In part one of “How to Set Your Homeschool Goals,” we talked about the purpose of goals as well as how state laws, homeschool methods and educational style all contribute to determining your goals. Resources for setting goals were also given. In part two, we will address scheduling and managing your homeschool so you can better meet your goals.
A schedule can be loose too. It does not necessarily mean that from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., your child does math drills, followed by 15 minutes of spelling practice and then 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. is science. That may work for some families, but personal experience has shown that it can be better to have a general idea of when things will be done, such as math, spelling and science before lunch, and other subjects after lunch. This way if the math takes longer for the student or further explanation is needed, you are not locked into a strict schedule that makes you feel “behind” for the rest of the day. After all, one reason to homeschool is its flexibility and the option to take your time when your child needs more assistance. It also allows you to quickly pass through things your child already understands, instead of making your child finish a worksheet for the sake of finishing.
A relaxed homeschooler and an unschooler may not want to have a “schedule” per se, but a rhythm of learning. On Mondays you could explore science, Tuesdays could be history, and so on. The schedule is a tool to be used to help you meet your homeschool goals.
Another important thing to remember to schedule is one-on-one time with the kids, especially in larger families. Dad time with each child individually is a treat for the children, and allows mom to spend time with a different child—not doing schoolwork, but instead enjoying a hobby or activity together. Plan “dates” with your child and he or she will look forward to spending the time with you.
Remember if the schedule doesn't work... try something else. That is the beauty of homeschooling. Find what works for your family and have fun.
Home Educators Resource Directory (HERD) is owned, managed, and maintained by parents passionate about giving their children the best education. The Directory’s mission is to provide resources, support, and information helpful to the diverse community of educators around the globe. Along with offering a rich store of varied resources, the Directory maintains a catalog of local and global support groups and calendars highlighting local events.
The HERD monthly newsletter keeps educators apprised of current homeschool events and supplies informational articles for both the new and experienced. We invite you to stay informed with your own newsletter subscription, explore our many resources by visiting the Directory http://www.homeeddirectory.com/ and check out all the information to be found on our blog.
Permission to reproduce this article granted only with the entire article, bio and all links included.
Align your homeschool schedule to your goals and your family
To meet your goals, a schedule is a must. Whether it is a firm or flexible schedule depends on the goals you want to reach and your individual situation. Perhaps you will choose to have the children work like a traditional school day, from 8 a.m. to 3p.m. You may start earlier and be done before lunch or choose to sleep in and end around dinnertime. The choice really depends on a few factors: Are you a morning person or do you thrive later in the day? What about your children- what time of day is their most alert time? If they wake up at the crack of dawn, starting schoolwork early would make sense for your family. If you have more than one child, then you might choose to compromise and meet in the middle, or allow the students to do their independent work at their best hours. This, of course, requires preparation on your part, especially if you are not a morning person. One mother has her children’s assignments written in a student planner. They are expected to work independently when they get up because she sleeps later. This arrangement works well for their family.A schedule can be loose too. It does not necessarily mean that from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., your child does math drills, followed by 15 minutes of spelling practice and then 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. is science. That may work for some families, but personal experience has shown that it can be better to have a general idea of when things will be done, such as math, spelling and science before lunch, and other subjects after lunch. This way if the math takes longer for the student or further explanation is needed, you are not locked into a strict schedule that makes you feel “behind” for the rest of the day. After all, one reason to homeschool is its flexibility and the option to take your time when your child needs more assistance. It also allows you to quickly pass through things your child already understands, instead of making your child finish a worksheet for the sake of finishing.
A relaxed homeschooler and an unschooler may not want to have a “schedule” per se, but a rhythm of learning. On Mondays you could explore science, Tuesdays could be history, and so on. The schedule is a tool to be used to help you meet your homeschool goals.
Keeping track of it all!
Outside activities and obligations are part of your homeschool schedule too. A good idea is to have one master calendar with everybody’s events, where everyone can see it. Then each individual has a calendar with his or her events and homeschool assignments. Don't forget about dad’s schedule too! What should be on the schedule? Any time you need to leave the house—homeschool co-ops, field trips, library visits or programs, doctor appointments—should be on your schedule. This serves as a reminder of where you need to be, as well as planning schoolwork around those events. Vacations and breaks from schoolwork can also—and should—be scheduled in. Things will go more smoothly if everyone knows what is expected of them and what is on the schedule. Some children especially thrive on this sort of schedule. You can even put chores and other obligations on the schedule. This helps everyone to see when he or she will have free time, making it easier to focus on the chore at hand instead of wondering when he will have time to do what he wants.An important note about the homeschool parent scheduling
Too often homeschool mothers are consumed with giving their children the best education and forget about themselves. They forget that just as much as their children need free time, they need it too. Many moms take advantage of scheduled park days with other homeschoolers to begin to meet this need. Spending time laughing with other homeschool moms can help you maintain your sanity and commitment to home education. Remember to schedule mom time, as well as time with your spouse for just the two of you. This is essential to keeping a healthy marriage and family.Another important thing to remember to schedule is one-on-one time with the kids, especially in larger families. Dad time with each child individually is a treat for the children, and allows mom to spend time with a different child—not doing schoolwork, but instead enjoying a hobby or activity together. Plan “dates” with your child and he or she will look forward to spending the time with you.
Remember if the schedule doesn't work... try something else. That is the beauty of homeschooling. Find what works for your family and have fun.
Home Educators Resource Directory (HERD) is owned, managed, and maintained by parents passionate about giving their children the best education. The Directory’s mission is to provide resources, support, and information helpful to the diverse community of educators around the globe. Along with offering a rich store of varied resources, the Directory maintains a catalog of local and global support groups and calendars highlighting local events.
The HERD monthly newsletter keeps educators apprised of current homeschool events and supplies informational articles for both the new and experienced. We invite you to stay informed with your own newsletter subscription, explore our many resources by visiting the Directory http://www.homeeddirectory.com/ and check out all the information to be found on our blog.
Permission to reproduce this article granted only with the entire article, bio and all links included.
