ThadenPierce School

I’ve heard the question a lot, “What is a good age to start chores?” or “What chores can my child do if they are ___ years old?”

My answer is let them do whatever they think they can handle, with close supervision. And yes, it can make a huge mess when they unload the silverware and then promptly reload it but let’s maximize the learning when they are enthusiastic and WANT to learn this, right? This does require a lot of patience on my part, and a willingness to work side by side with them for as long as it takes for them to learn these skills. Then we have them do it alone but we still check. Then we back off more and let them go it alone while reminding them we have faith they are competent and will ask for help if needed (and if they don’t do their chores and I do them then I charge a pretty high hourly rate.)

So here is Emy unloading silverware (at 18 months old) and I pulled out anything dangerous first then gave her the tray. She kept closing her eyes to say cheese, is she not so cute??

And here she is asking for a snack:

Here is what we’ve come up with by way of a chore list for the kids. We decided to divide them into teams and assign a parent and two kids per team, rotating the chores every week starting on Sunday. It will be a few years before the baby can help at which point we’ll see who gets the youngest to “help” on their team.

I’m going to write up a VERY detailed version of what “clean out the fridge” means and so on, but this gives a general idea of what needs to be touched on with each assignment.

Each “team” has four areas but some are just weekly stuff and some is daily. We’re dividing into kitchen related chores (meals, dining room & kitchen clean up, dishes) and living room related chores (living & sun room, foyer & hall, bathroom.) Then laundry, bedrooms & outside chores are for the entire family to share.

We’ll write these up and post them on the fridge so the kids can quickly see which parent they are working with and which area they are assigned to for that week. We’re trying out a pick up time before each meal and a chore time after – pick up to clean up whatever project they’re working on or mess they made as well as setting the table, etc. Chore time to clean more thoroughly afterwards and get ready for whatever our next project is.

GROUP ONE (parent & two kids):
MEALS
- plan menu for 2 weeks of each month, each team do 2 weeks so we have month of meals posted on fridge by 1st for shopping trip
- shop w/parent (1 big trip month for non-perishables by 30th, weekly trips on Friday afternoons for perishables)
- cook meals
KITCHEN
- clean all counters & stove, wipe down
- wipe outside/inside appliances & cabinets (monthly)
- clean out shelves, wipe down (monthly)
- clean out fridge & freezer (monthly)
- sweep (daily) & mop floor (weekly or as needed)
DINING ROOM
- set table
- clear table
- wipe & dry table
- sweep (daily) & mop floor (weekly or as needed)
- wipe down chairs (weekly)
DISHES
- load dishwasher
- unload dishwasher
- wash pots and pans, dry & put away

GROUP TWO (parent & two kids):
BATHROOM (weekly or as needed)
- wipe down sink, counter, clear of stuff
- clean toilet
- clean tub/shower
- sweep & mop floors
- trash out
- clean out cabinets
HALLS (weekly)
- sweep & mop halls
- dust
- clean out closets, shoe shelf
LIVING ROOM
- put away everything on floor, tables, etc
- dust (monthly)
- vacuum (weekly)
SUNROOM
- put away everything
- dust (monthly)
- sweep floor (weekly)
- water plants (weekly)

ALL (family chores):
BEDROOMS
- change linens (Monday mornings)
- make bed
- clean off floor & all furniture
- clean closet
- vacuum (weekly)
LAUNDRY
- do and put away
OUTSIDE (as needed)
- mow
- rake
- trim
- water
- weed garden
- straighten workshop and shed
- clean out garage
- washing cars

Some of this weekly stuff will be a weekly check to see how bad it is, but may only need to be done monthly. Then we’ll also have big monthly or quarterly chores (working on that list) like washing outside of windows, dusting blinds, cleaning ceiling fans, etc. Not that the kids can do all of this anytime soon but they can help us do it and it’s a good reminder for me to have the list or else my baseboards will languish unwashed for years.

Ideas from the Ensign on how to focus on the sacred and less on the goodies. Some great suggestions…

And here are pictures from our egg hunt with one of our homeschool groups. We had the hunt, tons of treats & lunch, and fun at the park. Kit found some cardboard boxes left by a hill and the kids tried out box sledding for the first time and loved it – they said it was the best part of the party.

We know Ben has light sensitivity issues but apparently so does Christopher:

Emy’s first egg hunt, she realized there was candy involved and took off:

Bennett also realized there was candy and was not amused by the 12 egg per child limit when there were clearly still eggs left on the ground for him to capture!

And here are the second try on the homemade version of Cadbury Cream eggs and some homemade Reeses Peanut Butter type eggs. Both are DELICIOUS and I think homemade candy for baskets will be a new tradition:

- To Do list
- “To do LATER” list (long term goals)
- Copy of emergency numbers list from home command center.
- “Ideas” page to include books to read/find/buy, movies to rent, websites to check out, activities to try, places to explore, etc.
- Copy of my goals & family goals.
- Pocket for bills, paperwork, receipts until I get to command center.
- Pocket for kids for misc. to sort at home.
- Pocket for school stuff.
- Mini-calendar (to sync with home calendar.)
- Friend & family contact info and birthday list (gather birthdays, again, lost them already.)
- Monthly fun list, traditions we don’t want to forget and things to try over next year (field trips, new holiday activities, etc.)
- People to get in touch with and prayer list.

Just my notes to self.

Create Home Command Center –
Will include:
- tool kit & wind up flashlight
- stamps, envelopes, etc for bills
- pens, pencils, tape, scissors, etc in small container (silverware tray)
- key hook
- emergency info (doctors, utility company, etc) laminated on inside of cabinet
- FILE
– file for receipts & warranties
– file for medical stuff (taken to our room for filing cabinet)
– file for school stuff to be sorted (taken to sunroom shelves)
– file for memorabilia to be sorted (taken to our room for scrapbooks)
– folder that holds all bills
- my planner *
- Ben’s spare glasses
- first aid kit
- recipe binder & food storage inventory (all other cookbooks over stove, not pulled down often)

On fridge:
- calendar
- menu
- shopping list
- chore list *

School Center –
On shelves in sunroom:
- each kids’ IKEA box w/own school supplies, books & binders *
- “busy box” for toddlers
- “specials” subject box
- math & language box
- Mommy’s box-o-junk (hole punch, stapler, index cards, scissors, etc)
- craft cart
- coloring paper (on cart)

In living room shelf:
- reading books (non-textbooks)
- kids’ magazines
- Ensigns & other magazines, FHE binders
- toy bins
- photobooks
- portfolios
- scriptures & journals
- game bin
- music & art books
- letter writing box (stationary, stamps, etc.)

Scrapbooking/Craft Center – in my closet…
- file folder for each child, things to put in their scrapbooks
- file folder for my scrapbook stuff by month
- supplies (paper, stickers, scissors, etc.) all in crate or box
- boxes with sewing & crochet stuff, craft projects
- gift wrapping stuff

(NOT related, 72 hour kits in master closet, too, and fire safe with documents and filing cabinet with all house files, banking/financial info, medical files, family records, etc.)

Writing up chore list and what’s going in my planner/binder and the kids’ school boxes.

We started implementing this today and so far I LOVE IT.

7am – breakfast and clean up
7:45am – Kit leaves for work and we do circle time & story with everyone.
8am – we start lessons, Christopher works on language and math while I play/read with other kids and help him as needed. We pull down the “busy box” if needed.
9am – lessons done, we do snacks (fruit or veggy) and play (hopefully in yard) Weds is Ben horseback riding, Friday is playdates.
11am – lunch and clean up, dinner prep
12pm – storytime in bed
12:30pm – Kit home, toddlers down for naps, Kit and Heidi get lunch (Wednesdays Kit is now leaving for work and comes home for dinner, because of horseback riding w/Ben.)
1pm – Kit works at home, older kids have quiet reading/play time. Monday is art, Tuesday C does piano, Thursday is Mo’s horseback riding.
2pm – naps over, snack time
2:30 – playtime – park/yard, Thursdays we leave for history group meeting at 3pm, Friday is errands/shopping.
4:30pm – dinner prep/clean up toys, Kit stops working.
5pm – dinner & chores
6pm – family time, Monday is FHE, some Tues/Thurs is Heidi meetings leaving 6:30pm, Friday is family date night.
7pm – get ready for bed, story time.
8pm – ALL IN BED, Kit works & Heidi does projects. Saturday is our date night.

Tuesday is our day IN (schedule no groups or appointments) and Friday is our day OUT (playdates, parkdates, errands, appointments, fieldtrips.)

Goal for lessons is the language & math is done by 9am, “specials” (history, art, music, etc) are in afternoons during quiet time when toddlers are napping. And playtime morning & afternoon is outside in yard or park, weather permitting.

Until mid-May we’ll be having speech for Bennett Monday mornings and for Moira Wednesday mornings. Horseback riding will continue through mid-June then Kit’s schedule will go back on Wednesdays and he’ll work mornings. Summer we’re keeping quiet in anticipation of Mojo’s arrival in early August. We’ll be doing lessons & art and history co-op across the summer so we can take it easy in August/September.

I attended the HOME meeting last night and it was a panel of 5 moms answering 10 questions about common mistakes in homeschooling. One or two had been asked to answer each question then they opened it up to everyone to ask questions. I asked about how to handle a new baby with lessons, and all five answered that one! The response I best remember (most of them said if we do NOTHING but read then we’re good!) is that I should never let the kids think the baby is an interruption to our lessons/agenda. That we need to remember the baby is the most important “lesson” we’ll have, the best opportunity for them to learn about welcoming a new person to our family, and that should be our focus. So pondering on that, I think we still have our list or rough outline for school related stuff but we anticipate a TON of baby related “interruptions” and instead of me saying we have to stop, I say, “The baby is awake, now we get to play with the baby!!” and use those times to teach them about taking care of a newborn, the day to day stuff like nursing and changing diapers and rocking but the other things, too. The big stuff, the spiritual aspect of this new life and the emotional aspect of how it makes Mommy & Daddy tired but we sure love this baby and the blessing of a new life. Seeing how the baby grows, the development and how the baby learns. So, I’ve heard the phrase many times but – make the baby the lesson. (Sorry, Mojo, don’t mean to make you sound like some science project. )

My notes to implement:
Scheduling – designate one errand day a week (Friday afternoons?) and make it the day we also do fun stuff (field trips, playdates, etc.) Designate one day AT HOME every week, and commit to nothing else.

Do not let appointments and your “flexible” schedule interfere with your commitment to school time. DO not answer the phone during lesson time, and STAY OFF COMPUTER unless school related. Check email morning before lessons and then during/after quiet time or after kids are in bed. YOU are setting the example for them of computer use – are you on too much?

Set and enforce “quiet time” when kids nap or read quietly in their rooms (and Mommy can get some quiet time to herself or with the new baby.)

Planning – designate 2x a year a special weekend to plan for the term (August and January?) and prayerfully meet with Kit about the goals for our family. Meet with each child individually to find out what they are interested in studying – what are THEIR priorities & interests? Sort, inventory, purge, plan.

Designate a weekly planning time (8pm Sunday evenings?) for one hour to go over week’s lesson and schedule with spouse, then let kids’ know Monday evening at FHE and be sure to have them add their info to calendar (in assignment book)!

Create an assignment book per kid per term (bind? page protectors) and have them bring each morning for opening table/circle time. Include:
- their list of goals, books they want to read, projects they want to do for term/year
- daily list of required stuff (math, language, specials) which can be scheduled at set times OR just listed for them to check off. List top priorities AT TOP but include everything: language lesson, math, read (chapter or set time), special (science, history, art) piano practice.
- activities and schedule written in on each week, appointments, etc. (calendar – monthly & weekly) such as therapy, sports, music lessons, doctor visits, etc.
- review with them each Friday to see how it went, where need help.
- keep for portfolio!! (Also keep my planner with ALL kids’ info.)

I considered including scripture and chores in the book but I think we’ll leave that up to the kid. Those aren’t part of “school” and they are daily things we do just because we do. So we’ll let them implement however they want.

Here were some fun ideas and we thought instead of a treasure box we would make a leprechaun trap and see if we could catch one. If not, hopefully they still will leave treats.

We did find some four leaf clovers with treats that the kids discovered on the mirror – you can check out our hysterically funny cowboy bathroom:

For dinner we had baked potato soup in bread bowls using the phoenician bread recipe. They were wonderful!

And we made some treats of our own, an apple strudel with caramel sauce. I had to use up the leftover phyllo dough. We were too lazy to go out for vanilla ice cream to top it off. Next time…

So phoenician bread bowls, phyllo dough strudel, not exactly Irish but still very yummy.

Bennett. He’s fragile.

So when the other kids are doing lessons or we’re reading aloud, if Bennett gets bored he wanders off. And apparently plays in boxes – he was running around like this, literally running and the big FRAGILE was just too funny a contrast considering Bennett’s history. After he bounced off a few walls he decided to get out of the box and go color.

I forgot to post this, for the week we studied the Phoenicians we made pita bread and it was SO GOOD and we ate it with honey butter. It’s a very easy recipe and a staple now for us, I’m trying to turn it into bread bowls for dinner tomorrow. It’s not like flat pita pockets, it’s more like the flat greek bread since it has yeast and does get puffy.

“Phoenician Bread”
6 cups flour
2 t salt
1T yeast
2 c warm water
1 T honey

Let the yeast dissolve in warm water, stir in honey then salt & flour, slowly. Stir until dough is stiff to mix.

Put dough on floured surface, knead 10 minutes and place in buttered bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or damp towel.

Let rise 2 hours, dough should double.

Punch down, divide into 10 balls.
Let rest 15 minutes, then shape into 6 or 7″ rounds (like mini pizza crusts.)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, place dough on cookie sheet & bake 10 to 12 minutes on lowest rack in oven.

I was thinking this morning about what we’ve spent on homeschooling so far. I’m not including things like regular books we buy, but actual curriculum related stuff. Though I am including some “fun” stuff and I’ll explain why:

Language –
Leap Frog DVDs – 4 at $8 each (learning phonics, reading, some grammar)
pre-k workbook (all subjects) was $5
First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind (1st & 2nd grade)- $10
First Language Lessons level 3, teacher book & workbook – $30
spelling lists by grade level – free on-line
Complete Book of Handwriting (cursive and print) – $6
plus of course a TON of books to read, many free on-line like Shakespeare for kids

Math –
Saxon 1 – gift
Saxon 2 – teacher’s guide $10, still need workbooks
Saxon 3 – free teacher guide from on-line group, $8 part 1 of workbook, need part 2
Saxon 5/4 – $4 (half.com, that includes shipping!)
The rest of the Saxon books are all less than $2 on half.com
Family Math – $4
Janice Van Cleave math book – $5

Art/Music –
Annotated Mona Lisa – gift
Discovering Great Artists – $12
Complete Book of Arts & Crafts – $6
art history books from AP art history – gifts from my mom & sisters
Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Prep book & first book – 2 at $6 each

Social Studies –
Story of the World volumes 1 to 4 – $35 for all (from on-line group)
SOTW activity guide for 1 – $12
SOTW activity guide for 4 – $15
still need activity guide for 2 and 3
blackline maps, entire set of digital images to correspond to all 4 volumes plus all of US maps through history and 50 states plus study guide – $40
My First Book of Biographies – $4
DK Geography of the World – $5
Circling the Globe – less $10, can’t remember exact price

Science –
DK Encyclopedia of Science – less than $10
DK Physical Science – less than $10
Janice Van Cleave 101 experiments for biology, physics, chemistry, plus her “messy” experiments book – averaged $5 each ($4 to $6 on-line)
Magic School Bus 12 book collection – $20

So, this pretty much covers all of elementary school (still need First Language Lessons for level 4) and many of them cover through junior high. By high school they’ll be doing mostly their own research and using living books, except for math I imagine. And they can start college classes as teens so that’s a whole new level of expense. But I’m confident that with these books and a couple more additions, we’ve got them covered through at LEAST 12 years of age with just some fun books to supplement.

And we’ve not spent more than $20 on any book (teacher guide for 1st language lessons level 3 – it’s a new book, came out this year and list price is $30) and most books we spend less than $10 by buying them used. Workbooks are costing us more than anything else since they must be new and only some allow for copying for siblings (SOTW allows worksheet duplicates within the family.)

Homeschooling can be done very well, using great resources and high quality materials (I am picky! ) without costing a ton. We make a lot of use of used book lists on-line (often getting books free) and on-line resources like educational websites and fun games for the kids to practice skills.