writting and/or spelling moving on to math.

We take another break..my children usually head outside to play in the sand, swings, run around or complete a puzzle. I like to look to my checklist of cleaning, phone calls or maybe preparing a craft, project or experiment. If i havent already would take my shower and dress for the day. All of my goals for the day with cleaning and schooling our wrote on a whiteboard, read why its an important tool for your home!

Everyone is ready for lunch at this time, we gather together, eat and start reading our history or science lesson. As of right now we have science and history everyother day, one day being history, the next science. :}

We move on to our other subjects, my 4 & 5 year are usually done for the day and work on a craft, maze booklet, color, play or watch an educational video. Usually they are ready to just play! ;} I continue to work with my oldest. Our lessons end around 3pm, the goal is 2pm!

Homeschooling is all about balancing..first and foremost my duties are serving my husband~one way I put him first is providing a neat, sweet smelling home so while my children are working on a lesson I can wipe down the counter, throw dinner in the crockpot, light a candle, sweep....ect. right now one day a week I am folding clothes and while I am folding my children are plopped on the ottomen working on their workbooks or reading to me. I love it!

Most Important Tool

Prayer! Pray over your children while they are learning esp during those moments of frustrations! Pray for God's leading and flow of your day. Pray that he shows you your own teaching style and your childrens learning style. Pray your children have happy hearts and good learning attitudes!

Always remember Homeschooling mom's that Jesus wants to help you! Homeschooling is not easy, we have hard days..He is there for you, lean on Him!

Would love to hear other suggestions and tips, your traditions for the 1st day and your routine! Please share!

Linked up with:
Women living well
Far above Rubies
http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/2011/08/homeschool-room-virtual-tour-and-link.html
http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/homemaking-link-up-39/
Our Simple Country Life
Time Warp Wife