DaLynn McCoy at For the Display of His Splendor – Homeschoolers at Home Tuesday

Today we're talking with DaLynn McCoy of For the Display of His Splendor.  DaLynn is a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew this year with me and I thought it would be nice to get a glimpse into her home and life and find out how she homeschools.

Kemi: DaLynn can you tell us a little bit about your children's ages and grades?

DaLynn: I have 5 students; my oldest son is 15, a sophomore in high school, and deals with high functioning autism; my second son is 11, a 6th grader, and is my resistant child; my third son is 10, a 4th grader for all purposes, and was recently diagnosed with dyslexia; then my twins – one boy and one girl – are 4 years old and just starting preschooly/K4 things.

Kemi: That's a full schoolroom! I'm impressed! What homeschooling method do you use?

DaLynn: We are pretty eclectic; we enjoy literature and Charlotte-Mason activities to accomplish goals that look more classical, and we use whatever resources are available frugally in order to achieve those goals.

Kemi: Can you give us a peek into your typical homeschool day?

DaLynn: I'm not sure we have a “typical” day any more (if we ever did).

Each of my older 3 students gets a turn on the computer, as some of our curricula at the moment is internet-based.

Each of them has assigned read-alone time, and we do a few subjects together.

In the mornings, my most resistant child gets his school work done first while I work on preparing the home for the day.

Then I spend time with my middle child, focusing on some things that are difficult for him to do alone; the younger ones usually are watching educational tv or playing in their rooms.

We do lunch and then chores, after which my oldest has a turn on the computer and I work with the little guys.

We try to get started on school work by 10am, but we are naturally a late night kind of family; I try to get us started by then so we can be basically all done (except my high schooler) by 4pm.

That gives the kids time to have fun and play outside and get out some energy before dinner, and gives me time to get some online work done.

Kemi: Well DaLynn you're already pretty busy but just perchance do you happen to have some other work going on?

DaLynn: I work part-time as a massage therapist both on my own and at a local spa. I also work for Sears and Kmart as a Personal Shopper, and I'm an independent representative for Young Living Essential Oils, as well as for Saba which carries a natural weight and energy supplement called ACE.

Kemi: So Homemaking Organized is all about homemaking and the details of home. We love to find out how others keep their homes. Can you tell us about your own homekeeping and how you manage to fit it in with homeschool?

DaLynn: I finally made out a schedule for chores.

The things that need to be done every day include picking up clutter, dishes, laundry, sweeping, and taking care of the pets.

We scheduled it so that everyone does SOMETHING every day, but no one is doing the same thing every day.

On days I work outside of the home (Mondays and Fridays), less gets done because I only have the kids do some basic chores – dishes and clutter, mostly – and the rest is done when I am home.

Usually Saturdays are our days to do the deeper cleaning things; it's easier to get to those things when we have a routine to keep the normal stuff done!

This has been a huge journey for me, and we still have a ways to go, but by the grace of God Almighty it is better than it has been for my entire marriage. (I love those success stories :)

Kemi: Do you have any crafts or hobbies that you would like to share?

DaLynn: I do scrapbooking (supposedly) and am learning to crochet. I've picked up some basic sewing this year as well. I like to make decorations and such. I haven't done much of anything but crochet recently; supplies has always been an issue, space to do things like scrapbooking has been an issue until recently, and I'm just getting back in to doing these hobbies that I love.

I'm also passionate about music and worship, so one of the things that takes up my time recently is practicing my piano and reading from chord sheets. We are newly forming an actual worship team for our tiny church, and growing relationships through that. It's a God thing and it's being an awesome, fun time!

I'm a 34 year old Christian wife and mother to 5. Bill and I have been together for 15 years now, married for just over 13 of those years. My heart is discipleship for Christian women, helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and learning to bring His kingdom to earth as it is in heaven in their own lives. In my own life, the Lord has led me to grow in Biblical womanhood, to learning what it means to be a help-mate, to be the director of the education of my own children, and to discovering my identity in Christ. He's still working on me, and I'm thankful for the assignment He's given me to bring others along with me on this path. I'm a worshiper, a writer, a crafter, a reader, a teacher, a dreamer, and all I desire is to be used of God.

You can visit DaLynn at For the Display of His Splendor