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Tomorrow will mark 2 weeks since we jumped back into the school routine in full swing, and during the the past few weeks I have spent a great deal of time thinking about what a successful homeschool day looks like. We started out with a routine that looks like this:
1 day of 9:00 Spelling
9:15 Writing with Ease
9:40 First Language Lessons (mainly grammar)
10:00 Reading/phonics
10:30 Math
11:30 Science
12 Lunch break
12:45 Lunchtime read aloud
1:00 Naps and quiet free reading
2:30-5:30 Story of the World history and associated projects
3 days of everything but the history,
+ daily latin with Daddy, daily piano practice, weekly drawing lessons, weekly art/picture study, and weekly music appreciation.
Is there anyone else that gets tired just reading that?!
It's a beautiful schedule, and I put a lot of time and thought into how to best organize the work and our time, and into the unique needs of each individual child. I literally spent hours reviewing recommended schedules, and trying to get everything just so. It took only a few hours to realize/remember that while schedules can be perfect on paper, life tends to interfere with even the best of planning. In reality the schedule looks something more like this:
8:55- Yell Hurry up, school is about to start
9:05- Everybody is finally where they need to be and we start with Spelling
9:25- Come on, You're supposed to be done with spelling by now
9:27- First Language Lessons with Christopher ; still convincing Theodore to finish writing
9:30- Baby needs fed and a fresh diaper, girls need redirected to a new activity- preferably somewhat educational
9:35- Theodore does First Language Lessons
9:48- Christopher does Writing with Ease
10:00- Phonics with Theodore, continue to assist/nag Christopher
10:10- Christopher begins reading, Theodore is frustrated and ready to give up and Sophia is begging for her turn with phonics
Etc. You get the idea.
I don't know aout the kids, but I've already learned some important things.
1 They rarely spend the precise amount of time listed on a subject, requiring either more or less time, but somehow over the course of a week it generally evens out. Minutiae are not worth stressing over.
2- Life occasionally gets in the way. We did schoolwork at the repair shop on Friday because we had to.
3 Sometimes it's not all smiling, cheerful faces gazing at you with adoration. But there are some sweet moments and we're trying to enjoy the ride.
4 Every once in a while you get a real curveball. John and I are dealing with the realization that Theodore may have some deeper seated issues with reading and writing than we thought, and needing to re-assess learning methods and curriculums accordingly. He may also simply be a later bloomer, like he was with his speech- but either way we are doing everything in our power to help him succeed
5 A good day is not a perfect day but one in which we have learned, laughed and worked together.
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3 comments:
Your second schedule made me laugh.
Great post and insights though, your kids are in such good hands!
I admire your perseverance! Children sure are a lot of work aren't they! YOu have not only very cute ones but great ones too. A reflection of mom and dad.
Amen, Amen, AMEN! My DH was worried when he saw my schedule and had a talk w/ me about not getting wrapped up in a schedule of when things had to happen. I already knew this and told him it was just a "suggestion". So far so good. We just ride the wave. Heavenly Father has def been helping keep me calm!
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