Yes, We Still Homeschool

I just realized that from reading my blog you might think all I do is sit around crafting all day.  Not so!  Yes, we are a homeschooling family! 

Currently most days go something like this:

Start the "school" day out around 9am.  Actually, ALL day is considered as a learning oppprtunity, but what I mean here is formal lessons or table time and couch time.  Those are the places we choose to do most of our lessons. 

The boys like to get a few independent things completed first.

Brock - Handwriting/Copywork, Spelling, Silent Reading & Typing

Braden - Spelling, History, Math, Literature & Typing

Around 9:30 we meet on the couch and read/recite and discuss our Scripture Focus.  Then I read aloud, our current book is Hero Tales (missionary stories). We also read and discuss Science at this time and review our Greek and Latin roots.  Read various poetry selections, too. 

When we are finished with our couch time the boys go back to their independent work and I take turns working with each as needed. 

Brock and I read his history lesson together and discuss/narrate.  We also take turns reading aloud a literature selection, right now it's Farmer Boy.  After that we go over the days math lesson and he goes back to working independently.

Braden and I will work together on grammar, spanish, and starting next week, logic and reasoning excercises using The Fallacy Detective.  We also discuss his history lesson and anything else that needs clarification.

The boys like to be finished by lunch time.  Sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn't.  I think Braden would wake up at 'dark-thirty' just to make sure he finishes early though!  He's my get-it-done boy.  Brock's my dawdler (I try, I try, *sigh*), he's slowly starting to 'get it' though.  He can't stand it when Braden is finished up and he still has lessons to complete.

The afternoon is usually left open to creative pursuits.  Right now that is mostly music related.  Braden is learning guitar and Brock is drumming. Yes, you read that correctly - drumming!  I know, we are crazy people.  I do love hearing him beat it out while singing "There is a Fountain - who is the Ki-i-ing - victorious Warrior - my God and Lord of Everythi-i-ing - My Rock, My Shelter -(a big BOOM, BOOM, BOOM goes here) My very o-o-own Blessed Redeemer - Who reigns upon the thro-o-one"  Good stuff!  Braden's still trying to put it all together but has come up with some little tunes of his own and is learning some worship songs and hymns.  I'm impressed with his progress as he's teaching himself with some help from his uncle.  I'm toying with the idea of downloading Penny Gardner's Nine-Note Recorder Method.  I have some funny desire to try it out for myself.  I would like to learn to play hymns and use it for our hymn study.  

I haven't been a part of a homeschool group in several years and have felt like it's time.  I hope to attend a meeting in March and see what I think.  Also, a few ladies from church are looking to get a homeschool co-op organized.  If anyone has any tips - let me know.  Or if you have posts on your blog regarding co-op experiences let me know.

Well, that's my homeschool ramble for now.  I think I'll play with the page feature here on Blogger and add a homeschool page with the curriculum we are using.