College Planning: Wrangling The Hours On the Home-school Clock
By Mimi Rothschild
Does it feel like you are constantly two lessons and two days behind in your home-school study plans? Do you feel like it always comes down to choosing between science and piano lessons? Home-school can be everything you want it to be for your kids, including the extras you intend on top of the education board requirements. Creating a tangible schedule is the best way to make sure your kids get everything they need out of their home-schooled day. Here are just a few benefits of real time management:
- Creates a less stressful home-schooling environment
- Teaches your children about being pro-active
- Creates more free time
- Accomplishes more home-schooling each day
First, list your goals. What do you want to achieve in home-schooling your child and in general? This list should include everything from abstract goals like 'honesty' and 'sharing' to concrete goals like 'master multiplication tables' and 'learn 20 vocabulary words every week.' Leave space between each of these goals and underneath each one. Make a list of possible projects, activities, community events, field trips, software, etc. that can help bring your home-school goals to fruition.
Now that you've got your goals, prioritize. Which must be accomplished now and which ones can wait? Is Spanish more of the focus than geometric theorems or the other way around? Is there a week long field trip sponsored by your home-school co-op that will communicate one of the learning goals better than anything else? Decide how long in months or weeks to designate to each home-school study goal, the number of sessions per week and the length of duration.
Next, you will need a large monthly calendar with large open blocks for each day. Start by marking the regular activities like home-school group meetings, sports practices, and music lessons. Then add in the commitments that you prioritized first on your list. Use different color markers for each home-school subject. Set aside blocks of time and give yourself a little bit of wiggle room. Even with the best laid plans, kids will wiggle and do their best to knock your new home-school schedule to pieces. Stand firm. On the other hand, plan breaks, meals, fun time, and be flexible if your idealized schedule needs a little adjusting before it's perfect.
You and your home-schoolers will benefit from structure. Not only will it help you accomplish everything you need to, but it will create a more relaxed and pleasant environment at home during school.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children's rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA.
Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation's public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world.
An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Homeschooling News Café Blog consists of the most current and relevant education news.Electronic reproduction of this article is permitted if content is published unchanged, appropriate credit is given, and the article title links to corresponding article webpage.
