Teaching Tip Tuesday ~ When the Learning Day Seems More Chaos Than Calm : Seven Steps to Scheduling a {more} Peaceful Learning Year.

Perhaps we could learn some lessons from the snail on how to slow our days? ...

1.  Less is More Time ~ When planning your days, lean towards less activities rather than towards more.  Unplanned moments and expectations will inevitably invade your day.  Leaving a bit of breathing space for these moments allows the unplanned to become an invitation rather than an invasion.  

2.  In the Word Time ~ Be diligent in taking time to nourish your spirit with quiet moments with Him.  Fill up on soul food and feast on the Bread of Life.  Schedule this time into your day ~ before the babes awake, during breakfast, after lunch, while they play.  As the mom leading your children to Him, be certain to have something to give.  Don’t run on empty.

3.  Plan Order, Not Time ~ Seeking a peaceful rhythm throughout the day is a prominent goal in my home.  Everyday.  Organizing the order of activities for the day keeps the rhythm flowing naturally.  The children know what to expect and so do I. For me, the order of activities is important, not the actual time when they begin or end.  I’ve found that adding a time schedule to each activity in the day can easily add extra pressure unnecessarily.  

4.  Short Lesson Times  ~ Keeping lessons short and varied leads to a happier child resulting in a happier mom. {smile}  An interesting article written by Catherine Levison shares some insight on the importance of short and varied lessons.  Some words to ponder: The Benefits of Short Lessons in the Charlotte Mason Method

5. Outdoor Time ~  Even in the dead of winter, throw on the snowpants and wooly toques and join the children in the midst of the Creator’s wonderland.  Explore, discover, laugh, talk, and play – together.  Be creative and intentional with a nature study or simply get the heart beating fast and the lungs breathing deep.

6. Spare the Extras Time ~ Be protective of your time.  Time is a gift – every. single. moment.  So fill those moments well.  If extras are crowding your days, consider slowing down.  I have often heard seasoned homeschooling moms share that two extra activities per week is plenty for a child.  With multiple children, even two activities can quickly become  overwhelming.

7. Quiet Time ~ After lunch we all need a bit of quiet.  Teach your children how to do this by taking some quiet time too.  A perfect time to light a candle, play instrumental music, and think upon beautiful words.  

Related Links:
A Typical Homeschool Day?  ~ Robin @ Heart of Wisdom ~ A collection of homeschool day schedules provided by other homeschooling moms just like us!

Pace Scheduling Options and Optional Paces - This document outlines some options for scheduling your days using Accelerated Christian Education curriculum for grades 1-3.  As well, it highlights the Science and Social Studies paces that can be considered optional since they do not meet the learning outcomes prescribed by the BC Ministry of Education.

Lessons Learned When You are the Teacher

Some words penned a year ago, but seem to be fitting into my thoughts again ...

It’s been four summers since I first approached a learning year with much trembling. I remember feeling very much alone, uncertain of choosing a different way. Friends and dear family members nodded heads and smiled as I shared thoughts of keeping my oldest one at home, instead of placing her in the local kindergarten class.

Within my sweet circle of relationships, I was the single one, who rarely felt confident that the educational choice that I was making was the best choice, comparatively. I usually kept silent and rarely shared the celebrations of our learning successes.

As four summers have passed, my insecurities have faded along the way, and in their absence my confidence has grown. This growth is not due to my children’s talent, intelligence, or athletic ability. It is not credited to their excellent character or amazing obedience {we still have a long way to go}. And it is certainly not a result of me having figured it all out.

No, my confidence exists simply because Someone much greater than I has carried me and has instructed me through lessons and laundry.

He has taught me that my ways, and the ways of those around me, are not necessarily His ways.

He has shown me that all is like withering grass, but that which is built on His Word.

He has taught me that the heart of the child is entrusted to me to cherish and to train.

He has revealed to me that the grandest lessons are often learned through the deepest failures.

He is my strength ~ daily. And He is my joy song.

Sally Clarkson writes in her book Seasons of a Mother’s Heart, “God's will is not something hidden that needs to be found but, rather, something revealed that needs to be done."

And so again, I gather the children for one more year.

We’ll sit together and laugh together. We’ll share our frustrations and failures, and then we’ll encourage and pray each other through. We’ll learn more about Him and live more beside Him. We’ll make one more year of memories and learn to grow from each one of them. And above all, we’ll remember, with humble gratitude, that we are blessed.

Gifts for September

By all these lovely tokens September days are here,

With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer.

 ~ Helen Hunt Jackson ~ September

Sights from a Labour Day Nature Walk

Enjoying God's Creation in September ~ A trip to a local apple orchard always makes for a wonderful September fieldtrip.  Perhaps take time to browse this listing of BC orchards to find an orchard near to your home.  These apple tree sequencing cards look like an enjoyable activity to complete before your visit.  Make sure to taste test as many apples as possible and bring some home to make something from a delicious apple recipe! 

Poetry for September ~ Something to print off and have the children memorize to help remember the number of days in each month: Thirty Days Hath September.

Readings for your Bookshelf in September ~ Books about apples and country fairs often find their place on our bookshelf during this month:  How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, How Do Apples Grow, Apple Picking Time, The Life and Times of the Apple, Come to the Fair, Daniel's Duck, County Fair.  

Making a Memory in September ~ I love the idea of a creative "first day of school" photo.  If the "first day" has already passed, any day in September will do, really!

Music for September ~ As the first day of autumn approaches, listening to Vivaldi's Autumn will add a pleasant addition to your daily rhythms.  Listen to the music.  Can you identify the instruments heard?  Can you interpret the music through movement?  How about drawing in a music journal the colours, feelings, and images portrayed through the music?  Simply enjoy the music. 

Art for September ~ Perhaps taking a closing look at Van Gogh's Sunflowers will inspire your child to design some sunflower art too like these colourful pastel sunflowers or these tempura paint bouquets.

Worship for September ~ I've been listening to and singing along with this this past summer.  Listen to and sing with me as we move into this new learning year?

May this month be filled with new beginnings and many warm gifts. ~ Jessica