Our Homeschool Day

So, I won't even pretend to have it all together.  If you've ever seen my house you know I can't even pretend! ;)  But I did want to share what our typical day of homeschooling looks like.  This has been changed and tweaked, and honestly doesn't always flow this way.  I know the word schedule can make some of you hyperventilate, while others are breaking out their planners, special pens and sticky notes.  I don't have a schedule where we do reading at 9:00, math at 10:00, science at 11:00, etc.  Mind you that was more like my classroom classes looked like because we had a school schedule to follow.  This is how we do home learning.


Here's a "typical" day:
6:00-9:00     Morning Block (and yes some children are awake at 6:00 although it is STRONGLY discouraged!)

9:00-12:00     School Time Block

12:00-3:00     Afternoon Block

3:00-5:00     Screen Time

5:00-8:00     Evening Block


Some days each of those blocks has things assigned at different times (Doctor appointments, charter school class, swim class, etc.)  We're just going to look at the 9:00-12:00 block right now as I break down for you what works for my four boys (ages 7, 5, 4, 2).

We start our home learning day about 9:00 (give or take a half hour).  They've been fed breakfast, gotten dressed (most days), done chores and had time to play.  I set out a snack at their seats and start singing "This is the Day."  They know that by the end of the song they should be at their seats with a sharpened pencil and eraser.  This is honestly a carryover from my preschool days when the kids would join me for circle time.  Also, finding a pencil is the hardest part of our ENTIRE morning!  Where do all the pencils go?!

While the boys eat snack we read devotions and the preschooler's letter story for the day. (Eating mouths = quiet mouths...usually!) By then snack has been inhaled and the bowls probably thrown on the floor. (Just being real!).  The preschooler starts coloring in a workbook, color book, cutting something he's allowed to, etc.  The toddler is usually sitting on my lap while I try and get him to color on his things and not mine.

The two big boys (and sometimes the preschooler) do a grammar lesson that usually takes about 5 minutes.  Then they do a spelling lesson that usually takes 10-15 minutes.  If we are working on a history map or adding to our history timeline (we're studying ancient times) we do that next.  It takes between 5-10 minutes as we have already listened to our chapter on audio in the car.  Sometimes we read some additional pages on the history topic, but still within the ten minute time frame.

By now it's usually just before 10 (toddler remember...I didn't account for all the stops and starts of toddlerhood!).  We take a break.  They get to leave when they finish up their work that comes right before break.  A lot of times the preschooler has already wandered off to play.  No big deal.  And sometimes the toddler has become engaged in one of the fun things I have put out for him that he usually ignores because it's not what the "bubbas" are doing.

Break (10-15 minutes).  This is most important because it's when I run to the bathroom and grab coffee!  Seriously the most important part of our homeschool day. ;)  The boys MUST go to the bathroom and get a drink during this time.  Whatever else they do is up to them.  When I call the big boys back in, it is up to the little boys whether they come back or not.  Sometimes I recruit Dad for toddler duty at this point which means we'll finish lessons a gazillion times faster!

After break we open our math books and I set the timer for 15 minutes.  The only rule is that they work diligently for the full 15 minutes.  If they need help, I provide one-on-one instructtion based on what that child is doing.  When the timer goes off, they finish the page they are on and then they are done with math.  If they have been working well and just started a page with a lot of problems they can just finish the problem they are on.  If they spent more time daydreaming that diligently working, they finish the page.  We just started this way of timing math and they finish more math in the 15 minutes than when I would give them pages to complete and it could take up to an hour!

Then it's time for reading.  Depending on the child and the day, they may have independent reading work I have already marked out for them.  Sometimes they have a lesson with me.  They both read out loud (words and/or a story) everyday.  The kindergartener likes to hear the first grader's reading lesson so he gets to listen to that and then do his reading pages.  He reads with me on the couch after the "official" school day has ended because he likes the snuggle time.  Reading can take us up to about half and hour.

As they finish their reading, they are responsible to finish up anything they might not have completed earlier (like spelling words they dawdled through), and making any corrections on their work that I have marked.  Then they stack their books, put away their pencils (which we still won't be able to find in the morning), and go play until lunch.  It's usually about 11:30 by this time. (I just put noon because some things don't always work out.)

I should also point out that we only homeschool Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Thursday they go to their charter class in the mornings and Fridays they have extracurriculars at school that they go to.  And if you're wondering how well a schedule like this could possibly work for elementary age kids I humbly note that both my boys are well above grade level.  And none of us are geniuses around here! : D  During this time of quarantine we do add in Thursday morning and save Friday for art (which is super stressful for me) and experiments and fun.

You may have noticed that there was no science or read alouds or music.  We read some great science books on the couch before naptime (technically part of our Afternoon Block).  When we expand on science we pop it in before our break during the school block.  We read aloud all.day.long because that's just part of our family culture.  We also read something great as our bedtime chapter book.  Music is often part of their screen time, but they both also participate in music through their charter school.

This is just one way of doing home learning.  I share because it's what works for us.  I tried starting lessons on the couch but it just led to everyone climbing all over me (literally) and books crashing to the floor and fighting and I could never actually see the book to read.  I would love to have the big boys alternate math and reading so that I could streamline who needs help when, but we've tried and they want to do it at the same time.

Make tweaks.  Call a timeout.  Take more breaks.  Only do math and reading some days so you can enjoy sunshine.  You may find that you enjoy this time of learning together more than you thought.

If you come out of this time of social distancing finding you want to continue (minus the lockdown and no play dates or human contact), let me know.  I'd love to point you in the direction of more resources for your journey.

Also, if you have middle and/or high school students, visit Jen MacIntosh at www.wildflowersandmarbles.com for her take on helping older students be more self sufficient in their learning.  I can guarantee you their teachers at school aren't babysitting them making sure they get their schoolwork done.  ;)

Emergency Homeschooling: Why You Don't Need to Panic

Hi there!  I'm so glad you stopped by.  I want you to imagine I've invited you over for coffee and we're sitting trying to talk about homeschool while our kids play loudly wherever we happen to be.  Because honestly, that's how I've had this conversation before.  :)  While now it might look like us sipping coffee in our own cars in a parking lot parked next to each other and our phones on speaker, or us live chatting on our computers, I'd give you pretty much the same advice.

First, let me give you a little of my background so you know where I'm coming from.  I have a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  I've worked in classrooms for over 20 years (YIKES!)--whether as an aide, a teacher, a volunteer--in public schools, private schools, Sunday schools--infant through adult.  I've taught in California, Oregon and Thailand.  I've taught gifted students well beyond their grade level.  I've taught students struggling with learning colors.  I've taught students who don't speak the same language as me.  I homeschool my four boys ages: 7, almost 6, 4, and 2.  And yes, I homeschool them all.  So, while I don't currently homeschool middle or high schoolers, I have taught them.  I know something of what you are going through.  And I know something of what your teachers are going through.  That's where I'm coming from.

So, here's the advice I'd give whether you were considering homeschooling starting in the Fall, whether you were like my cousin a few weeks ago and were pulling your kids from a school that wasn't meeting their needs, or whether you've been thrown into it without preparation.

1. Don't recreate school at home!
When people find out I'm a teacher and I homeschool there are a lot of questions.  I've known I would homeschool long before I ever had children.  I didn't want to send them to someone else to raise while I raised other people's kids.  It just didn't make sense to me.  I also didn't want them to waste their childhood in a classroom waiting on other kids to do what they were supposed to do.  I've taught little kids.  I know how much time is spent waiting for someone to tie their shoe so they can line up!  :)  And while I do spend a lot of time waiting for kids to even find their shoes, it is on our own schedule.  We DO NOT homeschool from 8:00-2:30 or whatever your school schedule was.  (My next post will be about what our homeschool schedule actually does look like.)

Sheridan Superhero Academy

2. Combine age groups and subjects.
One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that our whole family can do it together.  I know my boys are close in age, but even within two to three grades you can combine science, history, art and music.  If your kids are very spread out in age, you can still have them learning about the same time period through books at their age levels.

Art project time

Some kind of science experiment...probably of their own making.

3. Reading is learning.
Read aloud.  A lot!  Find some books around your house and read them.  Audio books count too!  Scholastic will now deliver your book club orders to your door so you can still order using your teacher's class code.  Audible has their children's and young adult's books free right now with no sign up.  Vooks is a great read aloud site that you do sign up for but is free.  If your child's class uses EPIC!, ask your teacher if you can get the log-in information to use it from home during this time. (It only works during regular school hours, but you can also sign-up for your own subscription.)  You don't have to have any fancy curriculum.  Just read.

4. Learning happens all.day.long.
That's why you don't have to stick to the regular school schedule.  Outside play?  That's P.E.  Cooking?  That's math and science.  Laundry?  That's Home Ec.  Seriously!  Matching socks while folding laundry is actually a preschool level skill.  A bedtime story counts as part of reading.  Singing along to your favorite songs on the radio is music appreciation.  Look for the learning you are already living and count it!

Puzzle time and critical thinking skills

Working on fine motor skills through coloring

Cooking something...chocolate so it must be good!

5. You CAN do this!
Trust me when I say that I know you are equipped to do this.  You were your child's first teacher from the time he or she came home with you.  You've already been homeschooling--you just didn't call it that.  You love your kid(s) more than anyone else does--even their teachers, which is saying a lot!  :D  You may not feel like the smartest parent or the most organized.  Don't be!  I can't tell you how many times my boys tell me to ask Google or Siri when I don't know the answer to something.  I don't know everything.  That's ok.  I learn right along with my boys.  It's also ok to feel like you are failing.  Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done!  It's way easier for me to teach a classroom full of other people's kids than to teach my own.  But it's so rewarding to see my own kids just get something.  Or to hear them talking about something we learned weeks later as they play.

I know this isn't the educational path you chose.  But I know that you can make the best of it.  Enjoy this time with your kids when you can't do anything else.  If there's one thing I've learned looking back at old class pictures, it's that time goes by so fast, and they grow up before your eyes.  Those little preschoolers I taught everyday are now going into high school!  Those 5th graders are getting married and having their own kids!  How are your kids going to remember time home with you?

Veteran homeschoolers: Anything to add?

Making the Most of Your Stockpile

Hi!  Can I just bring a little practical to this crazy time?  I don't believe in spreading fear and panic.  They spread just fine on their own fed by anything unknown.  Here's what I do know, a lot of us stocked up on food so that we could keep others and ourselves safe by limiting contact.  But now, how do we use up that food and keep it from all going bad?!  We need a plan.  (Planning happens to be my love language!)

No, I'm serious...planning makes everything right in my world!

Since you just did all that shopping, you are at an advantage because you know what you bought.  (Unless you were like me and were shopping with small children and were completely unprepared for everyone else to be at Costco on a Thursday night when you usually have the store all to yourself.  Then you may have come home with a few surprises.  :D )

Here's  the fresh produce you're going to want to use up first:
Salad mix & pre-packaged lettuce
Berries (unless they are frozen)
Asparagus
Bananas (unless they are still green ;) )
Cucumbers

Start by planning some meals around these items (if you have them) using some of the other things you purchased like fresh meats, cheeses and breads.  You don't need anything fancy to plan.  Grab a piece of paper and fold it in thirds if you want (one column for breakfast, one for lunch, one for dinner).  Or find a printable on Pinterest and use it.  You just need to write this down.  I usually just write dinners in on my monthly calendar and then weekly I add side dishes and whatnot to the menu planner on the fridge.

For example: For a dinner in the next few days you might roast some asparagus with some fresh chicken breasts you just bought and make mashed potatoes.


After those things, these are most likely to go bad next:
Avocados (put them in the fridge and just take out to ripen a few days before you need them)
Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Green beans
Grapes
Melons
Pineapple
Spinach
Tomatoes


Plan the rest of the week's meals using these things.


The things that will last the longest if stored properly are:
Oranges & Citrus fruits
Pears (refrigerate them and leave just a few on the counter to ripen at a time)
Apples
Cabbage & brussels sprouts
Carrots
Celery
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Onions

Save meals using these things for next week or later.

After you have planned out your meals for the week, decide what fresh meat items you will need.  Those you can keep in the refrigerator.  Portion out the rest as you will need them and stick them in the freezer.  If you bought a 5 pound package of ground beef and you know you want it all cooked up, you could go ahead and brown all of it at once and freeze what you won't be using right away.

These are actually steaks from our farm. 

One benefit of buying directly from a farmer is that you usually have a pretty 

good supply already in your freezer.

You can find our farm on Facebook @thefamilyfarmculver.

Remember, most leftovers are fine in the fridge for about a week.  If you find yourself with tons of something leftover, freeze it.  I had a big batch of risotto that we just weren't eating fast enough.  I put it in sandwich zipper bags, wrote "RISOTTO" on the front along with "3/20" and popped it in the freezer.  I freeze them flat and once frozen they stand up in the door of my freezer where they are easy to find.  I'll pull them out at some point when I don't have time to make a starchy side.

If you can't use your bell peppers fast enough, just slice or dice them and stick them in a baggie in the freezer.  They will be perfect cooked in any dish that needs them.  You can do the same thing with apples.  Then they are ready for an apple pie, crisp, oatmeal, or Dutch Apple Pancakes (which are soooo yummy!).  If your bananas are beyond what you can fathom eating, peel them, break them into chunks and stick them in a baggie in the freezer.  They can be pulled out for banana bread, smoothies, or in the summer for chocolate/peanut butter/banana shakes.  Spinach can also be frozen if you aren't getting through the bag.  I just rinse and pat dry and then fill a sandwich bag full.  I find that this size holds about as much as I need for my recipes.  Or add your banana, spinach and any berries you can't eat to a baggie and you have a smoothie pack.  Just empty in a blender, add milk, yogurt and/or juice of your choice, and blend.

I realize these bananas are beyond their life expectancy for some of you.  

But these represent just 2 days worth of bananas at our house if I ration them.  

We rarely get to stick bananas in the freezer anymore!

If you bought extra milk, freeze the gallons that you don't need right now.  I just set mine in the sink the night before and it's usually mostly defrosted by morning.  Then just shake it up to remix the cream and milk and it's good to go.  I also freeze my bags of shredded cheese and just keep one in the fridge.  If you freeze a block of cheese, it will change the consistency and become crumbly and not very good for slicing.  Frozen cream cheese also works fine in sauces and mixed in with things but is not very good for bagels.

Stick your extra loaves of bread and your rolls in the freezer right now so they don't go bad before you get to them.  Go ahead, I'll wait...…………………….

Now, you have a plan for getting through all that food without everything going bad at once.  Food waste is already a huge problem in America.  I didn't want us throwing all our money away just because we didn't have a plan.  Your food is stored, you have a meal plan for two or more weeks and you are ready to work the plan.  Plus, it's going to save you that question that comes up around here every.single.day about 4 o'clock: "What's for dinner?!"

Did I miss anything?  How do you make sure your food doesn't go bad before you get to it?  Are you wondering about storing something?  Just ask in the comments.  I read them all.  :)