Homeschool morning time can be an anchor to our learning and time together as a family. It’s a sweet time to learn from books and each other.
This school year, I am working at being much more disciplined in my approach to our homeschool morning time. In the past, {most, but not all, mornings} we would meander into the living room at some point and I would read to them for a few minutes. This was mostly because some homeschool blogger made me feel guilty for not reading to my children.
It totally wasn’t that blogger’s fault. I know that reading to my kids is beneficial to them and I’ve been doing it since my oldest was a baby. But there was something missing. I knew that I needed to be more intentional, as well as bring a little more excitement to our morning time reading.
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This is the year though. Over the summer, I came up with a routine to keep me on track each school morning. By doing this, I am mostly ready for the day and in a good place mentally and spiritually as we gather in our living room at 8:30AM. The kids have all eaten breakfast and are completely ready for their day. And before anyone has gotten started on their individual courses, we gather together for some learning.
One hour for morning time is built into our daily routine. It will be a time for me to read and all four of us to discuss. Learn new things and re-learn some old things. Hash them out a bit. And give little morsels for each of us to ponder on throughout the rest of the day.
The books that I read to them will cycle through as the school year progresses. Today, I want to share our homeschool morning time reading for quarter one.
HOMESCHOOL MORNING TIME READING
〈2020-2021 CURRICULUM〉 〈2019-2020 CURRICULUM〉 〈2018-2019 CURRICULUM〉
THE LIFE BY J. John and Chris Walley
This book has been in our home for a very long time. I stumbled upon it at a discount store and have read it a few times. My purpose for including it in our morning time reading is that it adds so much historical and cultural information to the time period that Jesus walked on this earth. It’s an easy read, but the punch it packs with more proof of the Bible is incredible.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PENNY CANDY? by Richard J. Mayberry
A friend recently introduced me to the Uncle Eric series and this is the first book that we are working through. Along with daily chapter readings, I have a list of “Crash Course: Economics” videos on YouTube that we watch. It is typically two videos each day and the amount of information we are learning is amazing. My kids are already way ahead of me when it comes to knowledge about economics. This book is an easy read, but the subject matter can get pretty in-depth. {Hello, the truth about the Federal Reserve…}
IF YOU CAN KEEP IT by Eric Metaxas
Not exactly a book aimed for middle and high schoolers, but I figured that it didn’t hurt to try. Metaxas is an engaging and enthusiastic writer and we are enjoying his exploration of the supposed quote of Benjamin Franklin, “a republic, if you can keep it” to Mrs Powel.
I AM DAVID by Anne Holm
To finish our homeschool morning time reading, I have added a fiction book. The plight of freedom for David is very well written and all four of us are very engaged with the story. This is one of those, “just one more page” books.
〈ENCOURAGING BOOKS FOR HOMESCHOOL MOMS〉 〈WHY WE HOMESCHOOL〉
MORNING TIME ACTIVITIES
While I read, my kids are free to sit, roll around, or bring something to do with their hands. Often times, they just sit and listen and watch any videos that are included in our reading time.
〈OUR LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER〉 〈HOMESCHOOL NOOK MAKEOVER〉
Often, drawing is done while I read aloud.
And then there is the inevitable playing with the dog…
These four books have started our homeschool year off very well. We are only a few weeks in and have learned so much…from the books and each other!
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