Reading & Morning Work Stations
Each morning while I am getting ready, making breakfast, unloading dishes, getting my littlest changed and dressed…just simply doing all the morning things…I like to have some independent work or fun things my older kids can work on. We just call it their “morning work.” Sometimes I prep something quickly the night before and have it laying out the next morning - these are often things that coordinate with what we’re learning in our other subjects (like a craft or maybe something new to discover in our sensory bin). And, it gives the kids something to do and work on while I get other things done and before we start our devotional. We keep the TV off during this time and our mornings run pretty smoothly.
When we started homeschooling a few years ago, I was inspired by Chelsea at Let’s Play School to set up a little pre-reading station for my son as part of his morning work. I got a desktop organizer and each week I would put these cute ABC books in it. We loved these and I definitely plan to use these with my youngest son again when he is a bit older.
SUPPLIES
Target Wood Desktop Storage Unit
Stamps: Uppercase and Lowercase and stamp pads
Jumbo Crayons for little hands
(Pictured we also have our morning menus and our money box)
This worked so well for him I sat up something similar for my twins and we still use it every day. Over time I have put different things in here for my twins, but it usually defaults back to their handwriting books, morning starter books, and/or their spelling books. In the summer, we usually keep a skill sharpener or bridge book in here and this is part of the independent work they do each day. Right now it’s pretty simple. They are learning cursive so they’ve got their cursive books in here, cursive sandpaper letters, and some pencils. This sits on our dining table and right now the Essential Conversations book is in here from Come Follow Me FHE since we’re studying the Old Testament and this gives us some good questions prompts to discuss over dinner. As a side note - we usually eat at the island in our kitchen so this basket stays on our dining table pretty much all the time and it’s an easy place for me to set out things for the kids each day. I just quickly move it into our kitchen if we have guests or decide to eat at the dining table. I chose to do this in this part of the house over our school area because it seems like the kids were more likely to sit and do it when they were apart of everything else going on (like while I am getting breakfast ready). I got this desktop basket from my mom and this is the closest I could find.
Last month my little boy started blending sounds so it was time to freshen up his desktop station. Most recently, he’s just had handwriting materials in it like his sisters, but he is ready for more. So, right now, we have his station on a desk behind our couch and I wanted the main focus to be his current reader so it’s just super easy to see and grab each day. We like reading first thing in the morning and then again usually right before bed. I am a big believer that a little bit each day can go a long way. Right now we read through his current book usually 3-4-5 days in a row (1-2x a day) until he’s confident in the words and then we move onto the next book. And, then he also does his handwriting independently each morning for his morning work. It isn’t uncommon for him to look through picture books or work on other things I set out for him too.
SUPPLIES
Target Wood Desktop Storage Unit
Reading Log: I made this and you can download it for free here. My little guy just puts a sticker every time he practices reading the book.
Stickers These work so well for little kids because they’re so easy to peel and great for fine motor.
Leveled Readers: We have a lot of leveled readers. But, right now we’re currently using Reading For All Learners from our library and they have been working really well for my son. I highly suggest using library books if you can because they just go through them so quickly.
When I was showing some of this on IG a few people asked about inside his desk so here is a quick little peek into that. We are keeping his curriculum (currently using Primer K and Simply Math from The Good and the Beautiful) and a few other things he will need over the coming months - some of which we will be using for his morning work - including three new books just released from The Mindful Heart: Alphabet Rhymes, Alphabet Avenue and Nursery Rhymes. I am also going to switch out between the reading rods and brain quest and sight-word bingo as a few other fun things he can choose from to do each week. I am keeping some other beginner reading books in here (just a mix between our home library and the library). And, I suspect as he progresses and his interests change I’ll be rotating these materials in and out, but I hope that gives you a little bit broader perspective.