The agenda

As you can see, I've been tweaking our daily plans in an attempt to create the best learning environment possible for my children. I've leaned heavily upon the guidance of Marva Collins and Mr. and Mrs. Moore.

Here is our agenda for this week:

Boys awake by 9am
Complete morning stuff-
showers and dressed
clean room
eat breakfast
brush teeth
Morning chores completed by 10am-
let goats out to pasture
empty dishwasher
wash kitchen table
feed Barn Cat

Begin each day with a reading of Rudyard Kippling's If.
Separately, each boy reads aloud to me for about 20 minutes. I provide any phonics training needed for words/sounds difficult to the child. We discuss the story a bit during and after the reading. We are currently enjoying the cool temperatures for reading on the front porch swing. Ah, a perk of homeschooling!
During this reading time the other boys (not currently reading aloud to me) will be working on their writing and penmanship skills. The boys *in their best penmanship* copy a quote from the chalkboard. These usually consist of quite a few Benjamin Franklin and Marva Collins quotes. I'm also particularly fond of this one, quoted from Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. president (1872-1933)

We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in
some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts.... Self-government means self-reliance.

Also, the boys will write an entry into their daily journal. These entries can be about anything the boys wish to write. Sometimes they prefer a story starter.
All errors are immediately (or asap) corrected with a brief lesson as to why the change was necessary. (Such as, grammatical errors and spelling errors.)

Math time! We will continue using MUS but with a bit of a change. I have (shamefully) gotten a bit lazy having a video teacher. ;) Steve Demme teaches the boys so well (via DVD lesson) that I had shirked my teaching responsibilities of math over to him. Time to wake up and get involved! I will be watching the video lessons with the boys and working on the new concept a bit with them before assigning them their daily worksheet of math problems.
After the boys have completed, it is time to find a real life application for the new math concept they are working on. This could be anything the boys can come up with and will hopefully include some type of practical work.
Math worksheets are also immediately corrected with a lesson as to why correction was needed. (It does no good for them to practice it the wrong way and if they knew how to do it correctly the first time they would have.)

One hour break for PE and lunch

History or Science time-
My goal is provide an environment rich in hands on learning and discussion for these subjects. (Think science experiments, re-enactments and deep conversation about the issues.)

Independent learning-
In the following days I plan to help the boys plan for an independent study of their chosen topic. We will discuss:
the goal of the study
books and materials needed
field trips or experiences that will help
plan for a proper completion event (presentation or something to the effect)
After we have our game plans and the needed materials the boys will spend some time daily working on their independent studies. Of course, I will be on hand for any guidance needed.
I believe Remington and I may curl up on the couch with a few books while the boys are studying. :)

Now it's time for me to read aloud to the boys! This will likely be one chapter per day of some (hopefully) fantastic story. The boys and I have already read Lord of the Flies and The Pearl. I really enjoyed these books and would prefer to read from similar thought provoking stories. Any suggestions?

Now comes the *real* work. :) Practical life skills... Ah! The stuff life is made of. This work will consist of whatever is needed around the home as well as volunteer work. I will be calling our local senior citizen's center today to find how we can help. (I'm thinking simply visiting with some may provide a bit of comfort and perhaps some reading for those who can no longer see the text.)
We have quite a few things which need completed around the home:
pick remaining vegetables
preserve
clean up garden (pull stakes and level)
add horse manure to soil for next year's garden

clean up goat's barn
check for and repair any drafts in barn
begin studying goat birthing (although we will not be interfering with the birth)
measure goat pasture and calculate needed wire
hang two more strands of electric fencing

finish our frog pond
organize and personalize the boys' rooms

After all this it will be time for the boys to complete their afternoon chores. (Mom too!) Then comes the time the boys enjoy best.... free time! "Tear out!" I tell them. ;) Often times you will find Richie and Christopher biking the nearby trails on the property of our kind neighbor. Devan and Remington can usually be found exploring our land with bug catchers, binoculars and bird watching books.