Together time

One of the sweetest parts of our homeschool day is our morning together time. Over the years, I have found that beginning the day peacefully and intentionally often shapes the atmosphere for the rest of the morning.

As we begin setting the table and preparing breakfast, we usually start listening to a podcast together. We continue listening while we eat breakfast as a family. I have noticed that this simple habit helps the children remain more focused during breakfast, and we are often able to finish more peacefully and efficiently while also beginning the day meditating on the things of God.

Some podcasts our family has especially enjoyed include:

Nat Theo

Little Theologians

Kids Bible Stories Podcast

Truth Seekers Bible Stories for Kids

Adventures in Odyssey

Lamplighter Theatre

After breakfast, we clean up together. Whenever the weather allows, we like eating outside (breakfast, lunch, and snacks). During those days, cleanup is usually very simple—placing dishes in the dishwasher and putting food away.

During especially busy seasons of life, such as pregnancy, newborn days, sickness, or particularly full weeks, we sometimes simplify further by using disposable plates. I have learned over the years that preserving peace and order in the home during difficult seasons is often more valuable than trying to maintain an ideal standard at all times.

After cleaning up, we usually transition into movement and singing time. We sing one children’s worship song—often from the Hi Heaven —along with other movement song more work out oriented like this one. We typically keep the same songs for one to three months rather than constantly changing them.

This consistency allows the children to become deeply familiar with the songs and the movements while also helping create comforting rhythms within the home. The movement helps release energy, regulate the nervous system, and prepare the children to focus more peacefully during our school lessons afterward.

After the songs, I usually spend a little time doing preschool activities with my toddler while the older children gather their school supplies and prepare for the morning lessons. Recently, my oldest daughter has been learning American Sign Language, so she practices signing the alphabet while my toddler and I sing the alphabet song together. These little moments of mixed-age learning have become some of my favorite parts of homeschooling.

After a few preschool activities, we recite our growth mindset phrase of the week together. This simple practice has had a surprisingly large impact on the atmosphere of our days and on the children’s responses to challenges and mistakes.

We then talk about the date and weather using a mobile calendar, children 7 and older do it in a foreign language. Then we recite our family Scripture verses together. One of our main verses is:

 “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report…” — Philippians 4:8

Originally, I planned to choose a different verse each year, but I have found this verse so foundational that we will likely continue using it much longer. It has led to many meaningful conversations within our home. Just recently, we talked about how everything we allow into our lives should pass the “Philippians 4:8 test”—movies, songs, friendships, books, conversations, and more.

After that, we recite:

 “Let all that ye do be done with charity.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

Our goal with these verses is not simply memorization or recitation, but helping set the tone of our hearts and home for the rest of the day. We originally got the idea of beginning school with recitation from the Owlegories show.

We also use this time for skip counting and math fact practice depending on the child’s grade level. I use a simple system of numbered cards from 1–12. Each card corresponds to skip counting by that number. For example:

the number 1 card practices counting by 1s

the number 2 card practices counting by 2s

the number 3 card practices counting by 3s

and so on through 12.

I put on the wall one card at a time and continue practicing the card until the child can confidently recite the skip counting pattern or multiplication facts from memory, then I switch it for the next one.

Some general goals we use are:

1st grade: skip counting to 20

2nd grade: skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s

3rd grade: multiplication tables through 12

4th grade and up: continued multiplication fluency and mental math practice

On our wall, I keep:

alphabet flashcards

our growth mindset poster

the mobile calendar

Bible verse cards

I attach most items using glue dots because they are easy to rearrange and remove. The mobile calendar is attached with pins so the pieces can move more securely throughout the day and month.

These small daily rhythms may appear very simple, but over time they help create an atmosphere of peace, consistency, discipleship, and togetherness within the home.