Unlike last year when we had a different routine every couple of weeks it seemed, I think this year we will have a steady routine that will be tweaked here and there every so often. The difference is Sarge is no longer an infant and he is solidly on a 1-nap schedule now!

Here is what a typical school day looks like around here with a 7-year-old, 5-year-old and 2-year-old:

Please note: This post does not depict all the drama of every day life with 3 young children, like temper tantrums, sibling fights and complaining children. At least one of those things is bound to happen at least once every day!

7:00-9:00am

Morning Routine - Little Bug is up early but she knows she is to stay in her room reading and playing quietly until 8am. She is very good about doing this. Sweet Pea’s clock turns green at 7:45am and most mornings she wakes around this time or by 8am. Both girls know they are expected to get up and get dressed before I come to their rooms at 8am. I get Sarge up at 8am and that is when our day officially begins. I get him dressed and ready for the day and then fix breakfast. The girls go the kitchen and begin their Morning Routine. This includes putting away their pjs, emptying the dishwasher, taking vitamins & pills and clearing their area at the table after they eat breakfast.

Sibling Playtime - After breakfast dishes are cleared from the table the girls brush their teeth and then it is Sibling Playtime. All 3 children play together while I clean up the kitchen from breakfast and put a load of laundry to wash on laundry days.

9:00-11:00am

Reading time with Sarge (10-15 minutes) - We begin the school day by sitting on the floor together and reading books with Sarge. After this, Sarge goes to his room for Independent Playtime while we do the majority of our school!

Bible & CC Review (45 minutes) - We begin by reading a Bible story, praying together and going over our monthly memory verse. Then we move right into our CC Review time. First, we review the week’s memory work. Then we focus on that day’s subject by reading a book (mostly) or doing an activity (occasionally).

Language Arts with Little Bug (15-30 minutes) - We move right in to All About Reading Level 2 after CC Review time.

Sweet Pea works on her Independent Work (handwriting practice, LA and math activities that she can do on her own).

Language Arts with Sweet Pea (15-30 minutes) - We begin by reading 1-2 picture books. Usually after this Sarge's IP timer goes off and Little Bug gets Sarge out of IP time. She is responsible for playing with Sarge while I do LA (Confessions of a Homeschooler K4/5 Kindergarten) with Sweet Pea. Little Bug does a fabulous job with this responsibility!

Handwriting (5-10 minutes) - After Language Arts, we all go to the kitchen table where the girls and I do a Handwriting Without Tears lesson together. Sarge sits in his booster seat to work on a puzzle or color.

11:00-12:30pm

Outside Play (45-60 minutes) - After our Morning School is complete, we all head outside to play!

Lunch (20-30 minutes) - We usually sit down to eat at noon.

12:30-4:00pm

Math with Little Bug (15-30 minutes) - Once lunch is cleaned up I do a Horizons 1 math lesson with Little Bug while Sweet Pea and Sarge play together. Often times, this means we are all gathered around the kitchen table together which can get interesting.

Math with Sweet Pea (15-30 minutes) - Sweet Pea does a page (or more - she loves doing math!) in her math book or we play a math game together!

Sarge down for a nap (1:30pm) - A little before 1:30, I go and put Sarge down for his nap.

Read Aloud (30 minutes) - The girls and I head to our bed & I read aloud a chapter from our current Read Aloud book.

Naptime/Independent Work/Independent Playtime (2 hours) - Sweet Pea goes down for her nap at 2pm and Little Bug does her Independent Work (math facts & Explode the Code). Once Little Bug is finished with her Independent Work, she is free to go to her room to play for the remainder of naptime. She uses this time doing what she loves best: playing, reading and crafting!

To read about our curriculum for this school year click here!

- Elaine