We have come up with a daily schedule that works. While it needs a few tweaks and adjustments, and does not cover all of the bases, it's much better than the chaos of having no schedule at all, which is what I've felt like we've been doing since we've moved into the house.
I have always had schedules and/or lists for the kids, and there has always been an understanding that certain things get done before other things. Where I think I've failed in the past is in making a schedule based on time as opposed to activities. One of the reasons we homeschool is to set our own schedule! So if we find that we're enjoying a book, why stop because the schedule says it's time to go on to the next activity? If we're focusing on handwriting, why let the clock dictate when we're through? Instead, we do a task until it's done and then move on to the next. Some will not get done, some things may be added in order to be flexible, but at least we have daily goals.
And here they are:
- Get Dressed
- Brush hair, teeth and put lotion on (my kids have ichthyosis, which is a chronic dry skin condition and requires several daily applications of high-quality moisturizer)
- Straighten room
- Make bed
- Animal chores and training
- Breakfast
- Poetry reading/Bible Reading during breakfast (right now, we're reading The Song of Hiawatha again)
- Dishes and cleanup
- Daily work:
Monday--Mirrors, Microwave
Tuesday--Toilets, Tubs and Toys (sort)
Wednesday--Windows, wash clothes, water plants
Thursday--Things that didn't get done
Friday--Floors, Fridge
Saturday--Sinks,stoves
- Chapter book reading (right now, we're reading Little House in the Big Woods)
- Handwriting Practice
- Maths (right now, it's flashcards to help memorize facts)
- Independent Reading and Book or Chapter Report/Mom does reading lesson with Sweetheart
- Assignments/projects until lunch
- Lunch and cleanup
- Journaling (together)
- Quiet time
- Plans, projects or free time until dinner
- Dinner and cleanup
- Oral presentations or projects
- Free time until chapter book reading
- Ten-minute Tidy (everyone cleans while the clock is set for ten minutes)
- Pajamas,brush teeth
- Chapter book reading (Little House in the Big Woods)
- Songs--Bohemian plays guitar and we all sing
- Individual time and prayers from Mom or Dad
- Bedtime--may read until Lights Out (about a half hour)
- Lights Out
