You’ve heard it before, “if you aim at nothing, you’ll probably hit it”. That’s the reasoning behind having a schedule. It’s a plan for my day. And it’s an important element to keep me focused on what I need to accomplish each day. Here’s how I came up with mine:
Questions to ask yourself:
What are the most important things I need/want to accomplish daily?
What seems to be my “weak” area?
What time do we want to start our day?
How much time would it actually take to do our academics?
I think the easiest way to make a schedule is to start from your “beginning school” time. From there count back to a time when you need to be up to do things for yourself before everyone else is up. Give yourself enough time to get your Bible reading done and have your day planned.
Continue to fill in the time slots with priority items: breakfast, lunch, chores, phonics, workout, etc. (the “needs”)
Maybe you even need to schedule a play time or a reading time with your children. (those “weak” areas that you might let slide if it’s not written down)
Make it as detailed as necessary to help keep you moving and accomplishing what you desire to do each day.
After making your schedule, try it out for a day or two. You may need to make adjustments. Remember, this should be something to help you, not overwhelm you. It’s a starting place, a guide, something to help you stay focused and on track.
Let me know if it works for you and share your schedule with the rest of us!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Our First Day of School Went Really Well……Except for……
Today was our first day of school. It went really well, except for:
An interruption to help my husband figure out the cell phone bill
Sending a son outdoors to run laps because he was frustrated over missing 3 problems on a multiplication speed drill test
Having same son write a paragraph on why he should do extra work on his multiplication facts since he didn’t respond respectfully when I made the “suggestion”.
Getting volume of a cylinder confused with surface area when helping my other son with his math
See---even a “veteran” homeschooler has daily issues to deal with. Maybe tomorrow will run a little more normal? Oh wait! That IS normal!!
An interruption to help my husband figure out the cell phone bill
Sending a son outdoors to run laps because he was frustrated over missing 3 problems on a multiplication speed drill test
Having same son write a paragraph on why he should do extra work on his multiplication facts since he didn’t respond respectfully when I made the “suggestion”.
Getting volume of a cylinder confused with surface area when helping my other son with his math
See---even a “veteran” homeschooler has daily issues to deal with. Maybe tomorrow will run a little more normal? Oh wait! That IS normal!!
Monday, September 03, 2007
When They Were Younger
5:30 am – get up, COFFEE or hot tea, Bible reading, personal reading
6:30 nurse a baby, put back to bed (hopefully)
6:50 get dressed (if I was lucky)
7:00 start laundry, begin making breakfast,
7:30 wake up children (only the ones learning academics)
7:30 – 8:00 breakfast, morning chores, more laundry
8:00 Bible reading – together
8:20 Begin math with one of the children
Yes, I had to get up at 5:30 if I wanted personal quiet time. (It may work for you to stay up late!) Many times, though, an early riser would join me and I encouraged them to sit quietly with me. Did it always work? No!
The remainder of the morning is used trying to spend one-on-one time with each child on math and reading, dealing with constant issues, and continuing with laundry (which the children helped me fold and put away after lunch).
11:30 EVERYONE OUTSIDE! (while I make lunch)
12:00 Lunch
12:30 lunch clean-up
1:00 – rest of day This time was used for piano practice, personal reading, chores, etc.
We always had a “rest time”. That was no less than 30 min of QUIET. This was for me, more than for my children. They didn’t have to sleep, but they did have to be on their beds with no talking. During this time I would determine what I needed the most. A nap? More cleaning? More planning? And many times, the time was spent just getting children to be quiet! And 30 minutes goes by VERY quickly!
For several years when I was teaching 4 or more children at once, I would prepare weekly worksheets for each child. This would take approximately 3 hours each Sunday. It was a difficult process, but necessary to the success of the following week, in regard to academics. This worksheet would list the various subjects each child was learning, and would include reading and writing assignments for each day. This enabled me to work individually with each child without so many interruptions or more time spent telling them what needed to be done next. When each assignment was completed the work was to be given to me to be checked. After I checked the work, it was given back to be corrected on that same day, even if it had to be finished after our normal “school hours”.
For my very young children, ages up to 4, I tried to keep them busy with something while working with an older child. This takes constant effort to teach them to give you a few minutes of time for another child, but it can be done.
For 4-5 year olds, I try to begin teaching numbers, letters, beginning phonics, etc. This is done in short time intervals, maybe 2-3 times within a day. And many times, an older child helps with this.
6-8 year olds are able to do math flash cards alone. We used Math-It (a speed drill using small flash cards). They can also do a few worksheets on their own.
9 and up should be able to begin doing more and more independent work, working with and helping care for younger children and taking more responsibility for the housework.
Again, this schedule was a daily goal. It was a time-frame we would aim for together. We worked hard at it everyday. I would say we were consistently less successful with hitting the times than we were successful! But that is life, right?
If you don’t already have one, I recommend a schedule.
We’ll work on it tomorrow.
6:30 nurse a baby, put back to bed (hopefully)
6:50 get dressed (if I was lucky)
7:00 start laundry, begin making breakfast,
7:30 wake up children (only the ones learning academics)
7:30 – 8:00 breakfast, morning chores, more laundry
8:00 Bible reading – together
8:20 Begin math with one of the children
Yes, I had to get up at 5:30 if I wanted personal quiet time. (It may work for you to stay up late!) Many times, though, an early riser would join me and I encouraged them to sit quietly with me. Did it always work? No!
The remainder of the morning is used trying to spend one-on-one time with each child on math and reading, dealing with constant issues, and continuing with laundry (which the children helped me fold and put away after lunch).
11:30 EVERYONE OUTSIDE! (while I make lunch)
12:00 Lunch
12:30 lunch clean-up
1:00 – rest of day This time was used for piano practice, personal reading, chores, etc.
We always had a “rest time”. That was no less than 30 min of QUIET. This was for me, more than for my children. They didn’t have to sleep, but they did have to be on their beds with no talking. During this time I would determine what I needed the most. A nap? More cleaning? More planning? And many times, the time was spent just getting children to be quiet! And 30 minutes goes by VERY quickly!
For several years when I was teaching 4 or more children at once, I would prepare weekly worksheets for each child. This would take approximately 3 hours each Sunday. It was a difficult process, but necessary to the success of the following week, in regard to academics. This worksheet would list the various subjects each child was learning, and would include reading and writing assignments for each day. This enabled me to work individually with each child without so many interruptions or more time spent telling them what needed to be done next. When each assignment was completed the work was to be given to me to be checked. After I checked the work, it was given back to be corrected on that same day, even if it had to be finished after our normal “school hours”.
For my very young children, ages up to 4, I tried to keep them busy with something while working with an older child. This takes constant effort to teach them to give you a few minutes of time for another child, but it can be done.
For 4-5 year olds, I try to begin teaching numbers, letters, beginning phonics, etc. This is done in short time intervals, maybe 2-3 times within a day. And many times, an older child helps with this.
6-8 year olds are able to do math flash cards alone. We used Math-It (a speed drill using small flash cards). They can also do a few worksheets on their own.
9 and up should be able to begin doing more and more independent work, working with and helping care for younger children and taking more responsibility for the housework.
Again, this schedule was a daily goal. It was a time-frame we would aim for together. We worked hard at it everyday. I would say we were consistently less successful with hitting the times than we were successful! But that is life, right?
If you don’t already have one, I recommend a schedule.
We’ll work on it tomorrow.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
My Schoolyear Schedule
My daily schedule has gone through many changes over the years. Mine is so easy now, I hate to even share it with you.
6:00-6:30 am Arise
COFFEE!!
6:30-7:30 Bible reading, e-mail, personal reading, daily planning, start one load of laundry
7:30 shower, make bed, get dressed (boys are getting up and starting their day)
8:00 make breakfast and clean up kitchen
8:30 begin schoolwork with boys
between 8:30 and noon I:
try to get in some weight lifting
continue to work on laundry
clean around the house
check work that the boys have done
Our school time:
8:30-8:45 work with one son on math
8:45-9:00 work with other son on math
9:00-9:20 read a book together (we’ve read “A Young Man After God’s Own Heart”, “A Case for Christ”, and others
9:30-10:00 language (writing, grammar, etc.)
10:15-10:30 OUTSIDE!!
10:30- 11:00 science or history discussion over previous day's assignment
11:00-11:30 individual reading
11:30-? Independent work (finish math lesson, writing, music practice, chores
By noon I am finished with schoolwork. I’m still available to answer questions, but my “sit down” time is over. The boys usually still have writing and reading to do on their own. This is also drum and guitar practice time for them.
Afternoon: pre-make dinner (everything that can be done ahead)
Garden, read, more housecleaning chores, mending, etc.)
Two days a week we have music lessons, library and grocery store. I have tried to limit my getting out to only 2 days a week.
Our boys are encouraged to head to bed by 9:00 pm. They are allowed to read until they go to sleep.
Again, this is only a guide. It doesn’t always run smoothly or even on time. But, it’s what I aim for.
This is so easy now, compared to the time when we still had seven children at home! I’ll talk more about that schedule next.
6:00-6:30 am Arise
COFFEE!!
6:30-7:30 Bible reading, e-mail, personal reading, daily planning, start one load of laundry
7:30 shower, make bed, get dressed (boys are getting up and starting their day)
8:00 make breakfast and clean up kitchen
8:30 begin schoolwork with boys
between 8:30 and noon I:
try to get in some weight lifting
continue to work on laundry
clean around the house
check work that the boys have done
Our school time:
8:30-8:45 work with one son on math
8:45-9:00 work with other son on math
9:00-9:20 read a book together (we’ve read “A Young Man After God’s Own Heart”, “A Case for Christ”, and others
9:30-10:00 language (writing, grammar, etc.)
10:15-10:30 OUTSIDE!!
10:30- 11:00 science or history discussion over previous day's assignment
11:00-11:30 individual reading
11:30-? Independent work (finish math lesson, writing, music practice, chores
By noon I am finished with schoolwork. I’m still available to answer questions, but my “sit down” time is over. The boys usually still have writing and reading to do on their own. This is also drum and guitar practice time for them.
Afternoon: pre-make dinner (everything that can be done ahead)
Garden, read, more housecleaning chores, mending, etc.)
Two days a week we have music lessons, library and grocery store. I have tried to limit my getting out to only 2 days a week.
Our boys are encouraged to head to bed by 9:00 pm. They are allowed to read until they go to sleep.
Again, this is only a guide. It doesn’t always run smoothly or even on time. But, it’s what I aim for.
This is so easy now, compared to the time when we still had seven children at home! I’ll talk more about that schedule next.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
I Love Routine......for a Day or Two
Come on. Admit it. Routine makes us feel like we’re accomplishing something. We’re on a roll. We’ve got everything down. We can do it! Right?
We have a few days, or maybe even a few weeks when we’re able to get up at the right time, get our Bible reading done, the kids roll out of bed and get their schoolwork done, and chores even get accomplished. And maybe we even get that workout! Oh yeah! We’re feeling good about ourselves!
But then, that inevitable morning happens when things just don’t go right. Or, even if they do, we’re just not enjoying ourselves any more. The routine is just…….routine. Boring. Weighty. Hard.
I think it’s sort of like living by “The Law” verses living by faith. Just as we can try to live our lives by a set of rules (and notice that no one was able to do that successfully in scripture), we’ll ultimately fail. Our schedules and routines won’t be able to hold us up during the hard times.
So, how do we “homeschool by faith”? What does that really mean?
For me, having a schedule is still important. It’s the daily guideline I go by. But, that’s all it is. When life gets in the way of my routine, it’s time to take action! After all, isn’t that what faith is?
Next, we’ll take a look at my own daily schedule. And then talk about some practical ways to live within, and outside our schedules and routines.
What is your daily schedule? Does it help you, or frustrate you?
We have a few days, or maybe even a few weeks when we’re able to get up at the right time, get our Bible reading done, the kids roll out of bed and get their schoolwork done, and chores even get accomplished. And maybe we even get that workout! Oh yeah! We’re feeling good about ourselves!
But then, that inevitable morning happens when things just don’t go right. Or, even if they do, we’re just not enjoying ourselves any more. The routine is just…….routine. Boring. Weighty. Hard.
I think it’s sort of like living by “The Law” verses living by faith. Just as we can try to live our lives by a set of rules (and notice that no one was able to do that successfully in scripture), we’ll ultimately fail. Our schedules and routines won’t be able to hold us up during the hard times.
So, how do we “homeschool by faith”? What does that really mean?
For me, having a schedule is still important. It’s the daily guideline I go by. But, that’s all it is. When life gets in the way of my routine, it’s time to take action! After all, isn’t that what faith is?
Next, we’ll take a look at my own daily schedule. And then talk about some practical ways to live within, and outside our schedules and routines.
What is your daily schedule? Does it help you, or frustrate you?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Life
Our new, smaller family is leaving for Colorado Wednesday night after Switch, Lifechurch’s youth experience. We decided that our boys (almost 13 and 15), would enjoy our week-long trip much more if they didn’t have to miss their youth nights. So, we will return in time for Switch the following Wednesday!
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with some young moms to talk about chore cards SHE-style, homeschooling, and raising children. It was a delightful time and quite encouraging to hear new thoughts and ideas. I still have LOTS to learn! It’s always a blessing to see others who are passionate about teaching their children at home.
In upcoming blogs I plan to discuss transcripts, beginning phonics, discovering your child’s giftings and anything else YOU want to hear about.
Have some questions? Or some ideas you want to share? Leave a comment or e-mail me at manymeadows@yahoo.com.
We begin our academics on September 4. Have you started your school year?
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with some young moms to talk about chore cards SHE-style, homeschooling, and raising children. It was a delightful time and quite encouraging to hear new thoughts and ideas. I still have LOTS to learn! It’s always a blessing to see others who are passionate about teaching their children at home.
In upcoming blogs I plan to discuss transcripts, beginning phonics, discovering your child’s giftings and anything else YOU want to hear about.
Have some questions? Or some ideas you want to share? Leave a comment or e-mail me at manymeadows@yahoo.com.
We begin our academics on September 4. Have you started your school year?
Sunday, August 05, 2007
A Marine Came to Visit Me Today
He wanted to explain to me why he had decided to re-enlist with the Marine Reserves. How he felt like it was a calling on his life. It is what he was trained to do. He said that if he could ever prevent his two boys from having to go to war, now was his time.He shared how very much he loves my daughter and my two grandsons, and he hoped that he could convey that love to them before he left for Iraq .
He talked about the opportunities he would have as a Corporal to share important things with the young men in his unit-- things like his faith, finances, and important lessons he’s already learned in his life.
He shared how he didn’t know what was ahead for him, but that he trusts God. He feels like he is being obedient, even when it doesn’t make much sense to anyone how he can leave a wife and two boys behind.
He is my first son-in love. I couldn’t be any more proud of him if he were my own son.
Corporal Jon M. Simms left today for 30 days training in the Mojave Desert before heading to Iraq and will return June 2008. He is with the Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 23 Marines, and will be stationed in a town west of Baghdad.
Please pray for the safety and protection of his unit and pray for his wife, Erin and his boys, Kaden (4) and Will (2).
If you would like updates of information about Jon and his unit, send me an e-mail at manymeadows@yahoo.com
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