Homeschool Schedule
I read Sylvia’s post about her 2006-2007 homeschool schedule quite a few weeks ago. She got me thinking about making a firmer schedule for our homeschool. Having the children working at different levels makes it hard for me to meet all their needs at the same time. So I tried my hand at making a schedule where I could stagger who needs me and when, leaving the others free to work independently on subjects where a little direction is necessary only at the beginning.
I prepared by taking 3 pieces of scratch paper — one for each child — and writing one of their names at the top of each page. I listed each subject or task required of the child during the school day. I marked the time required for the task — either 15 minutes, 30 minutes or 45 minutes. I also marked whether the task could be completed with or without me. Then I used a spreadsheet to schedule each child’s task, staggering the tasks so that while two children work independently, I could be helping the third. Some tasks and all meals and snacks we accomplish as a group, so I made the schedules coincide for these things. Each child has a printed record of their schedule that goes in their notebooks and I also have a printed copy in my Homeschool Notebook.
After the first day (today), it needs a little tweaking. And we got done earlier than scheduled (no complaints). But in general, I think it will work. It feels alot better to have a schedule to follow and for the children to be more self-directed when necessary. In addition, this is the first year that we are using two of Sonlight’s Core Programs — Core 1 (Part 1 of World History) for Naomi & Mikah; and Core 4 (Part 2 of American History) for Haniya — so staggering their schedules helps this to be accomplished.
HOMESCHOOL SCHEDULE 2006-2007
Updated: 9-6-06
6:00 am — 7:30 am
- Mom wakes, prepares Dad’s lunch & breakfast for all, begin laundry, begin bread baking, begin dinner preparations, personal grooming
7:30 am — 8:30 am
- All Children — Eat Breakfast & Morning Chores
8:30 am — 9:00 am
- Haniya, Naomi & Mikah — Bible Study
9:00 am — 9:45 am
- Naomi & Mikah — read History and Read Alouds with Mom
- Haniya — Reading and Writing Reponse (until 10 am)
9:45 am — 10:15 am
- Mikah — read to Mom
- Naomi — Handwriting — 15 minutes; then Flashmaster — 15 minutes
- Haniya — finish Writing Response (until 10 am); then Handwriting
10:15 am — 10:45 am
- Mikah — Handwriting — 15 minutes; then Flashmaster — 15 minutes
- Naomi — read to Mom
- Haniya — Flashmaster — 15 minutes; then Typing — 15 minutes
10:45 am — 11:00 am
- Snack
11:00 am — 11:15 am
- Haniya & Naomi — Spelling
- Mikah — Quiet Reading Time
11:15 am — 12:00 pm
- Haniya & Naomi — Grammar/Dictation/Phonics
- Mikah — Spelling/Phonics
12:00 pm — 12:45 pm
- Lunch and Lunch Clean-Up Chores
12:45 pm — 1:30 pm
- Haniya, Naomi, Mikah — Math
1:30 pm — 2:15 pm
- Haniya, Naomi, Mikah — Science
2:15 pm — 3:00 pm
- Haniya — History and Read Alouds with Mom
- Naomi — Piano Practice until 2:45 pm; then Afternoon Chores; then Free Time
- Mikah — Afternoon Chores; then Free Time
3:00 pm — 3:30 pm
- Haniya — Piano Practice
- Naomi & Mikah — Free Time
3:30 — 5:30 pm
- Haniya — Afternoon Chores; then Free Time
- Naomi & Mikah — Free Time
- Mom — Dinner Prep & Computer Time
5:30 pm — 6:30 pm
- Dinner
6:30 pm — 8:30 pm
- All Children — After Dinner Chores; then Free Time
8:30 pm
- All Children — Bedtime
*On Wednesdays, we go out right after lunch for Piano Lessons and other errands.
Looks like it will work, Wardeh
Oh, thank you, Sylvia. You know, you’re an inspiration for me!
Wardeh, I was wondering how you did it all. Being new to sonlight it has taken us all day to finish. I did stagger each child acording to their abilites. I deal with interuptions when a child finishes early or has multiple questions. You gave me an idea by putting time by each task to see how and were we need to be spending our time in. We are loving sonlight Tobijah was jumping up and down with excitment when we unpacked the box. My kids were begging to start school. I’m so pleased with their response and glad that we had switched curriculum.
Wardeh, you have inspired me to make a schedule also. I have only done one so far, but I need to work in the other children. LOL
Christina,
I know Sonlight was really hard for us to finish at first. There is definitely a learning curve for Mom to adjust to getting it all in. It will get better!
Michelle, I hope you will find a schedule that works for you. I am learning that a schedule can help me a great deal, but I’m not a slave to it either. There are some days (like today) when the schedule is only loosely followed because it makes sense to juggle a bit.
WOW, I will have to keep this schedule in mind…I have a 10yob, 5yob, and 3yog….who will all be doing something schoolwise in the next year. I am wondering how to fit it all in. I use SOW (Student of the Word) for the most of it, and then I also get all the Sonlight readers and Read Alouds, and SOTW listening to the CD’s….
This was a clearly laid out idea. Thanks.
Diane in CA
Hi, Diane! I’m glad it was helpful to you. I hope that you don’t think we follow it precisely every day. But it does help keep us on track. Your curriculum sounds wonderful. I have never heard SOW, but I am intrigued. Love, Wardeh
Oh my Wardeh,
What an inspiration you are! May the Lord Bless you for all you do.
Do you bake bread every day?
I think I’d like to come and live at your house for a few days to learn some true organization!
Kimber
Oh, Kimber, I don’t follow this schedule perfectly! It is my ideal. And in fact, I’m working on my schedule for the coming year and I’m going to try to make it so that it shows our flexibility, even while we do hold to being productive every day and most importantly, getting our school work done!
I know you can do it, too. You should figure out what you want your days to look like (be realistic so you don’t get worn out) and then write it up as a guide, not something that will rule you and make you grumble. I know this from experience.
And no, I don’t bake bread every day. The kind of bread I was baking at the time I made my schedule was whole wheat bread (w/ variations). Now I bake gluten-free and they are less time consuming. So in a way, that part of my life is more simple now. I’m thankful for that.
Love, Wardeh
What a wonderful work ethic. Well done.
Keep up the piano lessons and have a great year.