As our family has changed, our daily routine has changed also. I must be honest, I struggle with routine and I struggle without it. I love routine and I hate it…I am really mentally a mess when it comes to schedules and routines. But, over the years, I have learned that without a basic routine, I will flop as a homeschooling mom. We have horrible, chaotic days and I am the ring leader for a house full of stress.
Routines and schedules need to evolve so much when you have babies and young tots, and this always troubled me. I don’t really like change so each time a routine didn’t work anymore I would get frustrated and then go without one for awhile—frustrating the home even worse.
With Ladybug at a different stage ~ a more predictable stage ~ and with no new baby plans at all, I think we are at a place where our current routine just might work out for more than 2 weeks! Sure, we have disruptions and it isn’t always smooth, but it is working.
Here is our basic school day routine…
Each boy also has his own routine hanging by his desk for reference…
Here’s a bit more detail about what is going on during each time frame…
9:30-10:15
- PacMan gets his daily school folder and heads upstairs to do any independent work he can do. I allow him to choose the order, and he is really good at this now. He is very familiar with which items can be done independently and knows to just hold off on anything he needs my help for. He is NOT allowed to interrupt me for help during this time frame, he knows it is “Ladybug’s school time” and he respects that for the most part! This took a lot of training but we are at a good point now.
- Krash has 6 workboxes still, and in them I load the 1st 3 with items that don’t need much guidance from me, he finishes those while I work with Ladybug for Tot School and also go to him some. My focus is Ladybug, but usually he can do some of his work during this time too. He also gets to help Ladybug and be the Tot School assistant, which he loves.
- Ladybug starts at the desk in her hook on high chair and we do some of her Tot School Printables work. When she is “done” we get down and I follow her lead. We read books, play with her learning toys, and just simply interact together. Some days she wants to spend 30 minutes at the table, some only 5. It’s up to her and I follow her lead.
10:15-11:30
- Each child has a very small snack and I sometimes will turn on an educational show for Ladybug and if the boys want to watch with her I allow them to all sit together. Shows I usually choose: Word World, Super Why, Team UmiZoomi, Leapfrog Letter Factory. The key is that I choose the show and it is not free tv time, it is a relaxing snack time and also a time where I get a bit of a break from the chaos {I need this or I will go NUTS}. I usually do some cleaning during this time.
- After the show or snack, the kids are free until lunch. So am I!!! This is my mid day break which gives me a bit of time to do what I need to do. Sometimes it’s laundry, sometimes cleaning, sometimes computer stuff, sometimes playing with the kids! If it is nice the boys go outside {I have to be with them if Ladybug goes}, if not-they choose where in the house they want to play.
11:30-12:00
- Lunch-the kids all eat together, but Ladybug usually is done first so I take her upstairs and leave the boys to finish. I lay Lbug down for her nap and while I am with her the boys finish their lunch and then go straight to reading time. They know they can read together or alone, but the rule is they have to be reading! This took much training, as they would find ways to play with the books and not read them ;-). Usually their reading looks something like this when I come back downstairs. 99% of the time they are in the bean bag chairs!
12-12:30
- This is our group time {just the boys}. We do calendar, watch a PowerPoint {usually USA Geography, sometimes Solar System}, read a book, or play a game. I leave the details open, but “require” myself to spend this 30 minutes with both of them together.
12:30-1:00
- Krash is with me for his Kindergarten time. This is when we do his last 3 workboxes and spend the time together he needs 1 on 1 for school.
- PacMan goes upstairs for 30 more minutes of independent school time. If he completes all of his independent school work he is allowed to choose one of his card activities {the school one is the choice to get ahead on the next day’s work}
1:00-2:00
- PacMan is with me for his 1 hour of with Mom school time. This is when I do any 1 on 1 teaching with him for the day.
- Krash is still in the training process for this time period but he is doing better. I made him these cards that show his choices.
It helps eliminate what he cannot do during this time period and helps with the sighs and groans a bit. He still gives me trouble sometimes but he is learning the routine. The goal is for him to be basically independent during this hour so I can focus on Pac.
2:00-3:00
- PacMan uses this hour to finish up any remaining schoolwork, and then completes a daily afternoon chore {rotates between swiffering the floors, dusting, & emptying trash}. After he completes this he is free for the day!
- Krash is still playing independently although I switch things up at 2 and allow him to play his DS or non learning games on my iPod. Most of the time he chooses just to play.
3:00
- This is our end of school time goal time, also when Daddy comes home for the afternoon. Daddy works most nights too in ministry, so he spends from 3-5 with the kids each day. This 2 hours is when I walk on the treadmill, shower, and do some of my computer time. Some days I have to run errands during this time though. It’s such a blessing to have him home fairly consistently during this time period.
- The boys are allowed to watch a tv show, play Wii, play their DS, play outside, or anywhere in the house-mostly choosing to hang out with Daddy. Ladybug is usually awake by this time so the “shhhhhing” is done.
I want to mention also, that there are MANY days when the schedule is thrown out the window because someone is sick, or something else is a major disruption. I do not try to follow the routine on those days-we just kick into survival mode.
I am thankful for the routine, and even more thankful that I have found a routine that is really working for this season of life. We had a few other routines that lasted for a little while. Here is one routine we had, and here is another one.
I admire those of you who can make a detailed school schedule and stick to it day after day, I am hoping I am at least going to stick to my loose routine for awhile!!!
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