I have tried before. I really have. I bought Managers of Their Homes by Terri Maxwell, read it from cover to cover twice, made up a schedule in 15 minute increments, and we followed it. For about three weeks. Tried again six months later, and then the next year, and the next. I just could not do a schedule! Now those of you who know me well, know that I am extremely on the flexible, fly-by-the-seat of your pants personality so I do not like schedules. I do not understand schedules, and I certainly don’t live by them.
The problem is, I have several children now who love schedules, thrive on schedules, and struggle with anger or other bad attitudes when they don’t know what to expect when. So after several years of trying to schedule our day on my own, and failing, praying, and starting over — I asked my husband. First, he gave me a grid on paper and told me to write down everything I needed to get done.
Two weeks later; we fought about that because I didn’t even know where that paper was and I certainly had not filled it out! Finally, with a lengthy visit from Grandma looming as she was taking over our homeschool during my recovery from surgery, Daniel and I started working through what a daily schedule might look like and getting into the computer.
In our case, Dan is a schedule guy, in fact writing acquisition “cost” schedules and planning schedules is one of the strengths he brings to the Air Force. (something he is known for in one of the offices where he has spent most of his career in other words..) So, it made sense for me to get his assistance! Daniel took off for a week before the arrival of Grandma, and we spent the weekend planning our daily schedule, putting it into iCal (MAC or iPhone program) and tweaking.
Then we started on Monday with our first experiment. Every day, we tweaked more, added and *mostly* subtracted, re-arranged etc., and by Friday we had a fairly decent working schedule. We ran the schedule for two days with Grandma to show her how it worked, and then left for surgery on Wednesday. Of course, I ended up home on Saturday under vastly different circumstances then I expected — but God had given me a workable schedule that we are still basically using three months later!
Dan tells me that my error is always trying to fit too much into a day when I actually type up a schedule. His plan continues to be that we take out enough so that what we try to do actually gets done. We basically scheduled from waking up at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day and included meals, housework, school work, and outside activities. Because our outside activities for the kids are at different times each day, every day’s schedule is different.
Two things remain constant: 1 hour of Protected Free Time, (no helping with the twins or running stair errands for Mommy) and 1 hour of Mandatory Diligent Housework. A lack of diligence results in a loss of free time the next day; though it has only come to that once and after that one time, one warning was sufficient. One other recent development is that gaming (in our case iPod touch or computer) is limited to one hour per day. We found that if gaming wasn’t limited, our older children were not reading books on their own even though they are both wonderful readers.
For our school day, here is what my oldest two do. Jonathan (age 9) and Clara (age 11) each have scheduled 30 minutes on Bible and Awana, 30 minutes on Math, 30 minutes on History, 15 or 30 minutes on Latin, 15 minutes on handwriting, 30 minutes on grammar, and 15 minutes on writing, Monday through Thursday. Fridays still contain Bible/Awana, and after that are reserved for Science, Music, Art, and Field Trips, or Fun Times With Friends. Since they consistently finish certain subjects early, I would say we are spending roughly 3 hours of school time each day and the rest is taken up with showers, meal time, meal clean-up, chores, free time, Tae Kwon Do, and Ballet.
darlene says
We have had to go to college type schedules to be able to stick with them lol 3 hour classes seem to be working awesomely
Jessica Evans says
AHHH! I needed this reminder, you literally popped up in my email as I was preparing to… *gulp* plan!!! I attended ttd convention to listen to Amy of Raising Arrows speak about scheduling. I can’t, I just can’t. The rebel in me won’t even follow a meal plan I planned- the day before! She said the same things (or not exactly but that’s what my brain heard!) some people just CAN’T. It is so so so defeating to fail with schedules, but my kids need something! Her advice was to get up every morning and make a plan: what you need to do. And do not put a time next to it, or you’ll be defeated and feel miserable! I was so relieved someone understood my brain, I even walked right past the fun planners in vendor shops without stopping to look! Until today. Today, I’ve panicked. Mildly at first and then, well; it’s after midnight and I’m looking up planners. I just wanted to tell you how God used you to slap me tonight! 😉 and if you read this Amy, I’m pulling my convention notes out to reread, I swear!!!
-Jessica
Amy Blevins says
How wonderful to find the encouragement you needed right when you needed it. God is amazing that way 🙂
Sarah says
Maybe the time chunks are what I need to play with more… I so wish I could get that kind of help with scheduling!! Good job! I hope we can get a workable schedule too. 🙂
Amy Blevins says
Good luck! Let me know what you come up with 🙂
Sharon says
LOL. Your situation sounds familiar! I have not found a system yet that works because I like to be flexible too. I am working on my schedule for next school year as well. I am looking at giving specific times for subjects, but I think I will do a minimum time in case they want to explore something a little more in depth. Terrific post!
Amber says
Our dynamics changed this year, with less students, a baby, new home, etc. Then we pulled my 4th and 6th graders out of an online public school, to traditionally homeschool but kept my Kinder in the school as it’s great for lower elem. Finding a routine that works for the whole family is definitely a tricky thing…but for me, it’s necessary. Most of us are early to rise, early to bed….thankfully. 😀 So, what we do now seems to be working. I have a problem with trying to plan too much also. 🙂 Trying to simplify and go for quality vs. quantity. Wake up, dress, breakfast, piano practice from 7-8A, together as a group for bible, hymn sing, etc next then move into science or history as a group. I really don’t have a set time for these two activities because sometimes one goes longer then the other, etc. Typically they begin independent work pretty close to 9:15A. Older kiddos doing independent work allows me to work 1:1 with Kinder and get his tasks done. Around 10:30A they seem to be wrapping up with their independent work and we read a chapter book together and do quick and simple activity afterwards, working on a skill/concept. 11-11:15 then brings us to lunch prep and chores. Eat around 12:15 (Dad comes home), school starting back up around 1:00-1:15…where we do art, finish up any morning work that really didn’t get done, work on science/history, and anything else that might need to be slipped in. Typically they are done by 2:30-3:00. I really try hard to not go past 3:00-mainly for me…but if they were having an attitude problem, they may. 😛 It seems to be working well! I’m a structured person, so I struggle more with “letting go” and being flexible. Just trying to find that “middle ground”. 😀
BigFamBam says
We also have 6, until August (YAY!) Ages 13, 8, 5, 4, 2, 1 – here is what our day looks like. Momma wakes with Daddy around 5 am visits with him while he gets ready for the day and nurse the baby. Then when Daddy leaves i read my Bible, talk to Jesus about my day and get ready. 6:30 am time to make breakfast. My kids are early risers and starving by breakfast time. After breakfast and hopefully by 8 am it’s time to start homework Christanie and Samuel are using Lifepacs by AOP – we like it very much this is our 6th year using it. We try to complete 3 pages in each of the 5 daily subjects (bible, language arts, math, history & geography, and science. ) I like to try to do phonics cards with all of the little ones and if they want to I let them do “school” in their Sam’s Club work book. Time for lunch ! Which is usually Ramen or spaghetti (don’t judge) After school we like to study JBQ it’s been very beneficial to us in growing closer to Jesus as a family. Then… chores. I have a chart for each room. We have a very similar laundry system except for only only 4 baskets (I’m not a color sorter) 1 for mom & dad, 1 for boys, 1 for girls, 1 for linens. I fold everything as I pull it from the dryer or off the line then the kids put it all away. Then it’s time to make dinner and the kids play or watch a movie with Dad. Hope this encourages some one. P.s. we usually try to complete 2 full school days a week 😉
Amy Sizemore says
Great advice! Our family uses the Love My Schedule system. It’s a magnetic wet erase schedule that I keep on the fridge. That way I don’t have to print out a new schedule when I want to change it. I also have the chore charts so I can check off their chores as they get done. Their website is LoveMySchedule. com if anyone wants to check it out.