Circle Time

We're getting into a bit of a rhythm on our school days, as much as one can with all the many variables of life with littles and changing work schedules. We've been fairly successful at implementing daily prayers, daily home-care, circle time, and rest time. Not too shabby, for us novices.

Circle time is a time that the girls get really excited about and ask to do every single day. Today we didn't get to it at our normal time due to dance class in the morning and a visit with friends after nap. So, today circle time happened after an evening walk, after jammies were on and we were ready to wind down.

In general, here's how circle time goes:

*Prayers-- this is usually our second or third time of prayer each day, our prayers lasting only a couple minutes. It's a good segue into circle time.

*Finger play or action song-- Itsy Bisty, Hokey Pokey, Five Little Speckled Frogs, Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree, poems with hand motions and rhythm. I try to do a bit of high energy here before sitting down to read.

*Weather-- the girls go look outdoors and determine what the weather is like. Sometimes they step outside but usually they just observe with their eyes.

*Memory work-- They each have a nursery rhyme they are working to memorize. Anastasia is doing "Diddle Diddle Dumpling" and Elizabeth is doing "Old King Cole." We also have a memory verse each week that corresponds with each week's letter. This week is, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other. Eph. 4:32." I'm also finding little poems that go along with the weekly theme. The girls are enjoying reciting their memory pieces to anyone who will listen.

*Non-fiction-- I am giving each week a theme based on a letter. We did apples first, and this week is bees. I found a great book about bees, The Life and Times of the Honeybee, and we've been reading a few pages each day. Next week we are going to read about clouds and corn.

*Fiction-- I've been finding picture books that are loosely related to the theme. I read maybe 2 picture books per circle time. Sometimes we read non-thematic books-- Frog and Toad, (abridged) Alice in a Wonderland, etc.

That's about it. It takes maybe 20 minutes or so? Give or take. There are a few more things I want to incorporate, such as reading daily scripture and stories of saints, but since the girls are so young and don't have very long attention spans I am working up to that. I'm trying to stay flexible and adapt as necessary.

I'm so glad that we're making this a part of our days.