I haven’t posted in a verrrrrry long time, but I thought some of you might be interested in seeing my plan for homeschooling with 5 children. Peter is in 5th, Alonna in 4th, and Ethan is in 2nd grade. Maddie is 3 and Taran is almost 6 months. Every new school year begins with high expectations – and sometimes unrealistic expectations – and things always need to be re-worked eventually. So, here’s attempt #1 for the year at attempting to maintain a peaceful, organized, productive school day:
Fall Schedule
8:00 – Breakfast
After breakfast chores
9:30 – 12:00 – School
– Circle Time/Bible
– School with Ethan
– School with Alonna
– School with Peter
(This is part of a new plan to give each school-age child a designated time when they have undivided attention in hopes that they will not interrupt so much)
Prepare lunch – lunch at 12:30
1:30 – 3:00 – School
– Return to what you need to finish from the morning or begin another subject
– P.E. (Soccer exercises, ballet exercises, playing ball, etc…)
– Peter and Alonna will return to school activities until 3:00
3:00 – 5:00
– Snack
– Free play
– Clean up time
Dinner
Bedtime – 8:00 for Ethan and Maddie – 8:30 for Peter and Alonna
(The following is a list of activities that kids can do during school hours when they need to occupy themselves and I am busy with another child.)
Activities:
– Coloring books/school books
– Mosaic Mysteries
– Help prepare lunch
– Cube game
– Teach Madelyn about shapes/colors/numbers/letters
– Practice piano or recorder
– Math problems
– Spelling words
– Do origami
– Reading
– Journal
– Practice manners with a tea party
– Knitting
– Watercolor painting
– Any lesson assignment that you are able to complete on your own
This is a typical Weekly Schedule:
Mon. – Soccer 5:30-6:30
Tues. – Library, Daddy’s bowling league
Wed. – Ballet 5:00-6:00 and Soccer 5:30-6:30
Thurs. – Small Group 6:30-8:00 (Leave the house by 5:45)
Fri.
Sat. – Ballet 11:30 – 12:30, Soccer games TBA
Sun.
Ultimately, at our house and with the ages of our children, character development always takes priority. If we’re not getting along we stop to work out our issues with each other – or if we need a day off we take one. We’e been reading a book called The Heart of Anger (1) which we have found very helpful with inforcing Godly discipline. So, I’ll try to check in in a few weeks and let you know how it’s going! I think it just might work……
(1)The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo, Calvary Press Publishing.
Lorien's Blog 