While many of my friends in the States are soaking up summer sunshine and planning for the school year head, we are smack in the middle of our homeschool year. I love that the Australian school year corresponds with the calendar year. It makes January a fresh start in every sort of way! Living in the southern hemisphere, our summer moths are December, January, and February. So this time of year finds us crossing the halfway mark! I thought I’d share what we’ve been up to in homeschooling the past few months as well as an update on some things we are loving and that are working well for us.
School Rhythms
This year has been our best homeschool year yet! One mom and five kids together all day has its challenges, but I’m truly enjoying this year. Maybe it’s because my older two have taken on a bit more independent work. Maybe it’s because my toddler loves to play and my baby (even though she’s 18 months, she’s my baby!!) is the easiest child I’ve had to date. I have been so delighted with how this year is going and the curriculum and rhythm choices we have made.
4 Day School Schedule
This has been the perfect fit for our family. I do our regular school routine with the kids 3 days each week. Daddy takes one school day where he leads school and does math, grammar, and a Gather Round Homeschool unit with the kids- Life Skills. This unit has been a perfect “daddy” unit because it cover things like lawncare, first aid, emergency preparedness, taking a trip, and home maintenance. (I will admit, I stepped in and taught the lessons on cooking, cleaning, and laundry!) That leaves Fridays open. Every other week, we meet with a homeschool group for a few co-op style lessons. So far, we have done sports, health, and woodworking. The other Fridays are family days. We love to hit the road and go hiking in the mountains, swimming at the beach, exploring at the zoo, or on a low-key day, playing games at home and going to library storytime.
Daily Rhythm
We have found a flow to our homeschool days that is the perfect fit for this season of life.
7:00am- Kids wake up and do their morning routines (make bed, get dressed, do devotions, put away dishes in dishwasher)
7:30am- Breakfast with daddy (We share what we learned in our devotions. I love this time together!)
8:15-9:15am- Morning Moments (read more about that here)
9:15-9:45am- Independent Work (I have task sheets for my older three that they work through while I read my toddler a book and put the littlest down for a nap)
9:45-10:30am- Math
10:30-11:00am- Outside/Free time
11:00-11:30- Gather Round Unit and snack
11:30-12:30- My older two take turns rotating between piano practice and Language Arts
12:30- Tidy up the house
12:45- Lunch
After lunch, we transition into our afternoon quiet time. (Hear more on establishing a daily quiet time on the podcast)
Time blocking gives me a mental gameplan and helps me keep the day moving foward.
Read-Alouds
We have been reading through so many good books this school year, but some stand out above the rest!
–Everyday Graces by Karensantorum (a child’s book of manners- HIGHLY RECOMMEND!)
–Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor
–The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
–Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou
–Eric Liddell: Something Greater than Gold by Janet & Geoff Benge
Curriculum
Bible
We have been working on memorizing the 24 Family Ways by Clay Clarkson for a while. We almost have all 24 memorized! During our family devotions, we are working through the book. Sctipure memory is also an emphasis in our home. These are the passages we’ve memorized this year: Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 23 & 100; I Corinthians 13:4-9; Matthew 5:13-16 & 22:36-39; Luke 2:8-14; John 14:1-6
Memorization
Memorizing poetry together is one of my favorite parts of our homeschooling! This year, we have memorized: The Duel by Eugene Field; Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley; and Wynken, Blynken, and Nod by Eugene Field
We have also been memorizing Latin roots, and plan to start working on Greek roots in the 2nd semester.
Math
The Good and the Beautiful Math has been a great fit for our family! My oldest is in Math 4 which includes a brief video lesson each day explaining the new topic. This is something she’s really enjoying, and it gives me the time to work with my next child on his math lesson.
Unit Study
We love immersing ourselves in a specific topic for 6 weeks or so, and Gather Round Homeschool has given us that opportunity! Gathered around the kitchen table, we eat our snack and work through our unit. This year we’ve done Space, Reptiles, Africa, and are currently working through The Human Body. My son’s favorite was obviously Reptiles! I always enjoy doing a continent study. Seeing peoples of other places and cultures is so intriguing. I also try to emphasize missionaries and missions work as we do these units, so that makes then extra special to my heart. (more on that here)
Language Arts
This is an area where I’ve seen my son (age 6) flourish this year. He is starting to read with more confidence, and that opens so many exicitng doors for a child. We enjoy reading poetry together, and he’s discovering a love for chapter books. He isn’t doing a formal grammar curriculum right now, but I incorporate some grammar while he practices sentence writing and spelling. My oldest is doing IEW Fix It Grammar. While we love IEW’s writing course, I’m not totally happy with Fix It Grammar, but it’s working for now. I’d like to find something that is a bit more systematic with grammar instruction as opposed to IEW’s editing style.
Art
The watercolor classes by Brighter Day Press have been a huge hit with my kids! Mama, who is NOT an artist, is enjoying them as well! It’s been fun to see our ability expand and display our watercolor artwork in our school area.
Read a more detailed description of our 2025 curriculum choices on the blog: Curriculum Line-Up for 2025
It is a delight to share this journey of learning and growth with my children, cherishing the moments we spend together. I’m thrilled to see what awaits us in the second half of our school year! I’d love to hear about the resources, tools, or subjects you’re enjoying with your kids, or what exciting topics you’re eager to explore together this coming school year.
