Part 3 of 4: Weekly Homeschool Schedule || Generic Plan

Here is where I focus on all the curricula we might use in a week. But I don't plan beyond this with detailed work pages or chapters. I don't find a need to do that right now.
Here is the Canva link to the planning templates if you wish to use them and make them your own:
www.canva.com/...
#5thgrade #secularhomeschool #secularhomeschool #homeschooling #middleschool #pattersonhomeschoolacademy

[@adashofgratitude7268]

Happy Homeschooling to you too!!
I love to see how other homeschools run. Thank you for sharing your process. ❤

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

Thank you!! 😊

[@rachelembree6175]

We too have a ‘minimum viable day’. I feel like when you’re involved in agriculture, it’s a must because much of our schedule needs to be flexible in each season. Good luck in the new school year 😊

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

Thanks, and you, too!

[@victoriasbooktalks8882]

I think it's great that you know what you want to focus on for your core subjects. I am similar with that too. My son tends to be very creative and once he has a project in mind, I'll let him focus his time on it (drawing, building something new with Legos, etc.). I don't rush onto the next subject because he won't retain it and also we can do it the next day. I think that we also have some wiggle room, since he's just going into 2nd grade.

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

I think that is great. You have all the time in the world. He will love school the way you are doing it!

[@faithfullyinfertile]

I love this!!!
If this schedule works for you and Morgan that’s all that matters. And just from what I know about you from your videos this year, I have a feeling you are not afraid to adjust at all if you or Morgan see a need. ❤
I think you are able to do more because you are schooling one student and that one student is very self motivated and loves learning. You prioritize homeschooling and take it seriously so you are just able to do more than a mom (like myself!) who has multiple special needs kids. That being said, I know I’m doing what’s right for my kids too and don’t feel “less than” at all if my schedule isn’t as full as someone else’s. I absolutely love seeing what you and Morgan are doing ❤❤❤
We just all have to do what’s right for our students. You learned this way sooner than I did 😅😂
Ps I keep hearing about canva. Is it hard to use??? Do I download an app to get started? I would love to use your template.

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

Yes! I just have the one kid -- she is a total guinea pig lol! I really admire you moms who teach so many. Each kid is always so different, too. You would think siblings should all be the same but they are veritable rainbows. Maybe you think I am able to do more but I bet each of your kids learn so much from each other that you don't need to teach each one the way I need to teach just one.
Canva is really cool. I only use the free parts and that has been enough for me. It's how I build anything -- even my TH-cam thumbnails. Just get online and create an account and mess around with it. There are many fun tutorials on TH-cam also. It autosaves everything for you. You can download what you have made and then print it. I think there are other similar sites but I started with canvas so I stuck with it. For my templates, you can start using canvas with those. If your mess something up, just click control and 'z' and it removes your mistake. You can break it or makes a mess of it so just play around. It's super fun. Morgan uses it for digital art, too.

[@johannagrossman2758]

How long do your mornings take? Total hours per day? Your schedule is similar to mine so that’s why I am asking lol.

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

We usually start school after our walk at 8am. Morgan will have already read her book earlier. We break for lunch at 11 and the pick up afternoon stuff at 12 and finish between 2 and 3:30 depending on how into the unit study we are. And then History and literature read-aloud at night are about an hour. We read and talk. What is yours like?

[@johannagrossman2758]

@@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy We usually end around 2 as well. I have had other homeschoolers say we have long days but they don’t feel long and I don’t know how else to get it in. I am glad to hear someone else go later into the day!

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

@@johannagrossman2758 Yeah, I've had friendly comments that we do a lot but we are having fun throughout. I mean, if we got to lunch and it was like pulling teeth to get there, I'd rethink the routine. But it just works for us. I haven't met a ton of moms like you, either. I mix it up a LOT. Morgan's morning routine is so nice for her because it always at her level and her pace. So she doesn't feel like she is doing work. She progresses slower through those subjects because I don't care to bump her up faster into more challenging work but I don't think everything needs to be challenging. This lets her follow her own nose and have her own opinions. And our unit studies are just fun in the afternoon. It doesn't feel like work to her. She just feels like we are having out and investigating stuff. I do wonder if it is the more structured moms who have shorter routines. For me, Morgan's voice would get lost if I was always guiding or directing. I guess our extra hours are more exploratory? We don't have pressure to finish, either. We just chip away at stuff.

[@karlyw.b.4125]

Can I ask how long you spend on math? We’re struggling to find a balance but have a similar schedule to you.

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

This year, maybe 40-ish minutes. Last year, we pushed hard and were doing upwards of an hour/hour and 15. To avoid burnout, we seem to have found this pace of 40 mins a day pretty good for now. I think there may be an ebb and flow to math as we move ahead. Some months we may crush it and others we may kick back and just maintain. How long is yours? What are you working on?

[@karlyw.b.4125]

@@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy We have tried 30 & 40 minutes. We also switched curricula which has skewed the results of the time frame preference so we're re-adjusting this year and I think I question if I'm "doing enough", like most homeschool parents. Thank you for your response!

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

@@karlyw.b.4125 Yeah, I always wonder that. Mostly it has to do with other second tier subjects getting in the way and me wondering how I can get rid of them altogether and just focus on our core subjects. I may do a video on that. There are a lot of 'how much is enough' videos but none that go into a deep discussion about exactly how and WHAT. For me, 5 seconds a day on grammar is enough but 30 mins of math isn't. That is why I decided to make the math timeline video because I need to get some things into perspective. If we get to Pre-calc in the 12th grade, that is enough, but I know that if I plan for more, we may very well do it and it not seem pushed. Just a slow methodical plan beyond thinking about HS grad credits. Every day, little by little, year after year.