I hold to our schedule lightly in order to keep myself sane. Well, close to sane as the case may be. I thought I’d try to share with you what our daily schedule sort of looks like….although it really isn’t a schedule. It’s hardly even an order of events. This will just be a little glimpse into what our days look like if we don’t have a field trip or a PE class or a leaky dishwasher or a hang nail.
(In case you’re interested, here’s a look at our schedule for 2009-2010 and our schedule for 2008-2009.)
And now for 2010-2011…
Our schedule has changed from year to year, but one thing has stayed the same: We always read the Bible at breakfast. We LOVE starting our kids’ day like this. We are currently reading a chapter of Matthew together, then reading a section from Why Pray? (Why Pray? is a GREAT read by the way!) Our older boys also read their Bibles on their own each morning before they come downstairs for breakfast.
After breakfast/Bible reading begins a general organized hubbub. If possible, I sit down with Justus and Elias right after breakfast and read History and work through Spelling words. (You can see a list of their books and curriculum here.) Malachi (Kindergarten) heads off to play Legos or super heros or army guys or something else very manly. Asa begins his reading assignments for the day. He works on his own for most of the morning, making his way through his history books, literature and math. Once I’ve finished History and Spelling with Justus and Elias, they do their individual work (handwriting, math, phonics, vocabulary).
IF by chance all the boys are working on their own without trouble at this point of the morning (of course I am available to answer questions at any time), I will start some laundry, wash some dishes, have a conversation with my husband (joy!), cook something, or scrub some unidentified gooey substance from the kitchen floor.
If I can, I try to put a big, nice meal on the table for lunch. Matt often works evenings, so I want to send him off with a healthy meal. I am finding that having good pre-made food in the freezer is a HUGE help for me since I don’t always have time to cook a big meal from start to finish during school time. Pulling something from the freezer and throwing some veggies on the table with it has been a life saver!!
While we’re eating lunch, Matt works with us on memory verses. Have I ever written about how we do “repeat afters”? Why have I not ever written about how we do “repeat afters”? I’ll put that on my list. It’s so simple, yet so effective.
While we’re doing “repeat afters”, I stuff my lunch down. Then, while the boys are still eating (because eating is an art form for them), I will read from our latest science book, then from our latest “read-aloud” book. They generally finish eating while I’m reading, but we all just sit around the table enjoying the books. I LOVE reading during meal times!!!
After lunch, before the boys scatter…we’ll do a quick grammar lesson (Grammar Ace) or art lesson (Mark Kistler’s Draw Squad). After that, I sit with Asa and help him finish his History, Spelling and Science lessons. This has been a really great time with my teenager! While I’m doing this with Asa, Justus and Elias set the timer for 25 minutes and sit down in a quiet room to read. Malachi has gone back to his Legos again.
Somewhere in there, we send Matt off to work (or soccer practice, depending on the day). Then finally, I call Malachi in to do his school work. I don’t do every subject with him every day. I don’t find it necessary. The main thing is that he gets it all done eventually…and he’s getting some one-on-one time with Mama.
Now keep in mind that this order of events is how an “ideal” day looks. I’m actually finding that by staying very laid back about our schedule has helped all of us stay stress-free during the day! Sometimes we’re still finishing up some of our lessons at 8 pm. Sometimes we don’t get everything finished and have to carry our work over to the next day.
I have given up assigning a “time schedule” to our days. I pretty much HATED having a schedule that said, “Science 9:00-9:30; History 9:30-10:00…” We could NEVER stick to a schedule like that (read here if you want to know why) and it always made me a Frantic Freaked-Out Mama. NO ONE wants to do school work with a Frantic Freaked-Out Mama! Not even me.
I think that the main point is to just get everything done (mostly) and to keep the most important things the most important things. I don’t want my kids to remember school days with a Frantic Freaked-Out Mama. I want them to remember “repeat afters” and reading with Mama while they eat lunch and snuggling on the couch to learn about Abraham Lincoln.
We get it all done somehow…so it doesn’t really matter what time the clock says, does it?
Here are some other posts you may be interested in reading about how we used to accomplish “school” when we had littler guys and babies in the house!
Amy says
Wow, thank you! I love the additional links you provided. It’s very much on my heart to consider homeschooling our kids and your posts are directed towards some of my larger concerns. Thanks & I look forward to reading them when I have a little more focused attention to devote to it. :) GL getting your year started!
DorthyM says
Each year I get it stuck in my head that J is supposed to have structure, structure, structure. I think I’ve finally figured out that even though he has autism he’s no more willing to have a set schedule than I am, except he doesnt like surprises very well. Interruptions to the routine are not fun. But if I tell him what’s going to happen, we’re good. And yet, at the same time, I want him to know that at this time in the morning we take our meds, at this time in the morning we sit and read.. I guess that’s the perfectionist in me. But if I had to be sure that math is done at 10 to 11, then science at 1 to 2, I’d drive both of us crazy. I think for both of us, its better for him to know that school starts at a certain time, lunch is at a certain time, meds are at a certain time. And if there is an appointment or field trip in the works, he knows about it.
Lori says
I am soooo glad I found your blog. I have made a few of your recipes already and have been reading through several old posts, but I am so very happy to realize you homeschool. I was just introduced to Sonlight this week actually and the idea of learning through liturature is new to me but so amazing. I also just started looking into the Robinson Curriculum and it looks pretty awesome as well. I was homeschooled Pre-K – Grade 12 as well as all my six younger siblings (well the youngest hasn’t started yet; he is only 3). However we did ABeka and Alpha Omega Switched on Schoolhouse, etc. I really like this approach to homeschooling much better. I love that the kids have to read so many real books, not just a summary of the civil war in one lesson. My son in ony 10 months so I have quite a while before I will start homeschooling. I hope you are still blogging then so I can ask lots of question :) !
Thank you for this blog.
Hope says
Thanks for sharing your journey. One of my goals for this year is to be much more flexible with our schedule and my expectation of what “must” be accomplished. I too sincerely want my kids to remember our enjoying learning together and not just have memories of frantic-freaked-out-Mama as you said!
Amy says
WOW, you are amazing! Thank you for sharing your schedul(ish). Learning is about fun times as you stated. This should never be a regimented time for them. Having a neurotic freaked out mommy get’s nothing accomplished in my house. Enjoy your everyday!
Keri says
We are very similar….my children are much younger though. I agree: I would much rather them remember our reading time and today’s bird watching for science class than a stressed out mommy trying to get it all done on time. Sadly, we’ve had our fair share of stressed out mommy days this week. Trying to come out of that though!
Amy Floyd says
I like your description of the Franctic, Freaked-Out Mama. That has been me way too many times — LOL!!! — but I learned very early on to be relaxed about our homeschooling. And with life’s curve balls, my kids have had to learn to be rather independent in their school work too, which has become a blessing now. We use Ambleside Online, highly tweaked, as our curriculum, and I have a small business online selling used “living” books, such as those on the Sonlight and Ambleside Online curriculums.
Ashley says
Thanks so much for posting this. This is my first year homeschooling and its already overwhelming just practicing. I think its great that everyone does not have to go by a schedule. That makes it easier. I need all the shared experience i can get. This has really helped. Any tips on how to get my son to see that i am the teacher during school time and then mom all the rest? Or am i going about it wrong? He is in 3rd grade.
michelle p. from wa says
Hi Ashley,
In regards to you being “teacher” during school and mom all other times….You are both and always have been. You have been “teaching” him all his life and have never had to make the distinction before so why now? I have been homeschooling for 7 going on 8 years now and understand your question, but trust me, he will know and respect you even without the teacher label. You are his amazing mom after all! Keep at it and keep trusting God through it all. You will not be disappointed in your choices!
Ashley says
Thanks Michelle :)…I went to a homeschool retreat this weekend that
the homeschool group here produced. It was great. We worshiped God
and their was a great speaker and i was uplifted and as i know that
it won’t be easy, there is a group that is there to help out. You are
right, i have been teaching him from the beginning and i am going to
follow your advice about the teacher/mom distinction.
Brenda says
I love the idea of reading during mealtime, like breakfast & lunches when Daddy’s at work – and we’ve done it a handful of times. But HOW do you get your boys to actually EAT while you read? I’m constantly having to remind them to “Eat your lunch” because my 5 year old particularly gets so caught up in a story he just stares into space and forgets everything but the words being read to him! Do you have this problem?
Laura says
No, my boys are pretty serious about their food. However, my littlest one (age 5) doesn’t always want to sit still to eat, much less listen to me read. So, maybe it’s just my big kids that are handling this well?
Amanda says
Thanks for sharing! I’m getting ready to start homeschooling my 7 and 5 yr old. They are currently in the public school system but we are pulling them out at semester break. We also have a (almost) 3 yr old. So, it’s nice to see your “schedule” and know that it doesn’t have to be strict to work! You have lots of neat ideas I want to consider for our kids. Thanks for sharing so many curriculum links also. We have not set our hearts on one yet so any help is appreciated.