My day is too full, can't fit everything in

[Mumkins]

I've made out my schedule for the fall and it seems too full and I didn't even put everything I wanted on. I'm missing time for my second oldest to read to me. I need to add in igniting your writing for my oldest. I need to add in home ec. twice a week. Time for exercise for me. IDK where to get more time from. I'm also going to need more math time soon. As we begin, my children will have a review time of basic facts, then they'll both me moving on to TT and will require 1/2 an hour each. Can anyone help me tweek my schedule? The only thing I can see is to cut into outside time and quiet time. But kids (and mommies) need a quiet time and they need outdoor play. Or I guess the computer time, but they really enjoy that and it leaves me free to help another. Activity box is the left page, lower left that usually has an activity.

I can't figure out how to get my actual schedule from excel on here, when I copy and paste it shows up plain instead of with borders and colour. Anyway, Please advise anything I can change or if my appx. timing is off. My oldest two will be doing math and LA together for right now. I'd also like to add in LHTH for my youngest once he's 2 1/2.


How are most people done by noon? I'm only doing Bigger and SL P4/5. The only extra stuff is home ec., which didn't make it on and 10 minutes of French or Canadian stuff.


Anyway, I posted it on my blog. I was going to cut and paste here as well, but I had to space out everything as it just came in a huge pile and I quite half was through cause it was taking a LONG time. It's today's entry on my blog. Please look.

[Samuel'sMommy]

What's your blog address?

[8arrows]

I agree with reading during breakfast and lunch. Also, can you move your first laundry time to be included with the first chore time? The snack could occur during history reading time. This would free up a little time. I am also not sure science would take 1/2 hour every day. Maybe you could gain some time there. I would have the school kids up and ready before breakfast. Chores before breakfast can be motivating too. Don't worry. I am never done my lunch--ever!

[Mumkins]

What's your blog address?

Just click on the globe under my name:)

[Mommamo]

It does seem like you've already got a lot put into your day. One thing I thought of was to do the music during snack time maybe? And I like the idea of doing something during breakfast. Could you do Bible during that time maybe, since I noticed that's what you're starting with first. And maybe do story time at lunch? I've found that it sure helps to do stuff during times when we're eating, if at all possible. I usually eat my lunch when the kiddos go down for their quiet time. Another thought, which I don't know if it will help much, but can you do some of the chores and laundry after school time? Also, once you really start doing it you may find that some of the things won't take all the time you've allotted to it, like poetry for example. One thing I've started doing is working on something more independent with my daughter for x amount of time (usually 5 min or so) and then anything beyond that time is homework that she has to get done during play time (I hate doing that, but it made our day go faster and she doesn't dawdle at all now ) I'll keep thinking about your schedule though...

By the way, I really enjoyed reading your blog. Would you care if I added it as one of my favorites? If you want to keep it relatively private I understand....

[MomtoJGJE]

Could you wake them up at 7:30 and have them get ready and do their chores while you fix breakfast? Then do Bible during breakfast... then you'll be starting everything an hour earlier... While they are doing handwriting you could start your laundry. and you can do another reading during snack time, or music during snack time.

Just some ideas... I don't know if they'll work or not.

I cannot imagine my kids staying in bed past 6 though, so we are typically all ready and starting the day at 8... chores take about 15-20 minutes and then someone does something with school.

OH, I don't know if you have a toploading washing machine or not... I do, and I will put a load of clothes in the washer at night and start it, but leave the lid open. Then in the morning after I have a cup of coffee and quiet time (if I'm lucky) I'll close the lid.... that way, about the time that DD1 is through with school I can go hang them out or switch them to the dryer if it's rainy.

I also do one school at a time. Typically DD1 goes first because she's the official one... I do ALL of her school in one sitting. I do the left hand side, minus art plus the LA box (she is in Beyond) Then I'll have her do handwriting/copywork, math, and Emerging Readers.... At this point I'm typically running around doing various things in the kitchen/dining/living rooms where I can hear her. When she gets through with those, I do the Storytime and art...

Then comes the middles with their schoolwork. It takes maybe an hour for them max though.

[Samuel'sMommy]

I'm not really sure what to tell you about what to cut or where to add extra time. One question - what exactly are you doing for home ec? Is it teaching them things you already do around the house that you could just incorporate them into? For example, could they shadow you when you do your chores or help with cooking meals or preparing snacks?

Also, I would take the schedule you have and try it out for a few days and you may find your extra time. I know with DS when I did our schedule on paper it looked like it would take us about 3 hours for LHFHG, but we almost always get done in under 2 hours and that is with extra stuff added in like art, music, hymn study, and nature study. So it may be that the subjects won't take as long as you have allotted once your kids get the swing of things.

You already have 25 minutes scheduled for everyone for Math, are they going to need another 1/2 hour on top of that?

[Mumkins]

Thank you to everyone who suggested reading while eating. I can try that.

Mommamo- Sure, you can add me. I like the idea of giving a certain amount of time and giving the rest for homework.

Thanks 8smiths

8arrows- I plan to start laundry as soon as everyone is dressed, during first chore time. Then during first laundry is the switch over then 2nd laundry is fold and put away.

momtoJGEJ- My first load isn't ready til PJ's are in it. My little guy was getting up at 6 and the older ones vary from 7:30am to 10am. Little guy is sleeping later due to late summer nights. We'll have to see how early everyone gets up once the consistent bedtime is put into place. If they get up earlier, it would be wise to start earlier. I have math for a 1/2 hour. That will be a spot once can use, but another will still need a half hour too. TT is independent though, so they can do that while I work with another.

Samuel'sMommy- For Home Ec. we use Lessons in Responsibilities, one for girls and one for boy. I want my kids to have the training I didn't have and learn things I don't even know I need to teach them.

[Alison in KY]

I think you have a great schedule. I also believe unless kids are totally independent, it takes several hours to homeschool them. I ony have 3 and we begin around 8:30 to 9, and we aren't totally done until 1:30....but that's not all the kids working the full time, and that's just our light summer schedule using some more textbookish stuff.

The only thing I could come up with, which might not help you, is to move some of those subjects to a Friday (or another day) and make it be your day that those different subjects get done. Like do basics daily, and save the home ec, poetry, activity box, and whatever for Friday's...so the end of your week is a bit lighter and more relaxed.

Sorry I didnt' have more to offer, that's all I could come up with.

Alison

[Mumkins]

Thanks Alison, I'll see if something like that will work.

[my3sons]

Great ideas already! I printed out your schedule, and your times for things look accurate, though I do think they'll shorten up as you get into your routine, and you'll gain some time as you go (this has been our experience at least). Your schedule is a good one, and you are finishing HOD school by 1:30 PM, which I'd say is pretty good for starting at 9 AM. BUT, you sound like a kindred spirit to me with wanting to finish by lunchtime, Mumkins. This takes some careful planning and a dedication to doing nothing but school to get it done - it's not easy, but it can be done! So, if you are trying to move your end time with HOD from 1:30 PM to 12:30 PM, here are a few ideas that helped me be done by lunchtime:
*get the kids up at 7:15 AM or 7:30 AM
*limit their morning time before breakfast to 45 minutes: 10-15 minutes of getting ready, 10-15 minutes of clean up in rooms, and 10-15 minutes of chores
*eat breakfast by 8:00 AM
*start school by 8:15 AM
*for your specific schedule, I'd work through the snack time and move laundry to after lunch (you'll have time then, right! )
Just these changes will gain you about an hour of time, so you could then move your science and LA up before lunch, send the sweeties outside as you were going to, and prepare lunch. You may have to move lunch to 12:30 if things take longer at first in the morning, but they had their snack and should be fine to wait to eat until then. I will say that there is a united purpose everyone gets the gist of when the whole family is striving to finish by lunch time. My boys get that goal and like it too, so there is not much dilly-dallying going on anymore. It helps to let them in on this goal and let them know finishing school by lunch gives free time to everyone.

As far as the Can./French, I think you could just read it at lunch. I am not familiar with the home ec. program, but could you incorporate it into making supper? Otherwise, I'd be inclined to do it as a Sat./Sun. or summer thing - but you can decide if it's worth lengthening your school day to do Monday-Friday. One other thing that was and is tough for me is to not answer the phone or get on the computer. I just thought I'd mention that as my days always went longer and I was more tense and more apt to be a tad cranky when I used to take phone calls and use the computer - just quick for one thing that never really turned out to be quick. You totally may not have this temptation, but in case you may, I thought I'd throw it out there. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie