Would you ladies mind looking at my schedule for me? Please let me know where I can tweak for better flow or less time for me. Last spring I asked for advice on combining my dc. The replies were so helpful, but I decided to go a different route and now have worked my way back to HOD, and I've decided to separate my dc by grades. This is working good for my dc, but as usual not so much for me.
This is what I have:
9th (different curriculum)
8th and 7th (together, different curriculum)
3rd Bigger (w/ saxon math)
1st LHFHG (w/ saxon, mfw phonics)
4yo LHTH
My 9th, 8th, 7th grade boys do not need me very much. The younger three are girls.
This schedule is where I am suppose to be. : )
8:00 math w/ 1st
8:20 math, reading w/ 3rd
8:50 preschool w/ LHTH
9:10 phonics w/ 1st
9:30 history, rotating activity, Bible w/ Bigger
10:05 LHFHG history, rotating, rhymes, bible
10:40 grammar, spelling, poetry w/ Bigger
11:10 LHFHG story time
11:25 time w/ older boys
12:00 lunch break
1:00 storytime, hymn, science w/ bigger
1:45 bible w/ boys
2:05 alternate teaching writing w/ boys
2:35ish check papers, prepare for next day, this takes me until about 3:30
Does this look about right? If you see anywhere you think I could tweak I would appreciate it.
My schedule??
Re: My schedule??
I've combed through your schedule and I have ....no suggestions! However, I know you must be tired by 3:30 and there's still alot to do...isn't there? I'm in the same boat you are in...it's working for everybody, but me. I'll look forward to everyone's thoughts.
With Joy!
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Florence
My blog: http://florencebrooks.com/
Began HOD 1/2009
Currently using: Bigger, RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM
Re: My schedule??
Could you have them both doing math at the same time? That might put you about 20 minutes earlier in your schedule. And could you have your 3rd doing some of her grammar, spelling, poetry while your 1st is doing story time? Like the studying dictation or spelling words and other things she can do independently. That would possibly shave off another 10 minutes. I mean, it's only 30 minutes, but with doing those things you might find a spot for other stuff to be worked together.
Re: My schedule??
I have no suggetions either except really trying to combine your younger girls as much as possible? Maybe combine their storytime? I know you said you don't want to combine at all though. Really, your schedule looks very streamlined. I like the idea of trying to have your younger girls doing things at the same time, like math. Would that be possible? Could your 3rd grader be a little more independent? Next year I'm also doing the Bigger/Little Hearts combination and I'm a little nervous, lol. 
Re: My schedule??
Today we are a whole hour and a half ahead of schedule! The girls math lessons for me to teach were very short today, my dd did not need me for spelling, grammar was done orally today, and my 1st grader's phonics lesson was shorter for me to teach. We also did not have any art or very fun games like knocking down idols (LHFHG) that drew the attention of everyone in the house including 15 yo teenage boys to have a turn. 
I guess I just need to run with this new schedule for awhile. I did end up doing storytime out of order w/ LHFHG because it worked out better for my Bigger child. We just started LHFHG and LHTH this week.
Please don't let me make you nervous about doing Bigger and LHFHG together. Remember, I am doing a different math (Saxon), phonics, and spelling. These items I am doing are definitely adding more time than what I would need to use if we were doing Hod's suggestions.
I appreciate the ideas, and am considering them all. Small tweaks are great, because they add up!
Blessings,
missy
I guess I just need to run with this new schedule for awhile. I did end up doing storytime out of order w/ LHFHG because it worked out better for my Bigger child. We just started LHFHG and LHTH this week.
Please don't let me make you nervous about doing Bigger and LHFHG together. Remember, I am doing a different math (Saxon), phonics, and spelling. These items I am doing are definitely adding more time than what I would need to use if we were doing Hod's suggestions.
I appreciate the ideas, and am considering them all. Small tweaks are great, because they add up!
Blessings,
missy
Re: My schedule??
I too think you have a very good schedule! 
I like the idea of the round table math too. The following are "tiny tweak" ideas, but I'll share them anyway, as I agree with what you said - tiny time savers can add up.
Could you sing the Bigger Hearts hymn as you prepare for breakfast? Could you read the Bigger Hearts Storytime book during a portion of lunch? Or, could you do either the LHFHG or the Bigger Hearts book as a bedtime read aloud and do the box's follow-ups then (they are short, especially LHFHG's)? We are very fast eaters, so our lunch takes about 30 minutes - do you think your lunch time could either be cut down for everyone, or could your older dc prepare lunch while you do LHTH with the preschooler and check the work handed in already? Could you switch the 9:30 time to end with the rotating history box instead, so you could move on to the next child while that child finishes the rotating history assignment? Likewise, could you switch the 10:05 time to end with the rotating box and let that child finish it out as you move on? Could the Bible time with the boys be done with dh earlier than 8 AM, or could you do it around bedtime instead? Could you and one of your older dc alternate teaching LHTH to the preschooler, and then you be freed up every other day to do something else? Perhaps you could alternate reading the Bigger Hearts storytime to every other day with the every other day of teaching LHTH. Switching to Singapore math would save time too. These are all just little ideas, but if any of them appeal, maybe they can help overall! I think it sounds like you are doing a great job, but if you could finish a bit earlier in your day, I bet you'd feel like a new woman! HTH!
In Christ,
Julie
I like the idea of the round table math too. The following are "tiny tweak" ideas, but I'll share them anyway, as I agree with what you said - tiny time savers can add up. Could you sing the Bigger Hearts hymn as you prepare for breakfast? Could you read the Bigger Hearts Storytime book during a portion of lunch? Or, could you do either the LHFHG or the Bigger Hearts book as a bedtime read aloud and do the box's follow-ups then (they are short, especially LHFHG's)? We are very fast eaters, so our lunch takes about 30 minutes - do you think your lunch time could either be cut down for everyone, or could your older dc prepare lunch while you do LHTH with the preschooler and check the work handed in already? Could you switch the 9:30 time to end with the rotating history box instead, so you could move on to the next child while that child finishes the rotating history assignment? Likewise, could you switch the 10:05 time to end with the rotating box and let that child finish it out as you move on? Could the Bible time with the boys be done with dh earlier than 8 AM, or could you do it around bedtime instead? Could you and one of your older dc alternate teaching LHTH to the preschooler, and then you be freed up every other day to do something else? Perhaps you could alternate reading the Bigger Hearts storytime to every other day with the every other day of teaching LHTH. Switching to Singapore math would save time too. These are all just little ideas, but if any of them appeal, maybe they can help overall! I think it sounds like you are doing a great job, but if you could finish a bit earlier in your day, I bet you'd feel like a new woman!
HTH!In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Re: My schedule??
Hello! I'm still needing to chip away at my schedule a bit and I'm wondering if you could explain how you would do round table math? I am considering Singapore for next year, but I would like to finish what I have this year (we like do like it).
Thank you!
Missy
Thank you!
Missy
Re: My schedule??
Missy,
I have a few thoughts you could consider that may be of help as you ponder your schedule. One thing that I've found is that much time at our house is lost in transition and is also lost when one child finishes earlier or later than scheduled so that I'm not quite "on time" for the next child in line. With that in mind, I would lean toward maybe some of the following changes:
1. Add the LHFHG Storytime box onto the time when you are already meeting with your LHFHG child to do the History Box/Rotating Box/Rhymes/Bible/Music. To do this you will likely need to add 5-7 min. at the earlier time slot, but honestly you'll gain time later as you don't have to gather that child later to do the Storytime because you'll already have him/her right there when you're doing the left side of the guide. In essence, you'll do the entire left side plus the Storytime from LHFHG in one 35 min. sitting.
2. You could move the Bigger Hearts hymn to lunchtime and do it right after everyone is sitting down to eat before they take the first bite. Then, if you don't mind reading aloud at lunch, you could read the Bigger Storytime to everyone at lunch. If this doesn't work, you could instead read it right after lunch while some of the older kiddos are clearing table and doing dishes. This combination will take 20-25 min. off your afternoon schedule and shift it earlier in the day. Then, only the Bigger Heart's science would be left to be done after lunch in that time slot. You could get that child started on science right after lunch and be on to Bible much more quickly after that. If at all possible, you could consider cutting your lunchtime down to 35-40 min. too. I'm not sure if this is a possiblity, but we have shortened up our lunches to do this in order to finish earlier in the day.
3. I would also look at putting your 1st grader's math and phonics back-to-back in the A.M. first thing so no time is lost in that transition later. You could just do both in a row.
4. While your 1st grader is doing math and phonics, you could schedule something from the Bigger Heart's guide that your 3rd grader could do silently on his/her own at the same table. This could be the cursive handwriting practice or copywork of poem and possibly part of the math lesson (although this may not work if you're doing Saxon and need to do a big teacher directed lesson). If that is the case, it may work to possibly do the spelling cards or grammar instead at the table after cursive/copywork with your 3rd grader while your first grader is doing the "workbook" part of his/her math time.
In doing a "round table" type time, you can work quietly with one child while the other child at the same table works on a written assignment, having you available to help as needed. Then, after the first child has been assigned the lesson, you work with the second child by presenting a lesson after which he/she can move onto an assigned portion of the lesson (all the while still remaining nearby for the first child who is working quietly on his/her assignment). We use whispering voices to make this work and make sure the child who is not doing the lesson is to stand by my chair quietly waiting if he/she need me, but not to interrupt with by speaking until I ask them what they need. I will help the standing child when I get to a point where I can do it without completely interrupting my lesson in mid-sentence. A round table doesn't always work perfectly, and can be distracting, but it works well for our family when I need to be near to help several kiddos with a few subjects at once.
Anyway, these are just a few thoughts that may or may not be helpful. Sometimes it's just the brainstorming that helps bring other solutions to mind! Your schedule looks really good, and you wouldn't need to change a thing if you didn't mind going a bit later in the day. My suggestions are just meant to help you if you want to shave some time off to get done earlier.
Blessings,
Carrie
I have a few thoughts you could consider that may be of help as you ponder your schedule. One thing that I've found is that much time at our house is lost in transition and is also lost when one child finishes earlier or later than scheduled so that I'm not quite "on time" for the next child in line. With that in mind, I would lean toward maybe some of the following changes:
1. Add the LHFHG Storytime box onto the time when you are already meeting with your LHFHG child to do the History Box/Rotating Box/Rhymes/Bible/Music. To do this you will likely need to add 5-7 min. at the earlier time slot, but honestly you'll gain time later as you don't have to gather that child later to do the Storytime because you'll already have him/her right there when you're doing the left side of the guide. In essence, you'll do the entire left side plus the Storytime from LHFHG in one 35 min. sitting.
2. You could move the Bigger Hearts hymn to lunchtime and do it right after everyone is sitting down to eat before they take the first bite. Then, if you don't mind reading aloud at lunch, you could read the Bigger Storytime to everyone at lunch. If this doesn't work, you could instead read it right after lunch while some of the older kiddos are clearing table and doing dishes. This combination will take 20-25 min. off your afternoon schedule and shift it earlier in the day. Then, only the Bigger Heart's science would be left to be done after lunch in that time slot. You could get that child started on science right after lunch and be on to Bible much more quickly after that. If at all possible, you could consider cutting your lunchtime down to 35-40 min. too. I'm not sure if this is a possiblity, but we have shortened up our lunches to do this in order to finish earlier in the day.
3. I would also look at putting your 1st grader's math and phonics back-to-back in the A.M. first thing so no time is lost in that transition later. You could just do both in a row.
4. While your 1st grader is doing math and phonics, you could schedule something from the Bigger Heart's guide that your 3rd grader could do silently on his/her own at the same table. This could be the cursive handwriting practice or copywork of poem and possibly part of the math lesson (although this may not work if you're doing Saxon and need to do a big teacher directed lesson). If that is the case, it may work to possibly do the spelling cards or grammar instead at the table after cursive/copywork with your 3rd grader while your first grader is doing the "workbook" part of his/her math time.
In doing a "round table" type time, you can work quietly with one child while the other child at the same table works on a written assignment, having you available to help as needed. Then, after the first child has been assigned the lesson, you work with the second child by presenting a lesson after which he/she can move onto an assigned portion of the lesson (all the while still remaining nearby for the first child who is working quietly on his/her assignment). We use whispering voices to make this work and make sure the child who is not doing the lesson is to stand by my chair quietly waiting if he/she need me, but not to interrupt with by speaking until I ask them what they need. I will help the standing child when I get to a point where I can do it without completely interrupting my lesson in mid-sentence.
A round table doesn't always work perfectly, and can be distracting, but it works well for our family when I need to be near to help several kiddos with a few subjects at once. Anyway, these are just a few thoughts that may or may not be helpful. Sometimes it's just the brainstorming that helps bring other solutions to mind!
Your schedule looks really good, and you wouldn't need to change a thing if you didn't mind going a bit later in the day. My suggestions are just meant to help you if you want to shave some time off to get done earlier. Blessings,
Carrie