ON SCHEDULE!

Ah, the first day of homeschool 2010! The kids awakened at 7:20am to the delicious scent of strawberries & cream oatmeal and freshly peeled bananas.
Their daddy surprised them with some silly bands (the childhood craze of 2010, not unlike our mood rings of the 70's.) He also got them each a roll of bubble gum (uh hem,...no comment from teacher-mom on that one, lol.)

My rough draft schedule has been implemented and I'm sure some fine tuning will soon be needed, but I'm happy to say we're off to a decent start, having just completed our first week today.

Our school day is full. We start promptly at 8am, and finish anywhere between 1:30pm and 3:00pm (the latter being a padded time for completion of science experiments, working on Polished Cornerstones or Plants Grown Up with the children, or catching up on incomplete work from earlier in our day (a.k.a. as homework for traditional schoolers).

Among other subjects and foci, this year's studies will include;

• Exploration to the 1850's (I'm really amazed at the incredible drive and courage of men like Christopher Columbus and Hernando de Soto)
  
• Plants and animals from a creation perspective, along with nature journaling
  
• read alouds that emphasize Godly character, such as Almost Home, Amos Fortune, Free Man, Bound for Oregon, Madeleine Takes Command, Mary Jones and Her Bible, and William Carey
  
• Art appreciation (we're studying Michaelangelo for the first quarter, along with the Picture America picture study series)
  
• Classical music (Mozart is our first quarter focus)
  
• Poetry study (we're enjoying Robert Louis Stevenson as our first quarter poet)

In addition, our family is working through a family study called Searching For Treasure: A Guide to Wisdom and Character Development. What I like about this study is that it's not a "fluffy" study for children. Rather, the word of God, the reading and memorizing of scripture, is the main focus. There are several conversation prompts (in question form) that follow each day's reading. Just enough to inspire our children to share or inquire after reading the scriptures together before practicing our verses. It can be done in 15 minutes, perfect for the shorter attention spans of young children. Main sections include: Understanding Wisdom, Developing Right Relationships (specifically addresses choosing friends), Controlling Yourself (anger, pride, temptation), Controlling What You Say (arguing and complaining, gossiping, lying) Avoiding the Way of the Wicked and Following the Way of the Righteous.

We've been studying Proverbs 9:10 this past week. I have to say, it warms my heart to hear my 3 year old recite (without help!), "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." No, he doesn't yet understand the meaning of scripture. But he is capable of memory work, as he proved to us today. We will welcome his enthusiasm in family devotions to come.

I'll leave you with a glimpse of our daily schedule. It's actually just page 1 of a two page schedule, but you'll see how I work all subjects and all four children into the ebb and flow of a homeschool day, while performing my home duties as well. (Note: If you click on "fullscreen" at the top of the document, my schedule will pop up in a window. At the bottom, you can enlarge it for viewing.)

So,...how about you? Are you more of a scheduler in your daily life? Or do you prefer to freestyle? Do tell.

Document 1

Toni

Live wise in Him!~Toni~

Let's begin!

Welcome, welcome, welcome!
After blogging for several years at IN THE MIDST OF THIS SEASON, I am so excited to begin a new blogging chapter here at THE WISE WOMAN. This scripture is one that I have been pondering in my heart for some time now, and it is with conviction that I decided to make it the focus of my new blog.

I enjoy writing.
I always have.
It's what first drew me to the world of blogging.
And I also enjoy the grounding that journaling brings to my heart and mind.
A place for my thoughts and experiences to rest, KWIM?
I do hope, by keeping this new blog, to accomplish these things.

But I also hope it will serve me in my own focus on becoming a wise woman in the building of my house (phew, can't we all use a little help in that regard? I know I can.) I desire to be a helper to my husband. I desire to be an encourager to my children (especially in the hope of seeing them walk in the truth and light of Jesus). And I desire to be a blessing to our home. Some days, I think I come close to accomplishing those desires. Other days,......not so much. Thankfully, I am the Potter's work in progress. Thankfully, He is not finished with me, just as I am not finished with the "building of my house."

If you have taken the time to stop by, I do hope you leave here encouraged or blessed in some way for having given me a precious moment out of your day.
THANK YOU!
And welcome!

Live wise in Him!
~Toni~

WELCOME!

It has been my desire for some time now to expand the focus of my original blog, IN THE MIDST OF THIS SEASON. I intend to blog here, at THE WISE WOMAN BUILDS HER HOUSE, in the coming school year. All are welcome to follow along (Guys too! I'll still be writing about the laughable life moments once a week.) I encourage you to become a follower if you so desire to, and thank you to all who have followed me in the past. Your cyberspace presence has been appreciated. "See" you in September!

Live wise in Him!

~TONI~