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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Day in the Life - Homeschool edition

Not Back to School Blog Hop

Once again I am participating in the Not Back to School Blog Hop over at Heart of the Matter Online. It has been so fun this past month seeing everyone's curriculum/school rooms/ student photos! This week is "Day in the Life" and I can't wait to see what everyone has planned.

Confession: Last year I had a really hard time fitting it all in. Homeschooling. Housework. Cooking mostly from scratch. Laundry. Mothering 4 little children. Oh yah...and being a wife. I realized that I had to get organized somehow. I had heard about the book Managers of Their Homes from several different sources
and so with a hopeful heart I ordered it. I was SO blessed by what and how it shared. It had some amazing suggestions, both practical and spiritual. I would have to say this is a valuable resource for any homeschool family out there. So this past week I sat down and finally made my schedule. It was amazing how everything just came together! Thank you, God!

On a funny side note, after reading the book I had a few questions and so I went to look up the authors contact information. Lo and behold not only were the authors from my hometown but live only 4 blocks from where I grew up! Crazy, small world!

Now, I know some of you (ahem...marie) might cringe to think about putting yourself and your children on a daily schedule. But I think there is something important to note here: It would be an absolute miracle if everybody was on schedule every day! I am not expecting it at all. My schedule is just a general guideline so I know that around (insert time here) I need to be starting (insert task here). I will not (deep breath) freak out if we get behind schedule.




So, without further ado, here is my schedule (for now):

6:00- wake up, dress, straighten room
6:30- a.m. devotion time
7:00- breakfast prep (John will be waking the children up and getting them dressed at this time)
7:30- breakfast
8:00- meal clean up
8:15- kitchen time (this is where I bake for the day or work on whatever needs to be done in the kitchen)
9:15- Phonics with Lilly
10:15- Bible time with boys
10:45- Reading with Luke
11:00- Science with Lilly
11:30- lunch prep
12:00- quick clean
12:15- lunch
12:45- meal clean up
1:00- Language Arts with Lilly
2:00- Preschool with the Boys
3:00- Math with Lilly
4:00- Bible with Lilly
4:30- Social Studies with Lilly
5:00- Reading time with children
5:30- dinner prep
6:00- Dinner
7:00- meal clean up
7:15- Family Devotions
7:45- fold/put away laundry
8:15- children's bed prep/story time
8:30- quick clean
8:45- bed for children
9:00- p.m. devotion time
9:30- computer time/ free time
10:30- bed. sweet bed.

I wasn't completely happy with the way I scheduled things...but I'm not sure why. So this schedule might be subject to change within the first couple weeks of school. I have heard from several people that Kindergarten and First grade are two of the hardest grades to teach because they haven't learned to work independently yet. Since I have 2 this year, I will be one busy mama. Eventually I would like to get to the point where everyone starts at 9:00 in the morning and ends at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. But since everyone has got to work with me right now, that is just not going to happen.
Each child has their own schedule for the day as well. When I am not working with them they are either playing with one of their siblings or having some alone play time. Here is my chart. Aren't all the colors pretty? :) And, yes, I notice there are some gaps. By the time I got all of all of that done I was so tired of working on the schedule that I decided to fill them in later....with something. Ha!

That's my plan for the year! Thanks for checking in!

Blessings,
~A


24 comments:

Deb said...

Oh my goodness! You really have everything all mapped out! Good for you - I hope it works out great for you this year.

blessedmommie said...

You have such a sweet family and a cheerful way about you. Thank you for sharing how you came up with your schedule. I hope your year goes well!

Anonymous said...

We post a MOTH schedule, too! ...but I'm one of the ones that can get it to work...but I still love the concept and try to use it.

Great "Day in the Life"! Homeschoolers have so much fun and are so creative :)

Thanks for sharing and have a very enjoyable 2010-2011 school year!
~Tamara
www.BranchOfWisdom.com

Dustine said...

We love the book and our schedule too. I agree about not freaking out if your off on your times it is a guide. It actually makes me a happier more productive mom and funny thing but I'm able to be more flexible b/c I can look at the schedule and rearange however I need to to fit in something unplanned.
anyway, thanks for sharing your day and - blessings on your school year.

Theresa said...

Wowzer! That is one really full day!! lol

Just stopping by from the blog hop :-)

The Sierra Home Companion said...

It is said if you don't have a plan then you plan to fail. I for one love have a "guideline" which is subject to change, but at least it's there. Many blessings to you.
Rebecca

Marie said...

I am really proud of you, Manda. Yes, I don't like schedules, but truthfully kids really do respond very well to them. Addison especially likes to know "what's next" in her day. I also think you have to have them for homeschooling, otherwise the day escapes you. So good job! You are going to do awesome. Oh and that is so crazy about those authors being from LV!

Sam said...

Over from the bloghop, what a full schedule! We gave up on timed, it was frustrating me. I hope to get back to one, and have looked into MOTH, but I am still on the fence. Have a great year!

Steve, Amanda, Kyle , Owen, and Madilyn said...

You know, I've never really written out my daily routine, but it is pretty scheduled too. I guess I should try writing it out and then I could plan something fun in the dead spaces.

You have inspired me to try writing it out and I also decided to try homeschooling Kyle for pre-school. It should be fun, we will get started a little later, but I am excited!

Anna P said...

I love your schedule! I have the MOTH book too but havent implemented it the way they have. For me, it just helps to have an agenda to follow and not a time frame, otherwise I am always fighting the clock-just me though =) Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I actually have 2 MOTH books. The first one got packed away about 6 years ago when we thought we would be moving. All my books were stored in the attic and never came down again. I finally bought a second copy of it but I've yet to make a working schedule for my family.
I will also be teaching first and second grade this year-as well as watching my 2 year old grandson. I'm not sure how I'll be able to make it work yet----maybe I need to break out the MOTH book again! ;-)

raisingabrood said...

I have been using The Manager of Chores system, and it is wonderful if I can just be diligent and make sure we stick to it! It seems a little mind boggling for me to homeschool with 5 little ones. Thanks for sharing and encouraging :)

Unknown said...

Good for you! You are so organized! I have two 1st graders and I have NO idea how I am going to do it. I never heard about these being the hardest years but it makes sense! I have to walk them through everything and repeat directions often because they can't read. Thanks for the ideas!
Following you from Not Back to School Hop!
Tiffany

Unknown said...

i have one of those on my kitchen wall. i bought the MOTH system last october and just finally made the schedule for the start of school 2 weeks ago. i've hardly followed it at all. LOL! i hope you do better than me :) i'm also following your blog now so i can see how it goes for you. feel free to click my name and visit my blog.

Ashley at bosssanders.com said...

Oh my goodness! I WISH I could get things as organized as you have them. How old are your kiddos?

Amy said...

cool, the colors are great! Enjoy your schedule.

Amy @ Jesus, Coffee & Fitness said...

WOW that's a busy schedule!!! I hope you have a super year!

joyce:waddleeahchaa.com said...

Wow, good for you! I could never stick to something like this, I am way to ADHD. It's nice to know God has made all different kinds of folks. Have a great school year. :)

Jenn said...

I SO follow you! I am adding K to the mix this year, and with my 2nd grader with ADD and a 4th grader, it's a LOT to manage to get into a day with the individual time needed. I have set myself up with a schedule this year also for that reason. I think it's great that you are realistic about it not going perfectly, but being a rough place to aim.

Denise said...

Wow- I love your colorful schedules. Thanks for sharing. I have heard wonderful things about that book too, I think I need to purchase.....

Autismland Penny said...

Great schedule! A good friend of mine has a schedule like that and I always laugh when I see it because she never follows it. But it looks good. I hope you have better luck with yours. lol The early grades are hard but it gets easier as they are trained to work independently. Have a fun year!

Kathy said...

One of the beauties of working out your MOTH scheudle is realizing that you're tyring to fit too much in. Sometimes the seasons of life bring a full and busy life. Having little ones that NEED you for school time and having littles that need your care both make for a very full yet blessed day.

I am so excited for you! having this all planned out 9and subject to change) really will help ease your mind, and get it all done:)

Candace @ Growing with the Greniers said...

I enjoyed reading your schedule! Thanks for sharing!

Taking Time said...

this post rings with my thoughts lately! What a fun blog so happy to have stumbled upon you!

Blessings!!