Ready – Set – Go

Posted by LeslieT | 0 comments

Some friends of mine and I were planning a weekend trip, to attend a MomHeart Conference and as we shared our anticipation over the days and weeks leading up to the trip it was clear that this was something that all of us needed and absolutely could not wait to do. I remember sending a Facebook update to one friend letter her know that I was Ready, but not at all set! We made it there, having packed two hours before I walked out the door (I dropped the kids off with my friend/babysitter, then came back home to pack!)

Throughout the conference weekend, and since then, that phrase, Ready-Set-Go, has been in my mind. I’ve thought about how ready I was to get started in our home school journey and how ready I am each week to see my children learn a new concept, or watch them enjoy the beauty of God’s world, and share some great insight with them. But before I can go with the confidence that we’ll achieve my desired outcome, I have to be set.

I’m interested to know what other moms do each day or each week to set-up and prepare for school. Would you share your tips here?

Our home school consists of a second grader, kindergartner, and two younger siblings, soon to be ages four and two. On a weekly basis, my plans have to cover a wide array of skill and conversations levels. I go from Saxon Math to phonics to letter formation, then to matching colors and shapes.

Below you will find some of the items that have helped me in recent months, when I have them set and available for the week. Regardless of how far off schedule I become, because of life’s challenges and surprises, if I have these things set, I can go to them, and not be stuck without a plan.

1. Games and More Games
We love playing games together and I like finding games that will teach or reinforce a skill for each child’s level of knowledge. I don’t have to worry about whether the game is “beyond” one of the older children because my older ones enjoy having the opportunity to teach their younger siblings, and sometimes even let them win. Some of the games we play are Knock Out, Muggins Math, Math Dice, Puzzles for skills such as compound words and rhyming, Memory Game boards by Melissa & Doug (the ones with the flip over wooden blocks so we don’t have to keep up with pieces), and Bingo Games for learning Place Value, Counting Money, etc.

Often, I try to mix up the day and do an hour or so of “writing/reading work” then an hour or so of games, then we move to chores and snack, and back to “writing/reading work”.

2. Self-teaching Materials
An article by Kim Brenneman, from Large Family Logistics, helped me to understand and appreciate having self-teaching materials in our curriculum. Since then I’ve began building into our curriculum, materials such as Saxon Math, historical fiction, and other living books for our children to read throughout the day. The Saxon Math is the only one so far, in which there are specific written assignments given as my 2nd grader reads. The others are for filling her brain with knowledge that she will have stored there for many years to come.

3. Dirty Dishes
Recently, my soon-to-be four year old daughter has been very jealous for my time. She’s gone from nagging her brother and sister and wanting to be involved in everything they do, to following me, asking me what I’m doing, and volunteering to mop and do dishes. I’ve found that instead of busying her with other tasks, away from me, I can involve her in what I’m doing. It has become a very special bonding time. I get to hear even more of her especially cute sentences, answer her questions, and teach her some very important household skills. I had found that there were times I’d have to remind myself to pour some hear time into her but now, there’s no reminder needed. She’s right there with me and I’m so enjoying it. Dirty dishes, here we come! It’s a Mommy and Me party.

4. CC Memory Work Resources
Our children are enrolled in Classical Conversations this year and this has been a tremendous help in our schedule. It fits perfectly with our goals of educating them classically, preparing them with the tools to learn any subject, and equipping them with a Biblical world view. I keep the CC memory work flash cards and maps on hand and use them as a go-to, when I need to fill in time throughout the day, when we haven’t already covered it. The children are motivated to quiz each other on the material because Mom and Dad have a special reward for them if they’ve mastered it all by the end of the year!

5. Books and Comfy Seating
Another must-have component, is a stack of great books and a comfy couch. A set of lounge chairs, recliners, beanbags, blankets or Mommy’s bed will do too. It is here, that I can accomplish lessons on discipline, phonics, language arts and more! It’s also a grea time to practice couch time or blanket time, as suggested by Kendra Fletcher of Preschoolers and Peace. We’ll either have a snack or do with out, but as I read or one of the older kids read, the younger kids are having a wonderful time listening to the story. They are also enjoying this time of cuddling with their family and receiving special attention (especially when they are allowed to choose which book we’ll read…we do that most often). As I was reading a story to them a few weeks ago, the thought occurred to me that we had not yet covered our pages from First Language Lessons. It was neat that I was able to point out the parts of speech and punctuation from the sentences in the story and teach the lesson as I read. Everyone learned about personal pronouns and capitalization that day!

After such an activity, it’s easy to incorporate writing practice by having the older children copy sentences from the story, while the younger children get cleaned up from snack time and get ready for nap.

6. An Abundance of Creative Arts Materials
Arts and Crafts is number 6 on Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn’s list of Ten Things to Do with Your Child Before Age Ten. In our home, Arts and Crafts consists mostly of modeling clay and music. I’ve chosen those because they are areas where our eight and six year old have shown particular interest and skill. We also include paper, crayons, glue, and other materials which they can use to make creations. Among their choices from time to time, I also see chairs, blankets and sheets to make caves, tents and other structures to house them and their pretend friends.

The point is, to have things available to the children throughout the day, so that when they are bored and looking for an activity, the television, computer game, or other electronic media is not screaming for their attention. I’m so pleased when we go days and days without television and the children have come up with the most wonderful creations and songs mastered.

My job is to be set each week, and reset each day, because it’s no doubt the children will be ready to go each day. I’m learning that the more simple I can make the preparations, the more peaceful I am throughout the day. The more I am able to live a life of joy before them, modeling for them the joy of the Lord.

Share Your Advice!
I admit, I could use advice for these from time to time. Surprise! Things do not always run perfectly. Feel free to share additional tips that could help other moms in our shoes. One suggestion I think we could all use is, how do you involve all the kids, or steer the younger ones away, when the games include itsy bitsy pieces or matching cards that when lost in the couch cushions or in the bottom of the closet, can ruin the whole point of the game!

Leslie and her husband Jeoff began educating their children at home almost three years ago. They have a passion for sharing Christ’s love in marriages and helping point husbands and wives (including themselves) back to Christ when resolving conflicts. Leslie is Director of a Classical Conversations Community, in which their two oldest children are enrolled. Their two youngest children, ages 3 and 1, provide a much needed element of joy throughout the family’s school day.