Our New Schedule

One Hour of Rest Time

 

Clocks From Paper Plates

 

Weekday Schedule

 

House Rules

Homeschooling has allowed us to be more flexible with some things like being able to wake up at 9 instead of 8 if we are tired, schooling in our pajamas and having lunch late because we were having too much fun doing an activity. To give ourselves some structure, the boys and I sat down and collaborated on a daily schedule and agreed upon house rules. This has taken some of the pressure off of me as everything is written as clear as day on the fridge. It gets easier each day as they adapt to the new schedule. 

Station time is a time where I set out three different activities. We have station time in the morning after breakfast and in the afternoon after rest time. The activities range from art projects to educational games to worksheets to objects to ponder over. These are always changing and the boys are excited to see something new each day. Sometimes they are not interested in the morning but will choose to do it later in the day. I often see them doing worksheets while waiting for lunch. They are not forced to do any of the activities. Ones that they do are often jumping off points for new station activities.

Daily activities we do either in the morning or afternoon. Monday is music where we often do a piano lesson and listen to different types of music and dance. Tuesday is baking day where the boys get to bake what they want. Wednesday is field trip day where we will go somewhere fun. Thursday is art day where we will talk about famous artists and  use different types of materials. Friday is science day where we focus on science projects as well as biology, anatomy, zoology, and botany. We study French after lunch each day. It used to be once a week but I think that if we study a few new words each day our French vocabulary will increase much faster by the end of the year.

We try to make it to the park as much as possible for physical exercise and so Dagan can get together with his friends who get out of the Montessori class at 5. We will be putting the boys in sports soon. They both love swimming and gymnastics. We hope our social circle will increase to include other homeschooling parents. Though I haven't met any yet, I have signed up for a few yahoo groups.

I do not have the two and a half hours of free time I used to when they were in school. To counter this I have instituted an hour a day rest time right after lunch. Though they don't nap, they must stay in their room for the hour and do something quiet. This gives me time to recharge and exercise. It also gives them some calm in the midst of a busy day. The boys go to bed at 9 and after that is adult time. I also have time off on the weekends because August is so wonderful that he cooks or picks up food and takes the boys out for energy burning activities. I would not be able to homeschool without his love and support.