Wonder Hour

AKA "keeping sane when school is out." I would love to take the summer off completely, but we need a little structure or the kids will just fight and whine all day. Hence, the Wonder Hour. There are so many ways to structure your "morning time." Here’s what we’re doing right now. (I incorporate Pam Barnhill's three R's: ritual, reading, and recitation. See her book for lots of great ideas!)

To begin, I play Andrew Peterson’s song Gather Round, and everyone meets me on the couch. Then I say “the Lord be with you” and the kids reply "and also with you." Then we light our Wonder Hour candle. While the candle is lit everyone is (ideally) paying attention. We start with Bible reading, catechism, and singing our hymn of the month. Then we read a picture book. Next is Mad Libs; my kids love these and we can practice grammar. Then we play a math game or read a chapter from Life of Fred (silly math book). Next we do a little art or music appreciation, and then review old spelling words and memory work (Scripture, poems, and history facts we’ve memorized). This summer we are learning the 23rd Psalm. We finish up with reading from our literature book, singing the Doxology, and blowing out our candle. Usually we do this 2-3 times a week. Then 2-3 other mornings a week, we do Bible time and then work on a few school subjects that need a little extra practice or that I don’t want the kids to forget over the summer. Everyone reads aloud to me (Nora looks at pictures and makes up a story) and takes turns with Reading Eggs or Khan Academy on the computer. Annie and Jacob are finishing their handwriting book (will be replaced with summer journaling as soon as we finish) and are doing a fun geography workbook. The three older kids are finishing their current piano book, and Sophie is learning to tie her shoes.

There you have it—an hour of structured activities for most days. How do you keep sane when school is out?