Large Family Homeschooling Week in Review is a glimpse into the day-to-day homeschooling of our larger-than-average family. It’s not fancy, but it will hopefully give you a taste of what it is like to be us. For more homeschooling tips and inspiration, visit the Homeschooling section of Raising Arrows. You can also see a list of our 2017 Homeschool Curriculum choices. And if you are needing even more advice on how to homeschool a crowd, check out my book – Large Family Homeschooling!
~Amy
This past Monday, we did our yearly Blessing Tree craft instead of our usual Bible Time. I wanted to make sure we got it in, and doing it on Monday seemed like the best way to do this. (Click HERE to learn more about this fun family tradition!)
We did our usual school lessons after that, and then that afternoon, my older kids watched MacArthur on Amazon Video.
On Tuesday, after our regular lessons and PictureSmart Bible, we finished up our unit on Korea in Tapestry of Grace by coloring flags from North and South Korea (this site is a really good resource for flags) and writing Korean letters. Some of the kids also drew pagodas.
The younger kiddos did several activities I had planned for the week including making a volcano inside the smaller pumpkins that were needing to be thrown away (from a pumpkin patch trip several weeks ago). I didn’t realize my younger crew had never seen vinegar and baking soda react, so it was a lot of fun seeing the delight on their faces!
We also did some candy corn math activities I found online. You can check out my Pinterest Autumn Activities board for these free worksheets.
I also made Fall Ribbon Rings from A Year of Playing Skillfully with the 2 and 4 year olds. They played for hours with these! I bought a particle board letter “O” from Walmart as a “ring” for my little ones to hang on to, and then purchased several fall colors of ribbon to tie onto each letter O. Super easy craft!
If you want to see the Fall Ribbon Ring in action, check out this Instagram Post from my feed!
On Wednesday, we did our usual school work in the morning. That afternoon, I read from Story of the World and All the People for Tapestry of Grace. We are climbing out of the Korean War and into the Space Race. Interestingly enough, my 8 year is reading a book entitled Moon Mission in his Phonics! I love it when things work out like that! (You can read more about about we use Tapestry of Grace as a large family on this page.)
That night, I read from The Complete Brambly Hedge to Aspen (and eventually everyone as they straggled over to the couch after their piano lessons with their sister!). I bought this book because I was drawn to the illustrations. So intricate and so full of the stuff of memories! I know exactly what it feels like to have poured over the illustrations in a book, only to find that book years later and have my mouth water with the deliciousness of it all over again! That is what Brambly Hedge is like.
On Thursday, we did our regular school work, but nothing extra because that’s my shopping day and that night I cut all the boys’ hair. I tend to take it slow on those days so I don’t completely wear myself out before I ever get started!
However, I will say that I can see a marked difference in my energy level since losing 25 pounds! You can see the video I did about my weight loss journey HERE. I have had requests from readers to talk more about this journey, but it will probably be after the new year before I get around to it.
As always, if you have any additional questions about our week or how we homeschool in general, feel free to leave a comment below!
Peta says
Lovely to hear about your week Amy! I’m glad homeschooling is working out for you! Do you ever get stressed from having all the children home asking you things all day long?
Amy says
Sometimes the noise gets to me. I do take a walk (alone) almost daily, and there are times when I sit outside and give strict orders for no one to come out so mommy can clear her head. 😉
Jen Holm says
I need to do that more ofen, even if it means stepping into a bedroom for 5 minutes. I have 3 and the oldest just turned 5 so I can’t dissapear too long, but my 5 year old is mature and I often let her know she is “in charge” for a minute while I do something. I currently struggle with the noise and “neediness” of the 21 month old and 3 year old while getting through Phonics Museum with my oldest. I have found that the late afternoon during the naptime is not a good time for school because by that time of day my 5 year old daughter just cannot sit through the lesson without flopping around and whinning or getting really silly and a bit hyper and my own patience is not fresh. Mid morning is best which means workjng around the littlest ones. They have already tired of the busy bags and toddler boxes and a woden work bench that comes out only during school. Any fresh tips for keeping these young ones busy and ‘somewhat’ quiet. They difinitely notice my special attention on my oldest and feel the need to compete.
Amy says
I have found it to be a constant training ground. They are little, and they just never quite “get it,” but one day they will. Right now, I do a lot of – “your turn will be after I finish here,” or “we will read a book at 11am,” or whatever else I can offer them that let’s them know I haven’t forgotten about them, but that right now is not their time. And honestly, if you need to put on a video in the other room, then do it – it’s not a crime. 😉
KB says
I was feeling very guilty today for putting on a video in the other room! Glad to hear others do it as needed!!