DD3 gets herself up and goes to the PS for her single class (almost) every morning, and reherses with the youth symphony every Wednesday afternoon.
First order of business every morning is 'Life skills' (aka chores) until the house is in order. My wife leads a devotional every morning. If I am home (I work a 4x10 schedule), I work with DS1 and DD7 on reading/phonics until they lose focus while others work on whatever they choose to do. Then we do science. I have the children (all of them) read a bit from our science book, and then we will usually do an experiment. It is usually about noon by then so we have a lunch and play break. (One of the children usually fixes lunch for the family) After that we do self study and my wife and I rotate which child we work with. Each child has a set of goals for a three month period. They choose which goal to work on, and if they need help they can come to me or my wife or our 'not so darling boarder,' Jeff for help. The older children are expected to assist the younger ones, too.
Once a week, I review progress with each child.
All of the children participate in 4h every other Wednesday. The girls are all in girl scouts. DD3 & 4 are involved in a young women's program at church on Wednesday evenings. DD5 is in an 'Activity Days' program every Tuesday. Every other Friday, DD3 through DD6 attend a drama course for homeschoolers. Every Monday night we have a Family Night which includes some sort of lesson, usually around social, moral, or religious principles.
We have several computers in the house, both Macs and PCs, and tons of educational software. We also have a large library in the house (about 3000 volumes in hard copy and about the same number is digital format), and we are within walking distance of the public library.
On weekends, I try to have a project of some kind either building something or fixing something. The children are expected to help, but not forced. We've remodled a bedroom, built a book case, built some shelves in a closet, painted the inside of the house, etc.
In general, we will work with a subject until we lose focus on it and the child/children start getting restless or until the subject has been covered. Science experiements and workshop projects can last all day. DD7 sometimes loses interest in the phonics stuff after 10 minutes. The key, I think, is to follow the child's interest level, and not try to keep teaching after you've lost your audience.
~ Twimmer (Homeschooling Dad of 9)
