7:00 AM – Rise and Shine
Our day kicks off around seven when the kids come padding down the stairs, bright-eyed and ready for breakfast. I make it a point to whip up a hot meal, usually involving a protein plus a starch. I talk about that in this blog post HERE.

7:30 AM – Morning Time
As we gather around the table, it’s “Morning Time.” We dive into a mix of Bible reading, alternating an Old Testament book and New Testament book, we read the daily poem, and Spanish flashcards. I also throw in a bit of memory work (verses, poems, catechism) and read aloud to them. A few times a week we read about a Christian hero from history. We usually wrap this up with intentional music exposure, making breakfast a cheerful way to kick off the day. I try to cover classical music and musicians occasionally, and we also do things like Mad Gabs or hangman with spelling words during this time. Currently we are reading Matthew, using the Sing a Song of Seasons daily poetry book, listening to a rotation of Beethoven, Vivaldi, and The Beatles, and reading through Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder together. For more on our morning time picks this year, I have a blog post HERE.

8:00 AM – Break Time/Morning Chores
After breakfast, we take a little break. It’s a chance for the kids to play, unwind, and get their wiggles out before diving into schoolwork. The girls are responsible during this time for getting dressed, making their beds, and getting their teeth brushed.

9:00 AM – Focused Learning
At nine, we get into the meat of our subjects. I take turns with each girl for language arts, math, and reading while the other works on her piano lessons online with Hoffman Academy. It’s a nice rhythm that keeps everyone engaged and productive. This is the trickiest time for my two-year old, but we manage with sensory bins, turning on music for her, or letting her color/watercolor.

Independent Work
After our focused learning, the girls switch to their independent work. They have creative writing prompts, handwriting books, logic puzzles, and dive into whatever sparks their interest. It’s a great way for them to practice working on their own. Sometimes I have a chance to do an art or science class at this time, but often it’s pushed to later in the day.

11:00 PM – Lunch
Lunchtime rolls around, and we gather again to eat and chat about our morning. It’s nice to take a breather and connect over food. Occasionally we listen to a podcast or audio book together while we eat, because I am an introvert and need a break from being “on” at times.

12:00 PM – Nap Time
After lunch, I put my two-year-old down for a nap. This gives the older girls some quiet time, or this might be where we do science or art.

2:00 PM – Afternoon Wrap Up
In the afternoon, we rarely have structured school time. The kids can catch up on anything they didn’t finish from the morning, but most of all they have lots of time to be a kid. We might go to the library or have a play date, but we usually just play and read until dinner time.

Nighttime Read-Aloud
This is something we would do even if we didn’t homeschool, but the book selection is often intentionally selected to also correlate with our lessons. Before bed, we read a picture book to our toddler and get her tucked into her crib for the night. Then the older girls and I listen to Matthew read from the OTHER read-aloud we are working through. So, yes, the girls get two read-aloud concurrently every day. It’s my favorite time of the day.

Once a Week History Class
Every Wednesday night, my husband does a history class with the kids after dinner. I was doing these lessons, but he enjoyed hearing them so much he asked if he could take over. I think it’s a great thing for the girls to see our two different styles of teaching and for them to bond over the lessons.

Every Other Tuesday – Co-op Day
Every other Tuesday is a bit of a change-up since we head to science co-op in the morning. It’s a blast for the girls, filled with hands-on activities and the chance to learn with friends.

This flow keeps our days structured but fun, blending learning with family time and creativity. There is lots of wiggle room in the schedule and it allows for field trips/unexpected change. It’s a balance that really works for us!