Cherry Tree Academy is named in honor of our first president, George Washington and because we just happen to have one growing in our back yard. My husband and I have a strong belief that our children will learn better at home than they ever could at any school no matter how good it is. We hope to instill in our children a love of learning that will last a life time. We wish to raise our children to be independent, honest, sensitive, confident and caring individuals who do not blindly follow others but instead blaze their own path through life - values which we strongly believe are under emphasized (at best) or actively weeded out (at worst) in most schools. This is our first venture into homeschooling and we are still learning a lot. These pages are a reflection of the learning process and a place for relatives and dear friends to see what Alexander, Joshua & Caitlin are up to. Welcome to our journey.
We homeschool Monday thru Friday in three trimesters (September-November, January-March, and May-July). Our homeschooling style is eclectic though we are currently leaning towards a classical education. You'll notice that our days are short — only a few hours in length. There are a couple of reasons for this: First, they can move at their own pace since they have my (mostly) undivided attention (and no classmates to slow them down); Second, it keeps our afternoons free for field trips, social activities, special classes, errands, trips to the park, etc.
I find that my kids do much better when they have a daily routine and know what to expect. What follows is our tentative daily schedule for 2007/2008. At the beginning of 2007 we decided to switch from doing a little bit of each subject every day to themed days. We decided to have Math on Mondays, Science on Tuesdays, History on Wednesdays, Language Arts on Thursdays and Fine Arts on Fridays. The kids liked the new schedule so much that we've decided to keep it. The only problem we encountered is that I forgot to schedule in Foreign Languages and Logic. I think I've fixed that oversight for this year. On good days this is pretty much how everything goes. Please do not think that this represents a typical day at our home/school.
If you're a visual person you might want to have a look at our current schedule. Links to the books we use are listed on the kids' individual Curriculum pages: Alex's Curriculum, Josh's Curriculum, Caity's Curriculum. I also have a blog in which I frequently talk about homeschooling (and anything else that I feel like sharing).
6:30 a.m. (Or thereabouts....) I wake up, eat a little something, and take a shower.
7:00 a.m. The kids are usually awake by now, if not I get them up. After breakfast they get dressed and brush their teeth. When that's done they start their chores. The boys are responsible for putting the clean dishes away and they alternate days. Caitlin usually helps with the silverware. Next, Joshua and Caitlin clean off the table, chairs, and placemats – then they take the dirty napkins down to the laundry room. After that's all done, Alex sweeps the kitchen and dining room floors.
8:30 a.m. We start our day with Circle Time:
First, I light our candle (it's a green taper).
Standing (or sitting) in a circle we say the morning verse:
"Morning has come, night is away;
We rise with the sun to welcome the day."
At the beginning of each month I pick a poem from the book A Child's Book of Poems The kids learn it by repeating it after me every morning.
By the end of the month they have it memorized and they recite it for Phillip, then we record it.
Next, we have a minute of silent meditation.
Then they say the closing verse:
(Crouching down small...) "I can be small as a small, small seed;"
(Standing on tiptoes, reaching towards the sky...) "or I can be tall as a tall, tall tree."
Finally, they blow out the candle and start their lessons.
8:45 a.m. We begin our formal lessons:
On Mondays we do Math: We use Math-You-See, a wonderful manipulative based math program (great for math-a-phobe moms) that allows you to see how math works.
Alex is in the Honors Pre-Algebra course this year.
Joshua is in Gamma.
Caity will be finishing up Introduction before moving into Foundations (both are a part of the classic curriculum that's being phased out).
On Tuesdays we do Science:
The boys are studying Physics this year using the Real Science 4 Kids program.
Caity is learning critical thinking and phonics with the Mind Building Reading workbook from Critical Thinking Press.
On Wednesdays we do History:
The boys will study the Civil War for the first four to six weeks, then we'll move into using Story of the World Volume 4: The Modern Age.
Caity practices her handwriting with simple copy work taken from children's literature and made into worksheets with the StartWrite software program.
On Thursdays we do Language Arts:
Alex works on expanding his already impressive vocabulary with the Vocabulary from Classical Roots series of workbooks, and continues to improve his grammar skills with the Write Source program.
Josh works on his spelling with the Spelling Workout D workbook and sheets I make using the Word Search Factory Lite program from Schoolhouse Technologies, and handwriting sheets made with the StartWrite handwriting program.
Caity works in her Visual Perceptual Skill Building workbook.
On Fridays we do Fine Arts:
The kids are learning about Opera this year using the book The Young Person's Guide to the Opera.
10:15 a.m. We take a snack break. I find we all get along much better if we take time to have a little something to eat, so I try to have something healthy on hand like organic fruits and veggies, whole grain crackers or bread with organic spreads, and filtered water.
10:45 a.m. We get back to work:
On Mondays:
The boys are still working on their Math.
Caity has some computer time to play on PBSkids.com or StarFall.
On Tuesdays:
The Boys are refreshing their Latin using the Minimus course from Cambridge University.
Caity has free time.
On Wednesdays:
The boys finish up their history reading and then work on their geography skills using Mapping the World by Heart.
Caity has computer time.
On Thursdays:
Alex reads great literature and works on improving his writing skills using Lightning Literature and Composition – 8th Grade, and the Write Source program.
Josh continues to work on his grammar skills with First Language Lessons Volume 3, and is learning to write using the Writing Strands program from The National Writing Institute.
Caity has free time.
On Fridays:
Alex is learning about making Comic books. He also studies Art History using History of Art for Young People.
Josh and Caity have free drawing time.
12:15 p.m. Is lunch time. Phillip usually comes home for lunch, which is really nice for all of us...especially the kids.
1:00 p.m. And our day is almost done:
Every day except Tuesdays:
The boys have time to finish up anything they're still working on or to read.
Caity is learning how to read. We are using the book, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
On Tuesdays:
The boys sharpen their logic skills using Mind Benders software.
Caity is learning how to read. We are using the book, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
2:00 p.m. The kids and I all have some free time for reading, playing, and/or running errands (usually on Tuesdays & Fridays).
3:30 p.m. Twice a week:
On Tuesdays & Fridays:
Caity has Taekwondo class.
Alex usually helps teach her class (he's required to help out with at least one class a week).
Josh tags along and plays with the other kids or reads.
4:10 p.m. :
On Tuesdays:
Josh has Taekwondo class.
Alex sometimes helps teach this class as well, or he reads.
Caity and I run errands while the boys are in class, or go back home.
4:30 p.m. :
On Thursdays:
Josh has Taekwondo class.
Alex & Caity have free time.
4:50 p.m. :
On Tuesdays & Fridays:
Alex has Taekwondo class.
Josh hangs out, or reads.
Caity and I are usually back home getting dinner started.
5:30 p.m. Is when we usually eat dinner. Afterwards the kids take care of their plates. If they haven't done it already, the boys take their showers. Everyone gets to relax! The kids are allowed to watch one hour of television in the evening. On Wednesday we have Family Game Night.
8:00 p.m. And it's time for the kids to get ready for bed. They get their pajamas on, have a snack and brush their teeth. When they are all finished it's story time. The kids take turns picking out the bedtime book and Phillip reads it aloud to them. When the story is over everyone gets hugs and kisses and tucked into bed for the night.
9:00 p.m. The kids are in bed and that is the end of our day.
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