Schedule Change... Plan "C" & MFW & Library

I am guilty of not adding enough photos to my posts... trying to reform!!

Not the best, but you just can't always get that perfect pic when you are always running late. ;)

Savannah was too distracted by Sahara fussing that she could not smile because they all worry about her every whimper. Look close because Caden is ready to get someone with his "sword" (plastic toy knife).

Okay, so the point of this post is my most recent SCHEDULE. I really am not totally difficult, but I am really trying to get our schedule just the way I want it.... the way it works well for all of us. And I so desire for my kids to be working together and learning together and teaching one another through it all. We do this already, but I want to tweek the details so that it has a great flow.... and a joyous, harmonious flow. So, here it is:

By 7:00 a.m.
Kids Awaken!
Dress Routine
Come to Breakfast / Set Table
Prayer Requests & Commitments / Prayer Time
Breakfast with Parent Lead Devotional
My desire for this is that the kids will be eating breakfast WITH Daddy. They can start the morning praying with Daddy, etc. and not just me.

By 7:30 a.m.
Singing (during Breakfast Clean-up)
Story Time / Read Alound (Our Choice--not based on curriculum)
Motto Chant (“I homeschool because I want to be with you”)… then, move to school area.
Read Alouds can just take place gathered around the table making a smoother transition into schooling.

By 8:00 a.m.
Minutes
5 Calendar Time (Month, Day of Week, Date, Year, Special Days, Upcoming Events, Weather & Seasons, 100 Day Chart)
Pledges
ART TIME (I Can Do All Things or other) Not too sure about this Art Book just yet... thinking I would have preferred something a bit more "elementary" (translation=easy).
=1 hour

By 9:00 a.m. (Order should depend upon the season/weather)
60 Begin MFW Kindergarten with Sierra & Others join in w/ Savannah being a Teacher’s Helper
60 Group Study for MFW Science & History, Etc.
60 Outdoor Activities & Physical Exercise & Chore Time *

By 12:00 p.m.
Morning Activities End
LUNCH & Clean-up & Chore Time & Meal Planning for Dinner /Home Ec. ;)

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Naptime for Caden (2 hours) & Sahara (varies)
Independent Studies for Savannah -- Bible Verse / Memorization; Math, Grammar, Spelling, Reading, Etc.
Individual “Centers” Time ** (Savannah/Sierra)

Note: (Can vary daily… just ideas)
* Outdoor Activities & Physical Exercise:
· Gymnastics & Trampoline
· Ballet Class
· Bicycling or Walking
· Games: Kickball, etc.
· Yard Care & Plant Care
· Swimming
** “Centers” Time
· Computer Time
· Puzzles
· Typing
· Games (Cards, Board Games)
· Bingo
· Science
· Library
· Music
· Books of the Bible
· Handwriting
· Math
· Journaling

And on a final note for the night I am totally ready to get started using My Father's World (Kindergarten & Adventures), but since we have been hit so hard with this flu bug I am going to postpone for one more week. I was planning to take off most or all of December, but that might not happen now. It is great to have the freedom to change things up. I think this week is going to be a "make some messes/art/organization/get better week"! I am eager to start sharing some of our MFW schooling, but it is going to have to wait just a bit longer. One thing I will share is that I have been working on a Home Library Listing of all our books. I have also included the various puzzles we have and it might just eventually grow to include games or any other learning items we have on hand. The idea is that I can do a search on the database for our topic and it will show me what I have on hand. Sometimes we forget that "penguin" puzzle or book, etc.. I am also discovering that I own some books that I did realize we had. ;) I am getting very familar with the various authors of children's books, so it is a learning experience for me, as well. The main reason I am mentioning this is that in the MFW Kindergarten curriculum it says to make 27 file folders for the letters/topics of study and to start placing things in the folder to use. Well, I do not want to pull the "Penguin Reader" now for that folder. I want my kids to have access to their books on their bookshelf; however, I am planning to write a list directly on the file folder of things that I think of that I would like to use. Using the "Penguin" folder as an example again... I already know that I have a couple of fictional storybooks involving penguins and I have some easy reading Science readers about penguins. I also have some Pre-K level wooden puzzles that have penguins and other animals that would be great. I know that I have some various textbook type books that have penguins in them and I plan to write down the title of the book and the page numbers. I might make a note of an additional craft for penguins and note the website or write down my own craft idea should one come to mine. So, that is how I am planning to use the MFW Kindergarten file folder system. Hope that gives someone out there an idea! Goodnight all!!