Homeschool Scheduling

When we first started homeschooling 8 years ago, I had no need for a schedule. But, now that I am teaching 3 of my children I have found that my days go more smoothly if we try to follow some sort of schedule. Isaac will be starting 6th grade. I have found that he can do much of his work independently for the first couple of hours before he needs one on one time with me. Jacob will be entering 4th grade. He struggles with some pretty substantial dyslexia. He requires a lot of one on one teaching so, I sit next to him for the majority of his schooling. Caleb will be entering 1st grade. He, too, will need more individual teaching time. Lauren is 2, rambunctious, noisy and requires a lot of mommy time. It should be an interesting school year people!

Anyway, I wasn't going to post my schedule, but then I decided it might just help someone else plan out their homeschool schedule for the year. I teach mostly using Sonlight Curriculum. Isaac will be doing Core 5 which starts a 2-year study on the Eastern Hemisphere. For science he will start a basic study of Anatomy. For Language he will use Sonlights curriculum which includes dictation, writing and grammar. They will all be using A Beka Math. Jacob and Caleb will be doing Core 1 which starts a 2-year study on World History. Jacob will continue his extensive study of phonics using Explode the Code workbooks, One Minute Reader, A Workbook for Dyslexics, and any supplemental activities that tie in with what he is learning. Caleb will use A Beka and Explode the Code for phonics. Both Jacob and Caleb use Handwriting With Out Tears for their handwriting. For spelling Isaac uses Spelling Power and Jacob and Caleb use Sequential Spelling. So now that you have a general idea of our curriculum here we go:

Isaac's Schedule
8:30-9:00 Group Bible time, Bible verse, calendar, weather, pledge to allegiance
9:00-9:30 Reading from Jacob and Caleb's latest chapter book and poetry reading for the day
9:30-10:00 Work on math independently
10:00-10:15 Independent Bible Study
10:15-10:30 Wordly Wise- vocabulary
10:30-11:00 Science
11:00-12:00 Work with mom. Study new math concepts, work on dictation exercises or language and writing assignments, spelling words for the day.
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-1:20 Piano
1:20-1:30 Typing
1:30-2:30 History reading, reading of current chapter book, poetry reading, with mom.
2:30-? Finish any undone work and do independent reading.

Jacob and Caleb's Schedule
8:30-9:00 Group Bible time, Bible verse, calendar, weather, pledge of allegiance
9:00-9:30 Reading Jacob and Caleb's current chapter book and daily poetry reading
9:00-9:30 Work with Caleb on new math and phonics concepts. Jacob works on math independently
9:30-10:00 Caleb works independently. Work with Jacob on math.
10:00-10:30 Work with Jacob on phonics. Caleb Free time.
10:30-11:00 Spelling with Jacob and Caleb and verbal phonics review
11:00-11:30 Free time
11:30-12:00 Jacob does One Minute Reader or Language Tune-Up Kit and completes any unfinished work
12:00-1:00 lunch
1:00-1:30 Jacob reading out loud to mom and A Workbook For Dyslexics
1:30-2:30 Free time
2:30-? Reading with Caleb. Science and History Reading. Help Jacob and Caleb complete any unfinished work.

I didn't schedule Lauren, because there is no scheduling this girls whims! I usually set her up with a coloring book and crayons or washable markers in her high chair. This will keep her happy for a little bit. Then we move to puzzles, toys, babies, whatever will work. Sometimes I require one of the boys to play with her if she gets to disruptive. As you can see I need to be flexible and some days our schedule just goes by the wayside. But, I know from experience, that if I don't have some sort of schedule to follow, things don't get done. I need to have a time line to refer to. Now that Isaac is older I can place the schedule in front of him and require that he follow it. It is teaching him resposibility and time management. Two very important life skills.

This is just my first draft of our schedule I usually have to do some rearranging to accommodate each child's needs and personality. For those of you who homeschool I hope this will give you an idea of how our school days flow. If any of you have any questions please leave a comment or e-mail me. I would be glad to answer any question or be of help to you.