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I just now realized that the schedule for Preparing only covers 4 days. Do you only school 4 days? If not what do you do on the 5th day. I will be in a co-op, but that does take breaks during the year and I am not really comfortable with not schooling 5 days especially since Ohio requires 900 hours of instruction.

Hi Lynn,

We use our 5th day to cover subject that we might not normally get to during the rest of the week. There are lots of things you can do, a foreign language (reviewing a few minutes each day the rest of the week), nature study, music, art appreciation, as well as reviewing Bible, Poetry, Home Economics, PE etc. My daughter loves the Jeanne Fulbright "Exploring Creation with" books so we are doing one of those on friday as well. At first I panicked too when I saw that it wasn't a 5 day week, but I have actually found it to be very freeing and gave us time for adding some other interests or working on some areas where we may be struggling and it doesn't mess up my books when we have a 3-day weekend. (I like to keep a Unit/week) If I were still in a co-op it leaves room for that too!

HTH

My plan for Preparing...next year is to use the 5th day for co-op. When that is on break, or we're not doing it (we only do fall session) then we will use day 5 to work on our state study, which is required in our state by the time dc get through 8th grade. We may also add Spanish or ASL and typing on that day. It would be a good day to schedule field trips, since you wouldn't be missing any 'book' work...we'll probably do that some too. Just my thoughts, hope that helps.

I'll have 2 in Preparing next year, and I plan to use the 5th day for the following.

Latin (using a co-op)
Art and/or Drama class
Horizons Health
Virginia State Study, using "State History from a Christian Perspective" and the Abeka State Notebook, and
Critical Thinking Skills workbooks (occasionally, I think)

I'm really excited that it's a 4 day schedule next year for them!!

We are going to move the poem writing activity, science experiment and timeline activity to Fridays. We will still have math and use Drawn on that day as well. I agree that this is a great day to add foreign language, typing, critical thinking skills, etc.

We love having a 5th day to add extras that are personal for each child. For example, on our fifth day this year, my oldest son is doing a computer course, reading and listening to 4 of Shakespeare's actual plays, doing a hands-on history kit that coordinates with his history study, reading a chapter a week of A Child's History of Architecture, and still doing his math on the 5th day.

I love planning each kiddo's 5th day... and if you're unsure what to do, you can always spread out some of the Preparing Hearts guide, as there is plenty there!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie,
What computer class is your oldest son using? I'm looking for something for my older son, also.
Thanks,
Susan

Lynn, I love that Preparing is only 4 days/week at this level. On our day 5 each week, my son will be working on his math (an hour) in addition to some extras such as more work in his Latin program and his Chess study, extra free reading time and educational DVDs.

Thought you might find this article interesting. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090214/ap_ ... v4H61QXs8F It is something they are really discussing here in Maine, as the schools simply can't afford to stay open five days per week anymore. Just keep in mind that you don't have to school 5 days per week to get your hours in. Don't forget the extras you do which our school systems count as educational hours - for instance, if my son helps me run our church library on Sunday mornings, I consider that to be one hour of community service. Also, our schools can count it as a full school day if they remain open from 8am to 11am here in Maine and then dismiss. I say all this not so you can fudge your hours and shortchange your children. . .but just to broaden your perspective a little so that you don't feel a slave to the hourly requirements of your state.

The Maxwell's book Managers of Their Schools has a good section on how to tally school hours. I found it helpful.

Thank you so much for all your answers. You have given me lots of ideas. I also volunteer a few hours a week at our local animal shelter taking all the pictures for petfinder and my son loves to go with me. I didn't even think about the fact that the 4 day schedule will make me less concerned about taking time out for that. Also he loves studying marine life so I had thought about doing the Apologia book that is just about sea creatures, but didn't know if I could handle an entire year of just that. Now I am thinking we could do this on the 5th day.

Lynn,

Oooh, now you have the 5th day bug!! You'll find it's fun to decide how that 5th day will shape-up each year for your kiddos.

Susan,

We're finishing Logo Adventure by motherboardbooks.com My oldest son only does it on the 5th day of each week (and this is our second year). So, it has taken him longer to finish it than normal, making him beyond the target age range by a year. But, he's still enjoying it and doing it all independently.

Blessings,
Carrie

We already do a 4 day schedule by necessity. So I am looking forward to having the guides written that way once we move to Preparing. For us, Thursday is Community Bible Study and swim lesson day.