Prepping for the Upcoming Homeschool Year + Hailey's Daily Schedule

I am so anxious & excited to start school. Since we won't start until September, I've been creating Hailey's daily schedule that we will follow loosely. It's mostly for me to use as a guide to keep me on track. I've also been working hard to get the school room set up and I've started implementing Morning Basket & Poetry Tea time. In our Morning Basket we will be doing our daily Bible study & review of things that need to be worked on. 

Hailey's Daily Schedule

7:30am | Wake Up 

8:00 - 9:00am | Breakfast + Morning Devotional Time

9:00 - 11:30am | Chores / Errands / or Free Play

11:30 - 12:30pm | Preschool

12:30 - 1:00pm | Lunch

1:00 - 3:00pm | Nap Time

3:00 - 5:30pm | Preschool cont. / Free Play

5:30 - 6:00pm | Screen Time / Cook Dinner

6:00 - 6:30pm | Dinner Time

6:30 - 7:00pm | Tidy Up

7:00 - 8:00pm | Family Time

8:00 - 8:30pm | Bath / Bedtime Routine

8:30 - 9:00pm | Red Aloud / Family Bible Time

9:00pm | Bedtime

During Poetry Tea Time we will be listening to the latest episode of the podcast, The Same Page. It's a podcast that exposes your family to five minutes of scripture, Poetry, Shakespeare, and Historical Facts to memorize together as a family each week. They also provide additional resources for a minimal fee that coincides with that weeks reading.

The Goods: Things that have inspired or encouraged me this week.

• Podcast: At Home With Sally Episode #303: Cultivating Friendship with Children
• Quote: "Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind" - Plato
• Blog Post: How To Successfully Achieve A Morning Basket by Hickory + Ash
• Video: Swanson Elementary School - the school without rules. Video 1 & Video 2

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Homeschooling Hailey

Education is an atmosphere, a dicipline, a life" - Charlotte Mason

If you know me at all, you know that I'm a planner. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about Hailey's education. She just turned two in March so that means I've got about a year before she starts preschool. I never really thought about teaching her at home. I always just assumed she'd go to a preschool & then an elementary school & so on. The closer we get to all of this, the more research I do, and the more I start to lean towards homeschooling her. Nothing against schools at all. In fact, if we can afford the tuition, I'd really like her to attend our church's private school during her middle school and high school years. We have a while before we have to decide all that so for now, I'll focus on Preschool.

I never thought I would homeschool. I never felt qualified to teach my child. I wasn't the best student when I was in school. I never wanted to engage much. I never had a love for learning unless it was something I wanted to learn. So, I always thought I had no business educating my own child. Then I realized, we had already been teaching Hailey. We taught her how to walk, how to sleep through the night, how to say "please" & "thank you". As a parent, it's most definitely my business to educate my child.

"Every day, every hour, the parents are either passively or actively forming those habits in their children upon which, more than upon anything else, future character & conduct depend" - Charlotte Mason

I realized, I don't have to have every skill to be a homeschooler. As a mother, I only have to be willing to bring the gifts I have to the table & use them to create a unique leaning experience for her. I want to create an atmosphere that delights her & invites her to live & learn alongside me. One prayer I have for her is that she always remain teachable. Homeschooling gives us a great opportunity, with a little imagination and intention, to create an atmosphere in our home that will inspire her to love learning.

I've found some awesome communities & homeschool mamas through social media & Pinterest (I've linked them below). The more I listen to them and read their words, the more confident & excited I feel about taking this homeschool journey. There is so many resources & support for homeschoolers. The curriculum's you can purchase literally have everything mapped out for you. They break everything down & guide you every step. Something I need desperately if I'm going to be a successful homeschooler. HA!

The beautifully detailed parents guide I received with our curriculum gave me a list of things I can be doing before we start schooling. So I'm off to get those started!

If you are a homeschooler, or even if you aren't, what are your favorite resources, books, etc. for education? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

xoxo, Kerrin

Our Curriculum:
The Peaceful Preschool

Our Second Choice Curriculum:
The Habitat Schoolhouse 

Other Great Resources:
The Read-Aloud Revival. Subscribe to the podcast too!
Wild & Free Community. They also have a podcast!
Rose Henges' Homeschool Room Tour

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Lately, At The Farmhouse

Lately, We...

had a visit from my Dad & Stepmom. Bought baby chicks (is that redundant?). Bought a couch. Returned said couch. Bought a brand new couch (I think this ones gonna stick). Bought a chicken coop. Had a visit from my mom. Bought new drywall. Bought a new lawnmower (Daddy is very happy). Started a skincare & workout routine. Got sick. Cut fresh flowers. Hired an electrician. Fixed our oven. Fixed our grill. Grilled Chicken. Grilled Burgers. Started potty training (kill me now). Helped neighbor with fallen over hundred year old tree. Helped other neighbor haul dirt. Saw ducks in our pond. Caught our dog wrestling a raccoon. Put up twinkle lights on our patio. Shopped for patio furniture (horrible disappointment). 

Played outside. Read outside. Found a bird's nest. Found eggshell from bird's nest. Organized the house. Organized the house some more. Got egg collecting aprons. Built Chicken coop. Went to the zoo. Flew kites. Met another neighbor. Bought kid table. Had tea parties. Had a visit from Tyler's parents. Played with bubbles. Played with water guns.

Found treasures thrift shopping. Seriously contemplated whether Hailey really needed to be potty trained. Searched for preschools. Searched for homeschool preschool teaching tools. Bought a changing table (no, i'm not pregnant...). Read & finished a book about a woman who spent time with The Amish. Got the mattress for Hailey's big girl bed. Moved crib out of Hailey's room & into the nursery. Seriously wondered when we're gonna get pregnant again. Celebrated Father's Day.

Adventured around another Idaho town. Found fabulous French children's shop. Bought Hailey a French Doll from said shop. Admired red roses blooming in front garden bed. Put drywall up (YAY! We have walls again!). Picked lighting for hallway. Watched birds pick twigs and create a nest. Sat on & admired my new couch (this ones a keeper). Wondered if I could hire someone to potty train Hailey.

Discovered how content & happy I am with this laid back country life.

xoxo, Kerrin

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