Let it go! Let it gooooo!
One of my favorite things about homeschooling is the freedom to find your own rhythm and customizing your schedule to fit the needs of your own particular children, and your own needs as well!
Each year at Four Maples has looked a little different. G-bug is in 3rd grade now, and Emmett is in 1st-ish grade (he's somewhere between 1st and 3rd grade, another benefit to homeschool!). Our work loads have increased, and the content overall has become more complex and challenging. We have even added our sweet friend H for preschool twice a week! How do we fit it all in, and meet everyone's educational needs?
Ninja teacher skills.
Just kidding.
Actually, here are three guidelines that have helped Four Maples stay on track (and helped me stay sane!).
#1: A Set Schedule
It usually takes a few weeks, but after some trial and error we usually settle into a routine that overall works great for both myself and the kids. I have been asked by a couple of friends how we conduct our school days, so here is a breakdown of our current daily schedule:
9:00 - 9:25am - Morning prayer/Bible study (this year: the Book of Matthew)
9:25 - 9:30am - Break
9:30 - 9:55am - Handwriting/English (with separate study stations/one-on-one instruction)
9:55 - 10:00am - Break
10:00 - 10:30am - Geography
10:30 - 11:00am - Snack Break/Free Play (usually outside)
11:00 - 12:00pm - Spelling (one-on-one tutoring style)
12:00 - 12:30pm - Lunch Break/Free Play
12:00 - 1:00pm - Math
1:00 - 1:05pm - Break
1:05 - 1:30pm - Science
1:30 - 1:35pm - Break
1:30 - 2:00pm - Art/Music (not every day - they go to a weekly art class)
Some days look a little different, but this rhythm of learning works best for us. Lots of little breaks with two longer breaks throughout the day has been a HUGE contributor in our kids' willingness and cheerfulness to work hard and enjoy the learning process, and still have time to just play and be kids.
#2: Frequent Breaks
For anyone who has spent time with children, you realize that sitting still isn't one of their fortes. There are developmental reasons for this, as well as individual temperament, personality, physical makeup, and sometimes special needs/considerations. This isn't a bad thing! In fact, children (especially ages 7 and under) need lots of time to move, explore, and play to encourage their natural development and learning, as highlighted in this article.
In short: kids need to be able to move and play. Often.
Breaking up more intensive learning with scheduled times to get up, move, dance, swing, run, or sometimes lay down in bed with a weighted blanket can help reward hard work and motivate through more challenging lessons. We sandwich our hardest subjects between the longer breaks during the day because it will take the most effort to complete and will need time to recover before moving on to the next subject.
Sometimes a kid just needs to ride a bike
Frequent breaks also:
- gives children time to process the information they have learned before jumping into the next subject
- give time to chat together and practice social skills
- allow time for free play and exercise their imaginations (sometimes the history or science lesson beforehand finds its way into the imaginative play, bonus!)
- make it easier to incorporate younger children into lessons (older kids benefit from frequent breaks, but younger kids require them)
- provide opportunities to do therapy games when needed in between subjects to help with focus, attention, sensory needs, etc. For example, G-bug almost always swings during mid-morning snack break, or on cold/rainy days dances/spins downstairs to music. Forward/backward swinging and spinning is calming/regulating for her, which helps to prepare her for the hardest subject of her day (spelling/dictation).
- give the teacher (ahem, ME) time to shift gears, gather supplies, and prepare the next lesson. A five minute play break can also mean a coffee warm up for teacher or to go outside and get some fresh air.
#3 Be Flexible!
Schedules are amazingly helpful in bringing structure and boundaries for kids (which they secretly crave), but they are not ironclad. Schedules are a tool, not the Law.
If a kid is having a really hard day (hello, rainy days - you've come to destroy all of my plans again haven't you?), longer breaks might be necessary. Maybe you need to put off that new meltdown-inducing assignment for a day and instead do some calming therapies or snuggle together and read a chapter book or watch a related video to the subject you're studying. That isn't a failure - that's a win for knowing your kids and recognizing what they need that day.
Audio books from the library are the BEST
And the same principle goes on those rare occasions when a student gets into "the zone" and wants to work ahead on their math/spelling or if he/she wants extra time to dig deeper into their history or science lesson - don't squelch that! Let them! They might be cultivating a passion that will develop into a future calling/career/lifelong interest.
Dynamic Duo created a Lego space shuttle and launch pad while discussing NASA and satellites
Do breaks help your learner? Have you found certain scheduling tricks that have helped you?
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