Today's Gem:

My oldest asked me again today, "Mom, when are we going to start homeschool again?" 

Awesome! I love when they do this! It means it is time! 

Children crave structure and routine. They need to know what to expect each day. Giving them clear expectations and goals to achieve and work towards betters their attitudes, increases their confidence, and makes them more independent people. 

How to set up a homeschool daily routine:

-Be Realistic

Dictating what will be done every hour and minute of the day will only frustrate you when it doesn't happen. Life happens! Sometimes we sleep in. Sometimes we get a phone call that just can't wait. When setting up your schedule, make sure you give yourself room to breathe, juggle, and change if needed. 

-Don't forget the chores

Many people think it is impossible to do both. Sometimes it is! Chores, like laundry, often times get put on hold when first starting out on the homeschool adventure. Don't worry! There is always more laundry that needs to be done. I would often laugh at my Mom when she would come to visit. She would want to help with laundry. I'm pretty good at keeping up with it so it was never a huge need for me, it may be for you. I would laugh because once my mom finished the laundry, she was so happy! But in my mind I would think, there's more getting dirty as we speak! That's pretty rude of me huh?! I'd much rather someone cook me dinner! Lol! 

Kids need chores too!

If your kids aren't doing chores, you are not teaching them the most important thing in life, work. You MUST teach them how to work. Plus, there's no way you can do all this yourself! 

Here is my Schedule to help you get an idea of how I work:

Wake up

Eat breakfast

Get dressed

Start a load of laundry

Direct kid's morning chores (kitchen duty)

Morning devotional ( we all join together for a mini FHE)

History/guided reading (this is one of the only subjects we do together as a whole family. So, I do it first before the little ones get too rambunctious.)

Grammar 

Piano

Handwriting

( I have one child doing Grammar with me while another is working independently on HW while the other is practicing piano. Got that?) 

LUNCH

Afternoon chores- switch over laundry, clean kitchen

Individual reading time while I Put babies down for nap

Math

Computer time- this is educational computer time that includes typing, research, and reports

(I call one child to me to do math lessons while the little ones are playing quietly and the big kids are having computer time and rotate them through math like that) 

Free play

Clean up

DINNER

Evening chores- this consists of kitchen duties, tidying up the school room, putting away folded laundry, etc.

Bedtime routine

Lights out!

Mommy time-blog, FB, pay bills, eat cookies, and watch a movie ;)

Notice there are not hours associated with this schedule. Yeah...I made that mistake my first year. It was awful! I never could start school at 8am and have everything done before lunch at 11:30am. Most themes, I would be exhausted by lunch and not start school again until after 3! No more set times for me. I know what order things need to be done in and that is more attainable for me. 

What about shopping and Dr apts?

My kids used to  take piano on Tuesdays at 10am. After their lessons, I would do my shopping. I would TRY to schedule Dr apts on this day as well. It didn't always work but trying to plan is better than not planning at all. I love that saying, "failing to plan is planning to fail!" It is sooo true! You need a plan. Even if it doesn't always work. Have one! 

~Bekah