Embarking on our homeschooling journey has been quite the eye-opening experience, hasn’t it? It’s funny, much like diving into a new knitting project, you can spend ages planning and prepping, but you truly learn what works and what doesn’t only when you actually begin. Remember those grand visions of perfect homeschool days? Yeah, real life had other plans, and that’s perfectly okay!
If you followed my initial blog post, you know I had meticulously crafted this ambitious curriculum, aiming to cover every subject under the sun. Well, fast forward a few days into our homeschool year, and reality gently nudged me to reconsider. It wasn’t that the curriculum was flawed, but attempting to cram it all in was simply overwhelming for everyone, especially with younger children in the mix. Mornings became a race against the clock, filled with unnecessary stress.
My eldest, Grayson, thrived on the structured learning, but with a toddler and preschooler also needing attention, the initial plan proved unsustainable. I realized I needed to embrace flexibility and significantly simplify our homeschool approach. It dawned on me that realistically, I could only manage about half of what I initially envisioned. And you know what? That realization was liberating. Prioritizing a less stressed mom and happy, engaged children became the new definition of success. Currently, my two-year-old views read-alouds and math lessons as prime opportunities for chaos. While challenging, I know this is a temporary phase. We adapt and make it work!
So, what’s actually working for us now? We’ve implemented “Morning Time,” a cherished part of our daily routine. Each morning, we gather at the table for a focused ten minutes (yes, just ten!), embracing the beauty of the day amidst the delightful chaos of a toddler scattering rice and beans and a preschooler immersed in play-doh. During Morning Time, we sing a hymn, delve into “The Ology” (a theological resource), sometimes practice scripture copywork, and engage in memory work. Currently, we’re memorizing Ephesians 6: 10-20 and enjoying the catchy Classical Conversations history memory “jingles” from their app – that “In 1620 the piiiiiiilgrims…” tune is surprisingly effective and fun for all of us! Following this, we might listen to classical music, admire an art print, paint, read a poem, or explore a picture book – the activity varies depending on the day and our energy levels.
After experimenting with various approaches, we’ve found immense success with “The Playful Pioneers” curriculum from Peaceful Press. This literature and project-based curriculum, designed for elementary students, focuses on early American history, using either the “Little House on the Prairie” or “Little Britches” book series as its foundation (we opted for “Little Britches” after enjoying Laura Ingalls Wilder last year). Honestly, this curriculum is fantastic. We all adore it. It’s centered around read-alouds and hands-on projects, which perfectly suits my children’s learning styles. “Playful Pioneers” seamlessly covers history, science, geography, and language arts. We simply supplement with math, using the Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series, to create a well-rounded homeschool day.
“Playful Pioneers” is wonderfully family-friendly and adaptable for different ages. Its flexibility is a huge plus. “Morning Time” kicks off our homeschool day while the younger ones are occupied with sensory activities at the table. We then take a break before transitioning to table work. Grayson works on copywork and phonics from “Explode the Code,” which he enjoys. Another longer break follows, and then after lunch, during the toddler’s nap, I focus on reading and math instruction with Grayson and we work on labeling our US map in line with our current history studies. Our “big” read-aloud from “Little Britches” happens at bedtime (it’s a bit more mature than “Little House,” making it perfect for older elementary ages but not toddlers).
“Playful Pioneers” brings American history to life through captivating living books, which Grayson narrates back to me after our readings. Once a week, he works in his narration notebook, narrating, illustrating, and having me write down his thoughts.
And that’s our homeschool in a nutshell! I’ve shifted from the rigid “school must be done by lunch” mentality to spreading learning throughout the day, adapting to our current family rhythm. We’re also excited to join a co-op next month, adding a weekly school day outside the home.
Homeschooling is undeniably tiring. Personal time is a rarity these days, and by 1 pm, a quiet cup of tea while the kids have book-on-tape time is essential for a moment of recharge. However, the sacrifices are profoundly rewarding. Witnessing my children’s genuine love for learning makes it all worthwhile. Grayson often declares school as his favorite part of the day, and I wholeheartedly agree.
As Charlotte Mason wisely stated, “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life.”
I plan to share another update at the end of our term in December. In the meantime, you can follow our daily homeschool adventures on Instagram, where I share more frequent glimpses into our life.
Blessings to you all on your own unique journeys!
