Help for the Homeschooler--The Dreaded Schedule

**Remember, this is not THE way to plan. It is A way to plan. Just trying to throw some help out there for those who are newer to all this than me. Or whoever it might help! Here is Part 1 and Part 2.

There is not a homeschooler out there (probably) who has not sat down at the beginning of the year and made a beautiful schedule (color-coded, formatted, laminated, posted...), only to laugh their head off at it later. I've certainly done that. Several times. In fact, after my first year of homeschooling I was cleaning up my storage cart and found the schedule from the beginning of the year. I think my mouth might have fallen open. Not only was the schedule WAY more ambitious than real life turned out to be, but I had completely forgotten about it!

What I'm trying to say is, you probably need to make a schedule, but don't go crazy. Forget about the kind of schedule where everything is decided in 5 minute increments. That's not how homeschooling works. Even as a public school teacher, we had to make schedules that said things like: Restroom break-10:00-10:07 but we all know that's completely out of our control.

And if you have kiddos at home who are not "doing school" then you have a double whammy. Because diapers will explode when it is not the designated "diaper changing time", someone will get hungry in the middle of read-aloud time, the phone rings, errands must be run.......you must be very, very flexible.

So you really need more of an "ORDER" than a "SCHEDULE." And if you really, really need to put times to things, then play around with things in 30 minute blocks of time. It's easier that way. Or, my personal favorite is to chart: "Things to do before lunch" and "things to do after lunch." That way you have a goal. :)

Here is our Weekly Schedule for the upcoming year. Subject to change 50 times if needed:

Weekly Schedule

Monday
Fourth Grade: Bible, Botany, Math, History, Spelling, Reading, Handwriting
Kindergarten: Bible, Math, Phonics, Handwriting, Theme activity

Tuesday
Fourth Grade: Bible, Botany, Math, History, Spelling, Reading, Handwriting
Kindergarten: Bible, Math, Phonics, Handwriting, Theme activity

Wednesday

Fourth Grade: Bible, Botany, Math, History, Spelling, Reading, Piano lesson
Kindergarten: Bible, Math, Science, Theme activity

Thursday
Fourth Grade: Bible, Botany, Math, History, Spelling, Reading, Handwriting
Kindergarten: Bible, Math, Phonics, Handwriting, Theme activity

Friday
Fourth and Kindergarten: Bible, Book Cook, Art, Spanish, Homemaking, Movie day

I've indicated in blue the changes. Everything else is the same every day. I've been wanting--longing--for our Fridays to be different ever since we started. The first year it didn't work out because we Girl Scouts on Monday mornings. The worst time ever. And last year we had Tuesday mornings at the library for preschool story time. But THIS year, we don't have anything in the mornings, so we should be able to achieve the "fun Friday" schedule I've been wanting.

OK--so that's how our weeks will look. Except when they don't. Flexible, remember? And I try to put things in order of importance. Bible is first because--it is the only subject that REALLY matters. Botany and Math need to be done while Sweetheart is fresh because otherwise it is not pretty around here. Spelling, Reading, and Handwriting are last because if we didn't get them done every single day the earth would continue to orbit.

Next up: The Daily Schedule