Scheduling Help!

[tnahid]

Okay, all of a sudden, I am feeling overwhelmed. These last couple of weeks, it seems that my scheduling has gotten all crazy and messed up! I was so scattered today, I didn't know WHAT I was doing.

If anyone feels led, I would love for you write out a schedule for me based on what I am going to say. I know I can do it, and have prayed for wisdom from the Spirit about it, and I KNOW I could look at other people's schedule, but I just feel led to ask this still.

So, I have 2 boys in Beyond. My 4 year old daughter is in LHTH. I really would like to be done with school about 1:00 or so every day. Noon would be even better. I am not a super morning person, but if I get up at 8:00 and we all get started then, things seem to flow better. One thing I have realized is that I get VERY frustrated when I am trying to fix breakfast and the boys are asking me questions from the dining table. I guess I don't multi-task well in this way. I am just figuring this out. I just feel like our day is getting draaaaaaaaagged out too long, and then we still aren't getting everything done! Today, I was just a basket case and could not think straight at all. We were very scattered all day.

Soooooooooooo, does anyone have a suggestion or a proposed schedule for me? What would you do? My oldest (10) is needy in LA mostly. My younger boy is doing very well overall. I just don't feel like things are flowing smoothly for us. Also, when do you check their work? Do you check it every day, after every individual lesson, one day a week, or what?

Thanks! I have prayed for wisdom and felt that I should post this here. I am eagerly expecting to receive what I need through one or more of you ladies. Blessings!

[Daph]

I'm very scatterbrained and I don't multitask well, so I can't help much. But, when it comes to checking work, I've realized that if I check it as it's being finished, things run much more smoothly (like with washing dishes while you cook ). If I don't check it, it sits in a pile that adds up. I also prefer to do that more difficult things early, like the subjects that your dc struggle with, so we can all get them out of the way.

[holyhart]

I would start with doing the things that will help you start you day off easier. I do a lot of breakfast prep the night before, like baked oatmeal, I can mix most of it up the night before, add a couple last ingredients when I get up and pop it in the oven. When I am done my quiet time, breakfast is ready. Oh! And always start your day with some quiet time with the Lord. If you can, I would try doing whatever prep work you can do ahead of time to get things off to a good start. When the day starts off poorly, the whole day tends to follow suit.

As for actual schedule, how much independant can either of your boys handle by themselves? Maybe if you do have to be in the kitchen while they are doing some of their work, perhaps they could be on the floor in the kitchen with you? Or one thing I do with my dc, is if I'm working with one, and the other has a question over something they don't understand, they are to set it aside until I can get to that dc and move on to the next thing. (Did that make sense?). Maybe you could try something similar?

[tnahid]

Okay, I came up with this tonight...thoughts?

Lesson Schedule for Grace Academy (I named our "school" this...oh, how appropriate the name is! )

Quiet Time (Mom)

Morning Stretch together (10-15 min)

Room Chores
Get Dressed
Brush Teeth

Kitchen Table Time -- Read Devotion/ Math Lesson

Eat Breakfast – Listen to Proverbs (audio on www.Biblegateway.com)

Talk about Proverbs portion during Breakfast

Clean up table
Brush Teeth

Move to School Room – Independent Work Time for BOYS (Spelling, Copywork, Handwriting, Reading, LA)

Do LHTH Lesson with Ellie –While boys do quiet , independent work on the couch or floor

Independent Time with Each Son –Listen to boys read aloud, ask questions, answer questions, work on LA, and check answers to math and other lessons.
(Ellie plays computer while I do this.)

After ALL independent work is done ---

Recess Time 30-45 min.

Lunch Time (20 min.)

Back to School Room -- Beyond History Read-Aloud, Science, Poetry, and Story-Time (while children are coloring, playing with Thinking Putty or sitting quietly by me or lying in the floor)

Ellie Naptime

If there is a science project, we will do it when Ellie goes to naptime.

Boys Rest Reading Time (30-60 min.)
Outdoor playtime/computer time

Done!!!

[Mercy]

I love scheduling! When I make a new schedule it is so fun to see how it works out for me. I expect to have trouble that first day (and usually for awhile after). I find it helpful to keep a copy near me with a pencil to change things as I go. Usually as I work out the schedule I see things that I didnt realize before.

I will be praying for you as you begin fresh tomorrow!
This has been a challenging month for me between a lot going on outside our home and various health issues. But, I just began a great new schedule and things are somehow miraculously going really well!

Check back in tomorrow and tell us how it went for you.
Mercy

[tnahid]

The day went SOOOOO much better and smoother today. I felt so much more at peace about how we would get everything done today, and the children seemed more at peace with it too. Really thankful for that! Thank you for your encouragement! I posted my schedule in my kitchen where it could be easily seen and also put one up on both of my son's boards. MUCH better for me to have a plan for the day, and to update that plan frequently when things are getting off track.

[pjdobro]

I'm so glad it went well for you!

[BrooklynsMom03]

This is one thing I love about HOD....we travel alot and are out of town and than going to appointments a couple hrs each way from home each week....it gets overwhelming at times...but even on days that it isnt the *perfect* day I just remember that tomorrow is a new day and I can get right back on track because HOD is so easy to do that with! We pack up our books alot of days and do school in our SUV!

Sounds like things are going well with your new schedule! Beth in Idaho

[Mercy]

Oh I am so glad to hear that Tina!
Thank you so much for letting us know.
I really do believe those schedules are a gift from God!

Love and prayers,
Mercy

[my3sons]

Thanks for sharing this progression of thoughts here, Tina! I think this is exactly what we moms often go through. Your sharing your thoughts, your reflections, and your adjustments is sure to help others think through their homeschooling days and how they can best meet their goals too. Hanging the schedule up is a great idea - that visual reminder helps keep everybody on track. Great ideas, and I'm so happy for you that it's going smoothly!

In Christ,
Julie