Robbins Homeschool Academy-A Full Day of Learning

Last year I was just getting started with homeschooling my children. My two goals: teach my 5 year old how to read and teach my 4 year old how to focus on one thing at a time for up to 40 minutes. I'm proud to say that it was a success, ha! This year has been a bit more academic as the boys showed more interest in things like biology, key historical people and math concepts. Still, I'm only schooling my 1st grader while my 4 year old mostly works through Montessori play.

This is what our usual homeschool routine looks like on any given day. Of course, the baby usually messes things up depending on her teeth or naps. We've been learning flexibility and to never actually schedule out your day, but rather, stick to a routine.

After breakfast, the boys are given their morning habit cards where they are reminded to 1. brush teeth, 2. get dressed, 3. put dirty clothes in the hamper and 4. make their bed. 

Once they complete their cards, they are to come straight down and begin their art lesson. Right now, each boy works in their own sketch book while copying or tracing certain drawing figures. It's very simple and the boys LOVE to draw so it's easiest to begin our day this way. We listen to music during art, I clean up from breakfast and get Ruthie settled and playing on her own.

After art, we move to the couch for reading time where we cover Bible, science, geography, history, poetry, French and Literature. We also add math books (like Life of Fred or Sir Cumference stories), or biographies on specific musicians or artists.

Depending on time and teething conditions, Ruthie may or may not join us for reading.

After reading time, we're back to the dining room table. Elijah works on phonics and writing (Explode the code-he will complete 2-3 pages a day) as well as math. We are currently using Math U See but are phasing into Singapore next month.

Lazarus does a little bit of writing practice (Dollar Store workbook-he just wants to be like his big brother!). The bulk of his work is hands on-sorting, counting, cutting, and lots of projects involving tape, ha!! Here, he is sorting tiny objects into the slots with the corresponding letter.

While the boys begin their table work, I get to cuddle Ruth and have a quiet moment for myself.

Following lunch, we do some science at the kitchen table. We've been doing a lot of chemistry lately, so this particular day, we stuck to our discover boxes. The boys dig for fossils and dinosaur bones.

They also dig for stones and we work together to identify them in our guide.

Afternoons are also great for hikes or trips to the beach. Now that Ruthie naps once a day, we have more time to be outdoors!

We bring our guides and journals with us. The boys always have questions I can't answer, ha! We also bring our nature journals and bird journal. I never know when they'll be inspired so I want to be ready.

Winter sunsets are super early so we always stay until the last drop of light is gone.

We're home just in time to scrub those dirty heads and eat a slow cooker dinner.

Wrestle Ruthie a little bit, just to make sure she's worn out and ready for bed.

Dan reads to the boys while I put Ruthie to bed. Currently, the boys are going through the Narnia series as well as the Old Testament (almost done with Exodus!).

As I look forward to next year, I know our routine will be different, especially with a busy toddler on our hands and a revolving door of foster children. I'm so thankful for the advice given to me by veteran homeschool moms-take it easy during the younger years. Explore, create, inspire and teach them to LOVE learning. Work on character traits and encourage your children to BE who they ARE (at that point in time-we know it's always changing, haha!).

{photos by Joy Prouty at Wildflowers Photography}