Our Homeschool “Schedule”

Finding a schedule we can stick to has probably been one of the most allusive things about homeschooling.  It’s been downright impossible, if you ask me, especially with young children added to the mix.  I feel like I’m constantly working around feeding schedules, nap schedules, and poopie diapers.  Hey, I’m just keepin’ it real.  So I’ve learned to let go of some of my Type A tendencies and just go with it.

But lately we’ve found a good schedule that we can somewhat stick to that works.  It helps now that I’m past the 1st trimester blahs (mostly) and that MBug is down to one nap consistently.  If only I could get NJoy to nap again…but he does play well in his room in the afternoon when I finish up ALuv’s work.

So, what does our “groove” look like?  Probably very different than yours, but it works for us (at least for this week).

8:00-8:30am  Breakfast: Watch Curious George on PBS–ALuv’s FAVORITE show (By the way, PBS has reworked their website and has put 16 new Curious George games on there.  ALuv has greatly enjoyed this!)

8:30-9:00am  Kids Get Dressed/Chores

9:00-9:30am Free Play (I rotate out toys on a weekly basis for their free play time.  I can post more about this later, but I have categorized all our toys and I rotate based on this.)

9:30-10:45am  School Work

• Each morning, we start with the calendar, the pledge of allegiance, then I read a book or two out loud; usually a library book or a book based on a theme we’re studying.  Sometimes ALuv will pick a book out of his independent book bin and read to us; if he’s in the mood.
• NJoy does his letter work/play (I usually have about 4-5 activities for him to complete; sometimes more)
• ALuv tackles Word Study (including Word Wall activities and Word Sorts), Writing, and Independent Reading during this time.
• MBug plays independently in the schoolroom, tries her hand at an adapted teaching “mat” or two, or sometimes I sit and read to her if both boys are doing well on their own.  Occasionally, she’ll wander out of the room and I’ll hear her in the playroom, enjoying the freedom of playing with any toy she so chooses.

10:45am–“Specials” or Run Errands:  Once a week, I do a little music class or an art project during this time.  ALuv/NJoy may also get on the computer at this time.  It might also be time for us to run errands, maybe to the library or to Target or the grocery store if needed.

11:30am- Lunch–the kids like to watch Word World on PBS while they eat

12:00-12:30(ish)  Clean up from lunch/Chores

12:30-1:15 (ish)  Outside Play/Recess

1:30pm  Rest Time!  NJoy “rests” in his room, while MBug goes down for her nap

1:30-2:00pm  Lesson Planning Time for Me/Independent Free Play for ALuv

2:00pm-3:00pm  Finish ALuv’s Schoolwork

• Math
• Science/SS
• Bible–we go over our verses for Awana and read one Bible story a day

3:00pm  Rest Time Over (for NJoy & hopefully not MBug!)  Sometimes the boys watch a DVD during this time, play outside, play inside, or we’ll finish up something from our morning school work.

Total Hours: If I included all the activities we do into our hours (schoolwork, art/music, 30 minutes of free play, lunch, recess, etc.), it would come out to roughly 3.5-4 hours a day.  But if I only included academic work, maybe 2-2.5 hours at most for ALuv and 1-1.5 at most for NJoy.

What does your homeschooling schedule look like?  Or do you find that it varies from day-to-day?

Thank you for joining This Reading Mama on a literacy journey!

~Becky