So far, so good!

Apple still life paintings: (clockwise- Mommy's, Elijah's, Adah's)

 Our first week of homeschooling is going wonderfully! I do believe my planning worked! The days have been smooth and easy. The difference, for me, between "winging it" and planning, cannot be understated. Last year's attempt at "winging it" resulted in fizzled enthusiasm on all of our parts. 

I know this about myself.... I know, and everyone close to me would agree, that I am often filled with great bursts of enthusiasm and determination about one thing or another, becoming absolutely consumed with an idea or a plan for a month or two and then,

 just like that....  over it.  

(or discouraged and confused and giving up)

Having made concrete goals and objectives, planned out and prepared, having materials organized and ready, having a schedule and purpose in mind everyday.... 

this is going to be the secret to our success. I just know it. 

That, and the goodness of the Lord who knows my weakness and, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." 1 Cor 2:9

Our 2012-2013 School Schedule

Bible  OT Mem.Verse	Bible   NT Mem. Verse	Bible   OT Mem.Verse	Bible  NT Mem. Verse	Devotional Hymn Mem.Verse
Math	Math	Math	Math	Math
Literature  Read Aloud	Literature Read Aloud	Literature Read Aloud	Literature Read Aloud	Literature Read Aloud
Copy work letters Bible	Copy work letters Poetry	Copy work  letters Character	Copy work letters Literature	Copy work letters Personal Journal
History/ Geography Ancient World	Science	History/ Geography  American	Science	Nature Walk and Journal
Spanish  Salsa	Spanish Pronunciator	Spanish  Salsa	Spanish Pronunciator	Spanish flash cards and Review
Hymn Review and Practice	Artist Study	Composer	Art/handicrafts	Folk Music/ Movement
Piano	Piano	Piano	Piano	Piano
Elijah Free Read for 15 min Adah Computer phonic	Elijah Free Read for 15 min Adah Computer phonic	Elijah Free Read for 15 min Adah Computer phonic	Elijah Free Read for 15 min Adah Computer phonic	Elijah Free Read for 15 min Adah Computer phonic

I realize this looks like an awful lot!  But one of the major tenets of CM philosophy is short lessons for young children. For Elijah and Adah's age, each of these lessons is about 15-20 minute max. Fifteen minutes is about the length of time that a child their age can give undivided attention on any subject; there should always be an expectation for undivided attention when having lessons. When they are no longer able to fully focus, the lesson should end and move to another subject.

Also, lessons should feel relaxed and enjoyable. And most of this will be me reading to them from wonderful books, so don't feel too bad for them. We are not going stress out over any of this. Many of these subjects (history, science, art and music) we are only doing once or twice a week. At this age, I just want a gentle introduction to a wide variety of topics. I am expecting to spend 2-3 hours a day on school, broken up between morning and afternoon.

We will do most of this together as a family, though Adah will be free to join in or not depending on her level of interest. She will also have a separate phonic study with just Mommy while Elijah is required to read silently from any book of his choice daily.

Bible
Read from Old Testament and New Testament, choosing verses to memorize and practicing them. Also, Little Visits with God devotional weekly.

Hymn
Learn to sing 1-2 new hymns per term

Math
Review Kindergarten math, begin 1st grade math (using Singapore Math now, will be changing soon)

Literature
Read aloud from Aesop's for Children by Milo Winter, 50 Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin, A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Lewis Stephenson, The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling. Also choosing 1-2 novels to read starting Charlotte's Web by EB White.

History/Geography
World History- Starting with ancient civilizations, one day a week, and Early American History beginning with Native Americans, one day a week. Will use a selection of living books to tell stories from these periods and Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World as a spine text. Geography will happen naturally as we study times and places.

Science
Will cover a wide variety of Earth, Physical and Life Sciences using living books and personal experience and observation as a core. Plan to emphasize the world right around us by doing nature walks and nature journals. Also reading, A Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock, books from the series The People of the... by Clara Dillingham Pierson and James Herriot's Treasury for Children. Will learn 6 native trees, 6 birds, 6 wildflowers/ plants each term.

Copy work
Daily practice copying very short verses, poems, songs, etc. to introduce handwriting practice and grammar as well as reinforcing memory work (1 sentence at this age).

Memory Work
Strive to memorize 2-3 bible verses, one hymn and one short poem each term ( short 5-10 min, casual practice sessions)

Spanish
Watch Salsa videos online 2/ week ( free children's show with puppets speaking entirely in Spanish- very cute), use Pronunciator 2/week ( free language learning database offered through my local library system- amazing! Casual review using flash cards.

Artist study
Introduce 2 artists per term, look at their art, talk about their lives. Going to try to cover Artists from all different periods, styles and mediums.

Music study
1-2 per term, listen to music by composer, talk about the life of the person. Once weekly Folk Music intro with some dance thrown in for fun.

Art/ Handicraft 
Introduce 1-2 forms of art or hand craft or useful life skill each term for each child to practice.

Piano
Daily piano practice using Adventures in Piano by Faber and Faber.


For More information about where I gathered these studies or specifics about techniques in teaching in each subject look here:
Ambleside Online Year 1 book list
Simply Charlotte Mason Free Curriculum
Charlotte Mason Help Free Curriculum Year 1