This year we have a 6th, 5th, 3rd, 2nd grader and a very eager Kindergarten. I'm looking forward to getting back into the routine and the ways in which homeschooling serves to bring our family closer. Teaching forces me to turn off the world and sit and be with my children. I so enjoy the exchange of ideas that learning requires.
Don't get me wrong here. Not every day is met with sharpened pencils and smiling students. There are many struggles and obstacles, but we work hard to overcome them together. Never is God's answers to prayer more evident than when it comes to homeschooling.
Tonight I "introduced" each of the kids to their new books. They were so excited and obviously forgot some of the moaning of last Spring. I love that.
We also had a meeting and set the routine and rules for the year. All the kids had input in thinking about what makes school work well. These are promises that we make to one another and a commitment to help our day run as smoothly as possible. Little do they know that these really are boundaries for me. I would much rather fly by the seat of the pants and live life spontaneously. That, however, would be to their educational detriment and the house might implode on itself. I'm not kidding.
So here's a look into our routine and rules for 2008-2009. May the Lord be with us.
Rules:
1. No TV or computer until after 4pm. So do not even ask if you can do either of these before that time.
2. Do not cry until you have talked with mom first. After that you can cry if you need.
3. Do not interrupt when someone is getting help.
4. No answering/calling on the phone during school hours (unless it's Dad or an emergency).
5. All books must be put away at the end of the day. No excuses.
6. We will drink at least 2 glasses of water throughout the course of the school day.
Routine:
7:45-8:15 Everyone awake, dressed, bed made, breakfast complete
8:15-9:00 2 chores, brush teeth, get organized for school
9:00-11:30 School (morning snack)
11:30-12:15 1 chore, lunch, free time
12:15-3:30 children done with school work will rest and read/free time
Continue school work
3:30 2 chores/ Mom fix dinner
4:00 Free time
5:30 Dinner and one clean up chore
6:00-8:00 Family worship/evening activities
Lights out by 9:00
11 comments:
I love your rule about "do not cry until you've talked with mom, after that you may cry if you need." What an excellent rule.
The start of a new school year is so exciting!
Love your schedule! :) And of course I, too, love the do not cry until rule! :) (Was that made with anyone especially in mind?)
Happy New School Year to you! Isn't this weather perfect for starting!!!
Thank you for sharing your schedule.
I like the "no interruptions" rules regarding television and telephone.
Having it codified makes it much easier on mom.
Oooh...the fair looks fun! We're headed there tonight!
I love that you have a family meeting to kick off the school year - what a great idea!
Yep. I love rule #2 also! We are slowly finding our grove. While I wanted school in the AM, I am finding it tough with D awake. At 18 months, he is into everything.
We are working on a chore routine. What kinds of chores do your kids do in the AM and lunch, etc. (specifically the younger as my oldest is kindergarten) Thanks girl! I loved reading this. It was inspirational!
Dear Monica,
I started my school year last week, and I also had to implement rules this time around.
I have a no whining or sighing until you have spoken to mami.
Thank you for sharing,
mari
Wow, these rules are awesome. Can I borrow them? I will pray for you, my friend. What curriculum are you using? Tiffini and I are using The Heart of Dakota. Have you heard of it? Wil's first day of highschool is tomorrow...we're starting tomorrow too. We can pray for each other!
Love ya! Sniz
Wow, I love the rules! Those are cool! LOL
Great rules! I feel that they really need to be able to see and be reminded of these during the day so that they can learn them. I especially love the tv/computer one since my 6yo ds constantly asked to use either during his 'breaks' from lessons until we made this rule clear.
I do love the structure that come with school - our 1st summer break taught me that I missed this more than I thought I would!
Blessings to you as you begin a new year!
Andrea
Monica,
This is a really old post, but I am going through your homeschooling posts...feeling a little overwhlemed with life and trying to sort it out in my head. (which I have been given monday to do...love the hubby)
My question is, what does family/worship time look like in the PM? I did not grow up wiht a family worship and we are trying to implement something here. We usually read the Childs Story bible every night at dinner and pray. On Thrusday nights we have been trying a more focused worship on a Psalm and coloring assignment from notgrass.com BUT I'dlove to keep experimenting, exploring and giving this area over to the Lord so He can use this in our family. I just feel lost, never having had it modelled. (maybe you'd just like to write a post on it? :) )
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