The kids help with the regular chores in the morning. Sometimes, if I'm feeling behind on things like dusting and vaccuuming, we'll spend a little extra time to get it all done. If the house is a mess, I feel scattered, so it works to have the house picked up before starting sit-down work. Plus, I think it's important for boys to know how to do this stuff - raising husband-material, right? - and house-working together is part of being a family.
We sit down for book work from mid-morning until mid-afternoon. We usually breakfast and lunch later than most folks (9:30/10, 2/2:30) and school in between, with quiet reading in the afternoon after lunch. A 5yo only takes about 1-1.5 hours. For a 5yo I start them with math when they're fresh (Miquon), then move on to phonics (Explode the Code) and writing (First Language Lessons or English for the Thoughtful Child). My 5yos listen to history (Story of the World), maybe look at the globe and work together on a fun project to go along with the story. Science is very conceptual, fun, and hands on (various sources). Alternate history and science (either by the week or the day). Quiet reading for my 5yos is actually having them read aloud to me, starting at 10 minute sessions and working up to 30 minutes with experience and skill. Older kids read for an hour, a book of my choice. They also have books they want to read for fun that they read during free time or at bedtime (9-10PM). For art and music I use Discovering the Masters for fun projects, and Masterpieces for coloring pages. The kids color these masterpieces after viewing the artist's other art works and learning about their lives through read-aloud stories. They work on coloring them (great fine-motor!) while I read the history lesson. We also have Dover coloring books to go along with history lessons, so sometimes they work on those during the read-aloud.
In the afternoon while I work, play with the youngers, and start dinner, the kids play. Since we need my income, and I would have to work somewhere at night if I didn't work at home, DH is responsible for dinner most nights, clean up, and getting the kids to bed, just as if I weren't home. So, I work at night - my goal is 7-12. We usually eat at 8 (sometimes 7 or 9!)
We have belonged to active homeschool groups for holiday parties, regular park or play dates, international days/science fairs, literacy days (oral book reports), and field trips. The kids also do recreational sports like soccer, T-ball, and skiing through the parks and rec department. They currently take karate with DH 2 nights/week, and participate in weekly 4H meetings and frequent Saturday 4H events. They go to Sunday School at church. At other times they have also taken classes in drama, dance, and gymnastics. We never worry about them not being exposed to other kids (except maybe too much
) I avoid having them participate AT school, though. That is where I draw the line. Although, you will find the same mix of good/challenging/annoying kids in a HS group as you would in a PS.
At younger ages, aside from academics, my goal is teaching the kids diligence in their school work, how to focus and study well. Age-appropriately, most 5 year olds are not self directed to sit and do the book work you might require of them. I sit with my kids during school time. As they get older, they need less direction and I only need to answer questions. I'm to the point that my 10 year old can get his work for the day (and will be starting to get it for the week) and is/will be independent and responsible to get it done. Ultimately, they will be completely self-taught (with only "help" here and there) as teens. That is too much to ask of a young child, though, IMO.
Don't answer the phone during "school time", let the machine pick it up. If you have nosy neighbors, friends, and family who think the middle of the day is a great time to stop by, stick up a sign on your door (School time - come back in an hour). Start off with short lessons (5-10 minutes) and work up to 20 minutes for each lesson.
HTH!
