From their website:
"Circle Time: Plan the Best Part of Your Homeschool Day! is our fabulous, all-ages-are-welcome, group teaching time that allows us to pray together, laugh together, and get to the subjects we often run out of time for.
Plenty of insight, ideas, tips from other moms who use Circle Time in their homes, printable planning pages - are you excited, too? If you’ve been wondering how exactly you can fit Circle Time into your day, then you’ll love having Circle Time: Plan the Best Part of Your Homeschool Day! to guide you. It’s like having seasoned homeschooling moms walking right alongside of you."
Cost - $4.99 (33 page - PDF download)
Circle time. I know that this is a part of a traditional classroom day...but, can it work in a homeschool setting? Yes, it can! Circle Time: Plan the Best Part of Your Homeschool Day! is a wonderful resource written by Kendra Fletcher - busy mom of 8 (I liked her instantly!!).
Circle Time is really just bringing all your children together to start the day. Actually, you can do Circle Time anytime during your day, or even at multiple times during the day.
I love having 8 children and I really want us to enjoy learning together. With ages 16, 13, 12, 10, 9, 7, 6, & 4 - it's not always an easy task to accomplish.
Kendra's suggestions really motivated me to become intentional again about bringing all of us together!
First, I began by making a list of things I wanted to include in our Circle Time. Bible memory, poetry, geography, history and a read aloud. Keeping it simple and short (at first) can really make your efforts be successful.
Now, when to find the time... Well, if you've visited here before, you know when I like to have them all together. That's right, at the table, during lunchtime - their mouths are full, and their ears are open!
Armed with a new plan - lunchtime has now become Circle Time! Currently, with our summer schedule - we are working on our Bible Bee memory verses together, and enjoying a read aloud - The Mysterious Benedict Society.
In the fall - I plan to include our history/geography lessons and some Greek & Latin roots plus an etiquette lesson (since we are at the table - table manners is where we'll start!)
Circle Time includes several printables you can use to create your own "Circle Time Wish List". In addition, you can find some resource suggestions at Kendra's website. You will want to take a minute to visit this - I think it's one of the best resource lists I've ever come across! You will find - Bible, Scripture Memory, Etiquette, Academics and even recommendations for Mom & Dad.
Sample schedules are included - with plenty of encouragement to make this work for your unique children and family. I love this - no two families will do Circle Time the same!
Helpful suggestions include instructions to create your own Memory Binders, Prayer Boxes, and How to get Your Kids On Board (yes, Circle Time works for teenagers too!)
I really appreciated the practical, real-life questions that Kendra answers from moms like us. How long to spend on Circle Time?, What to do with the babies?, Planning time and strategies to use as well.
The Words of Wisdom will give you plenty of inspiration and encouragement to get your Circle Time started.
In no time - you'll be encouraged and ready to start enjoying your children and the time you spend learning together!
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