Game Blocks

Still no snow, and now it's too cold to go outside, to boot. So to speak.

Fridays tend to be light days anyway, so I decided we'd do game blocks. You may remember that twice a week we do homeschool blocks. Usually we do time with me (often Math-U-See), independent time, chore time, and fun time. The older 4 switch between these 4 activities.






For game blocks we switched it around a bit!



The activities were: Wii Fit, Rosetta Stone Spanish, Board game of choice (with me), and Peggle.



It was so fun, we did it again after lunch! This time we did: Big Brain Academy, Math computer game of choice, Dance Mat Typing, and Chuzzle.




And, thank you Bill, I have
pictures! Klenda is doing Wii fit, Mxyl is playing Battleship (with me), Zorg is doing Peggle, and Leena is doing Rosetta Stone.





That last one is Choclo playing with playdoh and a tractor. He was explaining why he needed a harrow to break up the lumps.




Choclo and Oob do stuff during blocks also, it's just hard to explain how they fit in. I try to have them doing something quiet and interesting near me so that I can occasionally encourage/redirect/save them as needed.

Home School Blocks

This is how it works:

We always start with Prayer Time/Bible Time/Violin Time (usually also nursing Oob time).
The other kids can then take a 15 -30 minute break while I play with Choclo.
Now we start the blocks. I have 4 kids, so there are 4 blocks of time. Everything in a block happens at the same time.

Block 1:
I spend time with Myxyl, maybe doing some math.
Klenda works independently in a workbook, reading a book, or on a project.
Zorg does a chore say, cleans a bathroom.
Leena does something fun, either pouring water in different containers or her own idea

Block 2:
I spend time with Klenda, show her how to make designs with a compass
Zorg does independent work
Leena washes walls
Mxyl draws robots

Block 3:
I play Dolch knights with Zorg (sight word game)
Leena does her wipe off alphabet book
Mxyl cleans a bathroom
Klenda plays with sculpey clay

Block 4:
I do math manipulatives with Leena
Mxyl works independently
Klenda washes windows
Zorg draws on more index cards (he is making a game)


This leaves me time to do stuff together: Child's History of the World (I read while the kids draw about it, or do related activities), and an enormous unit on the human body (lots of experiments!). It also leaves us with large swaths of time free in the afternoon for kids to do their own thing.