Within the Lines

Scheduling

I've had several requests to get back to my scheduling info, just not the time to do it.  (I've been working out some "bugs" in my schedule, "bugs" that left me with little discretionary time for things like blogging.)   I gotta say, despite the occasional changes, I'm really enjoying settling on a school day that fits well on us.  --Just a note about that:  I know everyone is much quicker to grasp the "every family is different" thing, but I always have to try a seemingly great idea out before I get that it's not for us, sometimes more than once.  Starting the school day with math is one of those - for me.  Nearly every year, I think, I've tried to start with math; or, at least to start with the 3Rs-stuff, get it done, and then get on to the fun-together stuff like social studies and science.  NEVER works!!  I cause us a bunch of stress for a week or 2, only to remember this doesn't work for us.  Bug9 cannot accomplish math quickly for the life of her; so we all end up sitting around (with Son5 getting stir-crazy, and me saying, "Are you done yet? Hurry up!" every few minutes -- which is very inspiring  to my math-hating Bug9) waiting and waiting and waiting, and then ending up with no time for the fun-together stuff.  All that to say:  Do what works for your family!

My schedule is now laid out in on-the-hour blocks, generally with 2-3 items listed for that hour.

5:00   - wake up, quiet time*, exercise

6:00   - shower/dress, start laundry (continues to be cared for throughout

            school time tho not noted -- I plan on 2 loads/day)

            kids up at 6:45

7:00   - animal chores, housekeeping area chores,

            breakfast & clean up

8:00   - (school begins with...)  Bible:  family devotion, worship, prayer;

            then recitation (of Pledge, Lord's Prayer, memorywork)

9:00   - Spanish; then social studies or science

10:00  - language arts (grammar, spelling, writing)

11:00  - phys. ed.; then math (& preschool activities w/Bee2)

12:00  - music, lunch, clean up, outdoors

1:00   - nature walk, read aloud; then Mom has quiet time* while kids

            read aloud to each other

2:00   - Mom practices guitar, then completes something on to-do list; 

            Bug9 has quiet time*, then reads; Son5 reads, then rests;

3:00   - varies by the day -- Mom blogs, crafts or bakes (with Bug9),

            followed by bookkeeping or correspondence;

            Bug9 crafts, bakes or rests;

            Son5 rests, then has quiet time*

4:00   - Mom begins dinner prep while kids alternate days to read aloud

            and then join in the dinner prep (other kids have free play)

            (Bug9 helps Mon & Wed; Son5 helps Tue & Thurs)

5:00   - prep continues until dinner at 5:30

6:00   - kitchen clean up (kid that didn't help prep, helps clean up);

            then animal chores

7:00   - family time -- reading or games -- then kids get ready for bed

8:00   - kids have quiet reading in beds (w/lights out at 8:30)

            Mom & Dad have time to read &/or talk; then prep for bed

9:00   - Mom & Dad pray together; lights out preferably by 9:30

*quiet time refers to prayer, worship, Bible reading usually in our "prayer room" which we built into our garage.

Rarely do our days flow serenely thru this schedule from beginning to end, but it does help;  it gives me a "track to run in", helps me to see what works and what doesn't, and gives me room to balance work & play.

Also, my housekeeping does mostly happen in 20-30 minutes in the morning, other than cleaning the kitchen as I work in it and picking up/straightening as I walk thru a room.  I've had a policy since the kids were babies that there's a place for everything:  outdoors for yelling - running - throwing, school room for crafts and school, living room for quiet sitting and reading, and bedrooms for play or rest.  Therefore, things generally do not spread very far.  (Bee2 currently makes that more difficult, but she's learning.)  In addition, a few years ago, I came across (and immediately implemented) the tip of dividing your house into different areas for each day of the week.  For us, that means Monday-bedrooms, Tuesday-downstairs, Wednesday-upstairs, Thursday-bathrooms, Friday-misc odds & ends.  Saturdays I made the same rotation for each Saturday of the month (ie. 1st Saturday-bedrooms, 2nd-downstairs, etc) to do some of the deeper cleaning jobs that don't get done weekly.  Each of the kids and I have jobs to do in the day's area; then housekeeping is done for the day.  Life is not rigid and therefore we don't accomplish 100% of planned tasks 100% of the time, but it's regular enough that it doesn't hurt to miss occasionally.

Anyway -- a really long post that hopefully has offered someone a bit of helpful information.

Wow!

{ 06:27, Wednesday, November 21, 2007 } { Posted by solodeogloria }

Thanks for sharing your scheduling. I love reading about other folks' days and how they manage their time.

If you have a spare minute or two, I thought it would be fun to tag you for the latest meme that has come around. Check out the details at my "Retreat." Hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Laurie