I want to start by saying this has been and continues to be a work in progress. I feel daily rhythms come and go and adjust according to the seasons of the home. Some times they can run smoothly and you seem to have fit in every thing possible and then some into your day. While other times you wonder how will we get it all done.
Just know you
don't have to get it all done and your rhythm may never look like someone else's. It probably really shouldn't anyhow because let us remember we are all living different lives with different variables and different needs.
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| Table Time: Finding Wild Invitation |
Here is a glance at what happens in our home settings for school.
After breakfast we do our family responsibilities for the day. Every day is something different we each focus on for the chore.
After responsibilities are complete, we head to our school space where we do our
circle time. This includes prayer for our day, specifically praying for a country around the world, calendar time, number talks, and a read aloud.
Then we move into our work cycle. The room is a quiet space. I have no music playing and nothing flashy to distract them allowing them to keep their focus and attention on what they choose to work on. Here the girls choose works from our shelves as they feel drawn to.
This is a multi age space so there are works that are under challenging as well as over challenging for either of them as it is all set out for both children. Sometimes they try and do the others works, which is allowed by me because sometimes my oldest really just needs to feel like she can have control and complete multiple things in a morning. While my oldest is just curious about the materials and wants to see what her older sibling gets to do. But over all they are drawn to their own works and thrive here.
Sometimes they may never work on a math or language work tray all week. And this is ok, with me but I make a mental note. I feel observing them in this setting allows me to notice what sensitive periods they are in and what they are able and willing to really grasp in lessons at Table Time (described below).
This work cycle can move through in 30 minutes up to an hour if they are wanting to really get into big works. I give them the space and time they need.
From here, we move to Table Time. Here is where our curriculum comes out to play.
I work with basic letters, numbers and hand writing with my now 4 year old. And I work with Reading, Math and writing with my almost 7 year old. This time is set up by me with lesson plans. I set the table for them and create a warm space with candles, classical music playing and sometimes refreshments if their work cycle went on the longer side and they feel they could use a drink or small snack.
When Table Time is complete, they go and play how they want. They usually choose outside if the weather permits. The mud kitchen is mostly what is prefered.
From here I set up either art or science for the day. I don't usually do two in one day as I feel I want them to have less directed time and more self directed. Lunch and naps follow this time.
When they wake from naps they have the entire afternoon to play how they choose. The only exception is our once a week Tea Time.
Tea Time consists of read aloud literature, usually poems, snack and of course tea. Depending on my week, I will make it super fancy or super simple.
I would love to say this is how our days go alllll the tiiiime. But I would not be telling the truth. This is my ideal goal for us. We do our very best to make it the priority but sometimes life does happen and things come up.
But this is us for about 90% of the time.
I would love to hear about how your daily rhythm is in your home. Please share!
"Our care of the child should be governed not by the desire to 'make them learn things' but by the endeavor always to keep burning within them the light which is called intelligence. "
~ Maria Montessori
