Riverbend Academy


~Welcome to Riverbend Academy~

For those of you touring the Homeschool Open House, I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit!

Our Family
I'm Mrs. C, a pastor's wife and homeschooling mommy of four blessings. We are in our fourth year of homeschooling.


Bookworm is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. She loves horses, books, and writing her own "novels".
Mickey Mouse is 7 years old and in the second grade. He enjoys drawing, climbing trees, and playing ball with Daddy.
Curly Girl is 5 and has just started kindergarten. She spends most of her time playing with her dolls and snuggling with our kitten.
Lil' Nut is 3 years old. She tags along with her brother and sisters and wants to do whatever they're doing.

Why We Homeschool
There's an easy answer to this one! We believe that teaching our children at home is what God wants us to do. Our children grow best in the nest. :)

How We Homeschool
When we started homeschooling, my years of experience as a Christian school teacher led me to choose A Beka for phonics and math in the early grades. As my children grow older, I plan on adapting our curriculum to what works best for each child. I'm becoming more comfortable branching out and trying new things. I guess I'm now officially an "eclectic homeschooler". I'm also converting to schooling year around with several breaks throughout the year.

This Year's Curriculum
math~ A Beka

language arts~ A Beka

vocabulary~ Wordly Wise 3000

art~ How Great Thou Art

history~ state history study Exploring Georgia

science~ Apologia's Zoology I: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day with living books and nature notebooks

Before Five in a Row

Five in a Row


Our Daily Schedule
I'm a scheduler by nature. With four children, it works for me! Managers of Their Homes has been a wonderful tool to help me accomplish a lot in our day without a lot of stress. Homeschooling With A Meek and Quiet Spirit has also been another tremendous encouragement to me.

I start my day at 6 a.m. Before the children get up I have my time with the Lord, get myself ready for the day, and do a load of laundry and a few chores.

Here's what our daily schedule looks like:
7:30-8:30 kids wake/breakfast/chores
8:30-9:00 circle time/Bible/pledges/hymns
9:00-11:30 individual tutoring time with Mom/seatwork on core subjects
11:45-12:30 lunch
12:30-1:30 history/science/literature
1:30-2:00 outside play
2:00-3:00 quiet time
3:00-3:30 snack/chapter book read-aloud time with Mom
3:30-4:00 choretime
4:00-5:00 freeplay/outside play
5:00-6:00 supper hour
6:00-8:30 evening routine/family time/church activities

While our schedule may seem daunting, it really isn't. The schedule is simply a tool used to help us accomplish more without all the stress. Some days we have to throw the schedule out the window for one reason or another, but we try to stick to it for at least the school portion of the day.

Our Classroom


We are truly blessed to have a real one-room schoolhouse in our backyard. You can see the before and after pictures of the recent remodel here. Our schoolhouse is small, but it's just the right size for everyone to be able to work and still be close to Mom. We don't have all of the distractions that we were bombarded with in the house. The kids can work at their desks, solve problems on the white board, or sprawl out on the floor with a favorite book. There's an art center for all of their art supplies and a science center for displaying their creepy-crawlies. I've got plenty of storage space and room to display visuals. When the weather is nice we enjoy having class outdoors, taking nature walks, and exploring in the woods. We also take quite a few field trips together as a family.




I hope you've enjoyed your tour of Riverbend Academy. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our homeschool. I'll leave you with a verse that I've claimed for this year.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. ~Galatians 6:9 KJV

Labels:

http://riverbendramblings.blogspot.com
~Riverbend Ramblings~
The days are long, but the years are short.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Monday, August 13, 2007
Riverbend Academy

~Welcome to Riverbend Academy~

For those of you touring the Homeschool Open House, I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit!

Our Family
I'm Mrs. C, a pastor's wife and homeschooling mommy of four blessings. We are in our fourth year of homeschooling.


Bookworm is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. She loves horses, books, and writing her own "novels".
Mickey Mouse is 7 years old and in the second grade. He enjoys drawing, climbing trees, and playing ball with Daddy.
Curly Girl is 5 and has just started kindergarten. She spends most of her time playing with her dolls and snuggling with our kitten.
Lil' Nut is 3 years old. She tags along with her brother and sisters and wants to do whatever they're doing.

Why We Homeschool
There's an easy answer to this one! We believe that teaching our children at home is what God wants us to do. Our children grow best in the nest. :)

How We Homeschool
When we started homeschooling, my years of experience as a Christian school teacher led me to choose A Beka for phonics and math in the early grades. As my children grow older, I plan on adapting our curriculum to what works best for each child. I'm becoming more comfortable branching out and trying new things. I guess I'm now officially an "eclectic homeschooler". I'm also converting to schooling year around with several breaks throughout the year.

This Year's Curriculum
math~ A Beka

language arts~ A Beka

vocabulary~ Wordly Wise 3000

art~ How Great Thou Art

history~ state history study Exploring Georgia

science~ Apologia's Zoology I: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day with living books and nature notebooks

Before Five in a Row

Five in a Row


Our Daily Schedule
I'm a scheduler by nature. With four children, it works for me! Managers of Their Homes has been a wonderful tool to help me accomplish a lot in our day without a lot of stress. Homeschooling With A Meek and Quiet Spirit has also been another tremendous encouragement to me.

I start my day at 6 a.m. Before the children get up I have my time with the Lord, get myself ready for the day, and do a load of laundry and a few chores.

Here's what our daily schedule looks like:
7:30-8:30 kids wake/breakfast/chores
8:30-9:00 circle time/Bible/pledges/hymns
9:00-11:30 individual tutoring time with Mom/seatwork on core subjects
11:45-12:30 lunch
12:30-1:30 history/science/literature
1:30-2:00 outside play
2:00-3:00 quiet time
3:00-3:30 snack/chapter book read-aloud time with Mom
3:30-4:00 choretime
4:00-5:00 freeplay/outside play
5:00-6:00 supper hour
6:00-8:30 evening routine/family time/church activities

While our schedule may seem daunting, it really isn't. The schedule is simply a tool used to help us accomplish more without all the stress. Some days we have to throw the schedule out the window for one reason or another, but we try to stick to it for at least the school portion of the day.

Our Classroom


We are truly blessed to have a real one-room schoolhouse in our backyard. You can see the before and after pictures of the recent remodel here. Our schoolhouse is small, but it's just the right size for everyone to be able to work and still be close to Mom. We don't have all of the distractions that we were bombarded with in the house. The kids can work at their desks, solve problems on the white board, or sprawl out on the floor with a favorite book. There's an art center for all of their art supplies and a science center for displaying their creepy-crawlies. I've got plenty of storage space and room to display visuals. When the weather is nice we enjoy having class outdoors, taking nature walks, and exploring in the woods. We also take quite a few field trips together as a family.




I hope you've enjoyed your tour of Riverbend Academy. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our homeschool. I'll leave you with a verse that I've claimed for this year.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. ~Galatians 6:9 KJV

Labels:

Written at Monday, August 13, 2007 by Paula.
21 comments
21 Comments:
Blogger Karen said...
Mrs. C,
I'm impressed by your schedule each day, and the cutest "one-room schoolhouse" around! We use some A Beka, too, and have been very happy with it. I've not used Wordly Wise, but have seen it in the Christian Bookstores. Have you always used it? I was checking it out last week when I was looking at the used curriculum.
Your little students are precious, and I'm thrilled to see a recent picture of you! You are as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside. :)
Thank you for sharing your schedule.
Blessings,
Karen
8/13/2007 5:15 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...
I just loved my tour! And I loved seeing a picture of you and Mr. C. That was a highlight. Now I can put a face to your lovely blog.

You have chosen a great verse for your school year. I chose the same verse for 2006. It was the year of perseverance for me. Not a fun character quality to concentrate on the year. It had many trials. But I loved the verse. It encouraged me immensely.

Have a wonderful year at Riverbend Academy. And keep us posted!
8/13/2007 8:38 PM  
Blogger theups said...
Hi Mrs. C!! I just nominated you on my blog for the "Nice Matters Award"! If you have a minute, be sure and read about it!

His,
Mrs. U
8/13/2007 9:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Your schoolhouse is simply adorable!

Best wishes on the upcoming school year!
8/13/2007 11:22 PM  
Blogger ~Bren~ said...
Your open house is wonderful. I like the schedule you have. I need to have a schedule too, just in pencil so I can change it if need be.
8/13/2007 11:29 PM  
Blogger Sonya said...
Very cool! I don't think you're schedule is at all rigorous. I think we have to schedule it that way in order to get things done in the day. I think it is very helpful to schedule everything so that you know exactly what you've accomplished that day. It always helps me to stay on target. Thanks for sharing your homeschool with all of us! I adore your little one room schoolhouse!
8/14/2007 1:07 AM  
Blogger Melissa Markham said...
Your one room school house is lovely as is your family! Your oldest and my youngest have a lot in common! I agree, we have a schedule as well as it gives us guidelines but somedays we throw it out the window. We also prefer schooling year around so that when we want to take breaks, we can without guilt.Plus it helps us stay in our routine better. Have a great year!
8/14/2007 7:02 AM  
Blogger Melissa Markham said...
Your one room school house is lovely as is your family! Your oldest and my youngest have a lot in common! I agree, we have a schedule as well as it gives us guidelines but somedays we throw it out the window. We also prefer schooling year around so that when we want to take breaks, we can without guilt.Plus it helps us stay in our routine better. Have a great year!
8/14/2007 7:02 AM  
Blogger Michelle said...
I love your schoolhouse! I showed it to David the other night asking if we could turn his building into one. He didn't go for that idea (heehee)
Thanks for letting us have a peek into your homeschool!
Michelle
8/14/2007 8:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
What a cute schoolhouse! I cannot show my daughter those pictures!! :)

Cindy
www.homeschoolblogger.com/westward
8/14/2007 9:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I reached this site through Jen @ his is the Day and I am EVER so glad that I did!
I hope that you do not mind if I add ya to my blog role.
In Him,
Christina
P.S. I LOVE your 'school house'. ANd thanks for the two sites that ya listed. I am on my way over there now. Then off to school I go!
8/14/2007 9:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
What a wonderful idea of a one room school house!!! My little ones are only 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 and I will be home schooling instead of sending them to school. I dislike saying that I'm going to home school when they get older because the schooling is always happening.
8/14/2007 6:30 PM  
You have the cutest little schoolhouse ever!! Your kids are adorable too, by the way.
8/14/2007 11:22 PM  
Blogger Kristy Jo said...
BEAUTIFUL kids, and amazing little school house! so cute!
8/15/2007 10:54 AM  
Blogger Jenny said...
I love MOTH! And that school building...how wonderful!!
8/15/2007 6:00 PM  
Blogger Arlene said...
Mrs. C, I'm glad your year is going well so far. I look forward to hearing more about you, your one-room school house, and your students! :~)
8/16/2007 4:32 PM  
Blogger Kristi said...
Well that was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the tour.

You and your hubby look so young!
:)

~Kristi
8/16/2007 9:30 PM  
Blogger Jodi said...
I enjoyed your tour so much! Love MOTH .. yes! yes! :o) Your schoolroom is adorable. We've gone back and forth with having one and not. Right now we don't. There have been pro's and con's both ways.

Praying you have a wonderful year of home education with your precious family!
8/17/2007 11:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Happy Sunday! You have been given an Award on my site today. Thank you for your friendship!

Have a wonderful week.
~Tamara
www.TrainingHearts.com
8/19/2007 12:39 PM  
Blogger Faith said...
I LOVE seeing a homeschooler being as organized as you seem to be! the schoolhouse concept is AWESOME. I have NEVER seen anything like this in my area of NYS and I must say it is a pleasure! I am a teacher and a huge advocate of getting Christians into the public schools but I must say it sounds as though the homeschooling thing is really working for you and your adorable children. I just LOVe your blog! I cannot wait to show my friends this blog. Enjoy the start of the school year. (oh, I do homeschool my youngest daughter in piano each week!) and we too have a tight, yet flexible when needed, schedule. schedules are great!
8/21/2007 7:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I really enjoyed my tour. We no longer have a schoolroom used exclusively for hsing and I miss it. Now our dining room serves two purposes. We start school next week so it was nice to see your schedule. We also use Abeka for language and math for the younger ones, LOVE Notgrass (unfortunately, they don't publish Florida state history)and Apologia!! Great choices!
8/21/2007 3:02 PM  

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