I recently found this never-published post of mine from four years ago. In the Covid blur of early 2020, it got lost in the shuffle. But, better late than never, right?
My three homeschooled kids are currently in 9th, 6th, and 2nd grade. It’s been fun to look back at this glimpse into our lives four years ago when Oldest was in 5th grade, Middle was in 2nd grade, and Youngest was still a preschooler!
I’ve always loved “Day in the Life” posts – especially when I was a new homeschooler trying to figure out what those crazy homeschool people do all day.
There are so many ways to educate your kids – what you see here is just one example. I hope this peek into an average school day in our home is helpful (or at least entertaining) for you!
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
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7:00am
My alarm tries its best to wake me. It eventually succeeds.
7:30am
Youngest is so excited about her playdate today! She’s already managed to get herself dressed in her favorite outfit without any help from me! A small miracle!
I found Middle finishing up his Bible reading. He got up before me and already finished his cursive work and even remembered to feed Fish! I guess I should sleep in later than him more often!
7:45am
Middle, Youngest, and I make and eat breakfast together and share our crazy dream stories.
8:15am
Eventually, Oldest wanders downstairs for breakfast, happy not to have been woken any earlier. We read our devotional, The Biggest Story, and pray together.
The boys, Oldest and Middle, each do some quick math flashcard review before heading their separate ways.
8:40am
Middle continues reading his current book, Runaway Ralph, while Oldest practices percussion for band.
Youngest and I work on her Hidden Pictures book together.
8:55am
I spend more quality time with Youngest playing “House Box” with her. Then we work on some phonics and numbers together while Middle serenades us with his piano practice.
Note: I’m sorry… it looks like I didn’t keep track of what Oldest was doing during this time. I must have been so involved in our rousing game of House Box, it slipped my mind.
9:15am
Everyone gathered around to watch our Drive Thru History lesson.
Youngest paid attention for a while and then decided to work on her “school papers” (by which she meant some sticker sheets and homemade shape-practice worksheets).
9:50am
After history, Oldest did some geometry review and took his math quiz.
Middle used Snap Circuits to make a doorbell for his closet. After all, what’s a closet without a proper doorbell. Once he got the doorbell working, he worked on art projects with Youngest.
Youngest also worked on her “Grandma Homework” (letters and activity pages my mom made for her). Thanks, mom!
10:10am
While the younger two continued with their art projects, Oldest took a break to build things with MagnaTiles.
After that, he did some of his own piano practice.
10:20am
Somewhere around this time is when Youngest began watching intently at the window for her friend to come for the playdate.
10:35am
The friend arrived! The girls played in the snow, played with dolls, and of course didn’t forget about House Box. They also expanded Oldest’s MagnaTiles creation (much to his chagrin).
While they played, we moms chatted and my two boys took a break to play Minecraft. And, after a nice lunch together, the friends headed home.
1:45pm
Youngest was wiped out from all the playdate excitement, so she rested in her room while I caught up on emails and cleaning, and the boys played and read Garfield books.
2:45pm
With Youngest still resting quietly, the boys and I made some popcorn and literally stopped to smell the roses.
Then we started our Quiet Time. They read books while I worked on writing this article for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
Important Note to Moms with Young Kids: Don’t give up on a mid-day break once your kids no longer nap! Call it “Quiet Time” and transition right into it! This daily, mandatory, separate, quiet break has been one of the keys to me maintaining my sanity over the years!
3:50pm
I heard scuffling in Youngest’s room. It turns out she’d found a rainbow, so I brought out the prisms and we had a little teachable moment.
Naturally, once the boys saw what she was doing, they wanted to try catching a rainbow, too.
4:20pm
Oldest realized he still had some work on his to do list. He finished up his AWANA and IEW writing assignment.
While I worked with him on his writing edits, Youngest watched Tom & Jerry (best cartoon ever) and Middle went back to the Art Projects book (again).
5:20pm
While I tried to re-assemble the house before my husband came home and found out just how messy it really gets while he’s gone, my kids listened to some Geography Songs and studied the map that comes with it.
After that, Oldest took a shower while Youngest and Middle invented what I think is my new favorite game…. “The Napping Game”. I kid you not, they took turns timing each other taking minute-long naps. That was the whole game!
Best. Game. Ever.
5:45pm
The kids did their laundry in our retro, mustard-colored washer, and then enjoyed a little more free time before dad came home.
6:15pm
Dad came home and announced dinner out tonight! Yay!
8:00pm
After a delicious dinner (and a much-needed break from cooking), we read a few more stories and began the bedtime routines. Once the kids went to bed, I cleaned up (again).
And I got our school table & to-do lists ready so we can do it all again tomorrow!
For more Day in the Life posts, check out:
- A Day in the Life of a Homeschool Family
- Another Day in the Life of a Homeschool Family
- One More Day in the Life of a Homeschooling Family
- Just Another Day in the Life of a Homeschooling Family
It can be hard breaking free of the “education-must-look-like-public-school” mindset. Over time, I’ve been able to see how learning can and does happen in all kinds of ways!
If you’re new to homeschooling or wondering more about how it works, my book, Think About Homeschooling: What It Is, What It Isn’t, & Why It Works, is meant for you!
Free yourself from the misconceptions about home education that are holding you back from reaching your fullest homeschooling potential! Check out Think About Homeschooling today!
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