I am normally very schedule oriented, but with school I have to remind myself that it's okay not to have everything all planned out and followed to a T. It's been a new revelation for me this year, and it has helped school be much less stressful. 😅
I've been a relaxed homeschool mama, but now I HAVE to come up with a schedule of some sort. This last yr was a chaotic mess with my 4th grader and new to school kindergartener (who is difficult on most days). My oldest is now in 5th grade and my middle child is 1st grade and I have a tot which I'm gonna try a little bit of "schooling" with him. I've discovered together lessons and I'm hoping it will help our day in a little way. I like your way of blocking subject. Thank you this is helpful.
We don't have much of a schedule at all... which is weird, because I personally love scheduleds! But I let my kids work at the pace and order that they want. So... it can be a mad house. 😅 But mostly it doesn't drive me crazy, so I guess it's good enough! We start after I clean the table after breakfast (kids eat first, then scatter while I eat), then we just go until lunch. 99% of the time we are done with the big things. But we practice piano, do chores, and some light reading in the afternoon.
I have also had to spit up my 6th and 7th graders. They easily distract each other. My 7th grade son wakes up and wants to get all of his independent work done. My 6th grader moves a lot slower in the morning so she sits near me so I can help her stay focused. Once they both are ready for the day we start HBL F. Usually my son will have at least his math done by then.
I also include a section in my planner to remind me to check my children's work. Otherwise, I will often forget that even though the subject is done, I am not completely finished until I have given some feedback on their work.
⏰ I’m a schedule gal through and through! I don’t want to have to think about it in the moment! I love block scheduling too-I find it a lot more relaxing the structure without the stress!
Thank you! I’m doing Sonlight HBL D & Science E, Logic of English, and an intensive math program with our 2nd & 4th grade boys, while also doing some preK with our 3 y/o. School usually takes us 5-6 hours, so I was encouraged to hear that it’s about the same for you. ❤ I often hear that homeschooling elementary students should only take 1.5-3 hours/day, but that’s not what works for us.
I have a 3rd and 1st grader, preschooler and twin 2 year olds this year. I'll get my 3rd grader going and work one on one with my first grader. I'll ping pong between them two. My preschooler plays pretty well during lessons but it's my twins 🥴 I have a sitter coming 3 days a week to play with them so I can focus on lessons. I have so much more peace knowing they are having fun and not getting into things. Once my twins are down for nap, I'll work with my 4 year old for a little bit. My "big kids" are usually done by lunch.
My daughter is only in grade one but we've decided this year to do 4 days of school and for her to not do all subjects in one day. Math drills, main math lesson, and phonics/LA is daily. She also reads in the morning before we officially start "school". She is currently reading Little House on the Prairies. I split the chapters into sections so usually 2-3 days to finish a chapter cuz they are long. The rest of the subjects alternates. Before bed is when I allow her to read books she prefers or ones that are more fun. She's been doing a lot of Thea Stilton and The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls lately.
Angie, could you share any chore systems that are working for your kids this year? With his Saxon...he does corrections but do you do any teaching to help him along? My son will end up needing to do just a few problems with me after we check the answers. What sort of input do you have with his Saxon. Thanks!
I'm the worst at chore systems - I aim for hygiene plus dishes! I have him do corrects near me and if he has any questions I help but most of the time he works out where he went wrong!
I have so many questions for you. I just don't know how you can get so much done in a day. I have 4 kids too (7th, 5th, 1st and 2 year old). I'm really struggling to feel like I'm doing enough. How do you make sure your kids actually reading their readers? Do you read all the reader's before they do? Or do you just go off of the Sonlight questions. What type of devices do you have your kids use for school work? My kids are using Chromebooks, but that's not working for me.
I do try to read the readers ahead of time, but sometimes I just use the questions! They use an old laptop as well as my laptop ... its nice bc they only use them for school, there aren't any apps or games.
Do you have a specific time limit for each block? So let's say your son is doing Science, is it based on what needs to be covered for that day or he works on it for like a specific time limit?
It's based on the assigned pages and problems for the day ... but it takes him about the same amount of time per day. That was why I waited a month our so to solidify our blocks bc I need to see about how long things take!
Hi ! I have a question. My son is in 9th grade but does he have to do both language arts and literature for high school or is only 1 required for sonlight because I see that they’re both separate?
Hi, you know I am honestly not sure! I always thought you could kind of mix and match History/Bible with Lit/Language! I would recommend calling the advisor line - they are AMAZING!!
I am normally very schedule oriented, but with school I have to remind myself that it's okay not to have everything all planned out and followed to a T. It's been a new revelation for me this year, and it has helped school be much less stressful. 😅
Love that - it sounds so freeing!!
I've been a relaxed homeschool mama, but now I HAVE to come up with a schedule of some sort. This last yr was a chaotic mess with my 4th grader and new to school kindergartener (who is difficult on most days). My oldest is now in 5th grade and my middle child is 1st grade and I have a tot which I'm gonna try a little bit of "schooling" with him. I've discovered together lessons and I'm hoping it will help our day in a little way. I like your way of blocking subject. Thank you this is helpful.
I'd love to hear more about your personal morning routines and daily mom rhythm.
We don't have much of a schedule at all... which is weird, because I personally love scheduleds!
But I let my kids work at the pace and order that they want. So... it can be a mad house. 😅 But mostly it doesn't drive me crazy, so I guess it's good enough!
We start after I clean the table after breakfast (kids eat first, then scatter while I eat), then we just go until lunch. 99% of the time we are done with the big things. But we practice piano, do chores, and some light reading in the afternoon.
I have also had to spit up my 6th and 7th graders. They easily distract each other. My 7th grade son wakes up and wants to get all of his independent work done. My 6th grader moves a lot slower in the morning so she sits near me so I can help her stay focused. Once they both are ready for the day we start HBL F. Usually my son will have at least his math done by then.
I also include a section in my planner to remind me to check my children's work. Otherwise, I will often forget that even though the subject is done, I am not completely finished until I have given some feedback on their work.
Glad I'm not the only one that forgets to check work :)
⏰ I’m a schedule gal through and through! I don’t want to have to think about it in the moment! I love block scheduling too-I find it a lot more relaxing the structure without the stress!
Thank you! I’m doing Sonlight HBL D & Science E, Logic of English, and an intensive math program with our 2nd & 4th grade boys, while also doing some preK with our 3 y/o. School usually takes us 5-6 hours, so I was encouraged to hear that it’s about the same for you. ❤ I often hear that homeschooling elementary students should only take 1.5-3 hours/day, but that’s not what works for us.
Haha, yeah we are not a 1.5-3 hours per day homeschool family!
I have a 3rd and 1st grader, preschooler and twin 2 year olds this year. I'll get my 3rd grader going and work one on one with my first grader. I'll ping pong between them two. My preschooler plays pretty well during lessons but it's my twins 🥴 I have a sitter coming 3 days a week to play with them so I can focus on lessons. I have so much more peace knowing they are having fun and not getting into things. Once my twins are down for nap, I'll work with my 4 year old for a little bit. My "big kids" are usually done by lunch.
Nice work juggling everything!
My daughter is only in grade one but we've decided this year to do 4 days of school and for her to not do all subjects in one day. Math drills, main math lesson, and phonics/LA is daily. She also reads in the morning before we officially start "school". She is currently reading Little House on the Prairies. I split the chapters into sections so usually 2-3 days to finish a chapter cuz they are long. The rest of the subjects alternates. Before bed is when I allow her to read books she prefers or ones that are more fun. She's been doing a lot of Thea Stilton and The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls lately.
I love that!
I so appreciate your updates. I'm so glad that you share how time-consuming teaching phonics is.
⏰️ must have a schedule! 😂 or at least a strong routine. We follow a plan, even though it's flexible as needed.
Angie, could you share any chore systems that are working for your kids this year?
With his Saxon...he does corrections but do you do any teaching to help him along? My son will end up needing to do just a few problems with me after we check the answers. What sort of input do you have with his Saxon. Thanks!
I'm the worst at chore systems - I aim for hygiene plus dishes! I have him do corrects near me and if he has any questions I help but most of the time he works out where he went wrong!
I have so many questions for you. I just don't know how you can get so much done in a day. I have 4 kids too (7th, 5th, 1st and 2 year old). I'm really struggling to feel like I'm doing enough. How do you make sure your kids actually reading their readers? Do you read all the reader's before they do? Or do you just go off of the Sonlight questions. What type of devices do you have your kids use for school work? My kids are using Chromebooks, but that's not working for me.
I do try to read the readers ahead of time, but sometimes I just use the questions! They use an old laptop as well as my laptop ... its nice bc they only use them for school, there aren't any apps or games.
Maybe call it Bible Bookend. As they end of your day 😊
Love it!
Do you have a specific time limit for each block? So let's say your son is doing Science, is it based on what needs to be covered for that day or he works on it for like a specific time limit?
It's based on the assigned pages and problems for the day ... but it takes him about the same amount of time per day. That was why I waited a month our so to solidify our blocks bc I need to see about how long things take!
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Hi ! I have a question. My son is in 9th grade but does he have to do both language arts and literature for high school or is only 1 required for sonlight because I see that they’re both separate?
Hi, you know I am honestly not sure! I always thought you could kind of mix and match History/Bible with Lit/Language! I would recommend calling the advisor line - they are AMAZING!!
Thank you!! 😊
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That was helpful! I appreciate these videos! I have my routine all planned out as well but it rarely goes perfectly. 🕰️