An Ordinary Day at “LITTLE CREEK FAMILY SCHOOL"

Yes, we did name our “school”. The name was so appropriate since nearly every home we had lived in had a creek at the very back of the yard.

When the kids got dropped off at the farm, we gathered round the table in the dining room for a big breakfast and Bible with Papa. He also taught them to recite the Preamble, the Pledge of Allegiance and some famous speeches. This part was probably my favorite since everyone was together singing and memorizing scriptures and books of the Bible, marching around the house singing “I’m in the Lord’s Army.”

Another reason it was my favorite was because it was the least likely to be sabotaged by internet failure, personality clashes and other forms of chaos.

The crazy part typically began after Bible when we had different skill levels to master in reading and math. There were some great shows on PBS like Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, Liberty Kids and great computer programs like Time 4 Learning, all very engaging and helpful, but when internet failed or everyone had too much energy, we hopped in the van with the built in DVD player, popped in an educational DVD and headed out on a field trip. With six people to pay for, we bought annual passes to the history center and Stone Mountain to stretch our dollars.

On normal days when we managed to stay home all day, next was lunch followed by reading aloud. Our school lunches were a few steps up from school cafeterias. In fact I was teased and even scolded often for giving so many options.

With four little students very close in age, I found reading aloud to work well, so after lunch we sat down to read. A favorite book I used as a guide for our growing library was “Honey for a Child’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt. If you are wanting to homeschool or just read quality books to your children, you will love this book. We read series like Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Boxcar Children, Narnia. And many, many more.

We piled onto the sectional with pillows and blankets, and I cannot tell a lie, after staying up and working on “lesson plans” way into the night, the after lunch slump would hit and I sometimes drifted off while reading and had to be awakened. My “students” found that to be quite humorous.

All in all, days in the life of Little Creek Family School were memorable, and times I will always hold in my heart. Would Charlotte Mason call it successful? I don’t know, but maybe. 😉