Okay Mamas. Here is the first post in a little series with regard to how we make homeschooling work for us. Please understand that this is just my way of doing it. There are TONS of great ideas out there on how to plan, organize, gather, execute, and enjoy your homeschooling days. I love seeing how other people pull it all together- so here's a peek into our life.
First, you can read about our decisions to homeschool, try public school (more), and eventually return home for school. It is something that we think and pray about year after year.
In terms of planning to homeschool, I usually begin thinking about the next school year in April/May. I take stock of what we've accomplished during the current school year and evaluate what curriculum has worked and what hasn't. I use The Well Trained Mind, Home Learning Year By Year, When Children Love to Learn, and the local EALRS to determine what we should be learning. I also look at some of our favorite publishers to see what's interesting.
Apologia
Peace Hill Press
Right Start Math
All About Spelling
Winter Promise
Tapestry of Grace
Teaching Textbooks
Montessori for Everyone
Simply Charlotte Mason
I often ask the kids, "Is there anything that you really want to learn about this year?" Most of the time they have some really specific thoughts on what they want to explore. I definitely take that into consideration.
(The view from our front window)
I also consider their ages and what we can study all together. For example, in a 4 year repetitive history cycle we really should have been studying Early Modern Times. But, I wanted Laurel (kindergarten) to be one year older before we took that on. So, we took this year to study Children Around the World. Emma also wanted to study chemistry this year, but I wanted to be able to teach her and Hannah together for science, so we'll wait another year or two. The more subjects that we can combine across the different ages the better.
Next I plan their extra curricular classes. This year we've had an amazing opportunity to take a fun Spanish class. Emma and Hannah have been taking piano, Laurel the violin. Emma has also taken some community-based art classes (watercolor, drawing, block printing, etc). If these weren't available, I would've planned a more rigorous art/music/foreign language curriculum for the year.
(Laurel and her violin)
Once I've got my curriculum in hand and can see how it's layed out and how to move through it on a day-to-day basis, and once I have our activities out of the house planned, I can then start to work on a schedule.
The curriculum also usually determines the number of weeks that I plan to "do school". Sometimes there are 36 weeks worth of lessons, sometimes 40. We usually ease back into school the last week of August, picking up subjects as we go along (ie, we don't start all subjects on day one- disaster!) I find it helpful to plan one family field trip in October to break up the Fall. We have a short week before Thanksgiving, and take 2 weeks at Christmas. Again, in February we try to plan something fun as a family. February can be brutal in the world of homeschooling. Can you say blah? I like to take Spring Break the 3rd week in March because it coincides with Emma and Laurel's birthdays. We aim to be done with the majority of our core subjects by the end of May. The weather becomes so nice that we tend to just focus on nature study, writing, and finishing up piano/violin/etc. We are participating in an ALE this year so I am accountable to turn in weekly progress reports until the public schools let out the second week of June.
I personally really need a daily schedule lined out for me. I used to just think this was so type-A and did more harm than good, but we really do need some sort of parameter to keep us on track. I am not married to the times. If we really get rolling on a great read-aloud or a science investigation...then, by all means, we keep at. For the most part, this just serves as an outline. I plan out everyone's day side by side. This helps me to divide my time amongst those that need it.
Download Weekly schedule
(nothing fancy here, just google docs)
Then, I make an individual schedule for each student. Here's Hannah's (3rd grade)
Download Hannah's schdule
On the back of the schedule I print their assignment sheet so they can reference what lessons/pages they are supposed to be doing in each subject.
Download Hannah's assignment sheet
These little assignment sheets are the backbone of our days. We would be lost without them. I need them for writing progress reports (keeping track of lessons completed). I keep them filed in a giant binder. The kids need them to stay on track and it gives them autonomy. They don't have to always come to me and ask, "What should I do now Mom?" We have a little meeting each morning to go over their assignments. I give demonstrations, directions, and answer questions at that time. If I see them off task sometime during the day, I direct them back to their assignment sheet. This has just really worked well for us.
I fill the assignment sheets out on Friday afternoons. This works best for me because the week is still fresh in my mind and it also gives me the weekend to gather any supplies that we might need for the following week. Planning on Sunday night is not fun. I've been there.
Okay, I think that does it for this post. I'm working on:
Our School Room
What do you do with your Toddler/baby?
Avoiding burnout and making time for yourself?
Hit me with your questions!
