Homeschool schedule
Homeschool can be very challenging. Families across the world have had adjustment periods. If unprepared, parents can find themselves hurtling downhill without a steering wheel or breaks. I still choose not to use a strict homeschool schedule. I started homeschooling before the pandemic. Many other parents were forced, and our children are the helpless victims. Balance is the essential element in this period of growth.
We might not have all together. And that’s okay.Consistency
I often struggle with consistency. I struggle with keeping organized thoughts, I also struggle when it comes to any kind of timetable, program, or agenda. And I don’t necessarily have a homeschool schedule. Don’t like utilizing schedules. I love freedom. I like being able to play drums or bake cookies when we feel like it. Sometimes it may happen on a Wednesday, or on a Friday before our reading time. I do better without being pressured by a deadline every day. Due to living with a debilitating ailment, I give myself some grace when I can’t keep a homeschool schedule. Having a Homeschool Daily Schedule is the least of my worries. Things are constantly changing in our family, from week to week, month to month, and certainly from year to year.
Traditional homeschool schedule
With that being said I do not use a traditional Homeschool Daily Schedule or at the same time eat breakfast, do math, reading and have language. I don’t use repetition type schedule. Instead I go by my structured routine. As a result of which feels better and sounds better. My structured routine which still allows all our academic goals to be met. We have structured days even if it’s completely different subjects or courses for that specific day.
I break our school year up into 36 weeks. Last year we did exactly that. It’s looking more like 34 of weeks of school this year with the snow days, the unfortunate pandemic, we’ve less holiday travel, a fair amount of staying home days. We surely have had more time for homeschool. This year my MS hasn’t caused any major problems. That’s another reason we can get excited about possibly finishing school a week or two early.
Multiple sclerosis
Living with multiple sclerosis is already draining on its own. Homeschool Daily Schedule can be even more depleting but it was something I absolutely had to do. I had enough IEP meetings exhausting me with opinions of people who couldn’t prove anything. I had several meetings with women who were not parents. There is no test for a learning difference or a disability. In every meeting, I was resentful and constantly frustrated moving and reacting from emotions and hurt feelings of the horrendous experiences of the meetings.
Homeschool child
I was dissatisfied that my lovely, creative, vibrant, intelligent child was being placed in a group with underachievers. I have no faith in the public school system considering we currently have a 2.5 million inmate prison crises in the United States. Particularly, there is no drug that can make a child pay attention. The drugs that usually come after special ed labels, diagnosis and a special needs classroom was something I utterly could not agree to.
A parent must creatively adapt to the needs of the child. Some children do better with one on one attention. So here we are at home thriving while in homeschool, and much better off.
Homeschool day
Let us begin our homeschool day with no tears. Three days a week we have karate. Guitar is usually on Wednesday evenings. I base our Homeschool Daily Schedule around extracurricular activities. In addition, developed talents and leadership skills are just as important as English, science and arithmetic. Most days we start working at a desk or the table at about 9 am.
In arithmetic, we use a variety of curricula and programs. From Math U see to Abeka Academy to Saxon Math to Singapore Math to anything I feel the need to explore. Abeka is the most advanced in my opinion and fits us the best. Even though I teach at a much slower pace than the program dictates.
Objectives
These are our objectives for this year. My younger son will master these skills by the end of this school year.
- Initially, average numbers.
- Secondly, know addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts and terminology.
- Thirdly, recognize place value through millions.
- Solve story problems with multiple steps.
- Estimate answers.
- Know metric measures, how to convert measures and how to solve measurement equations.
- Know fraction terminology. Add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with any denominator. Change mixed numbers to improper fractions, change improper fractions to mixed numbers. Subtract and multiply fractions. Especially, write a fraction as a decimal.
- Especially, read a thermometer.
- Make change
- Particularly, know 2,3,4,5,9, and 10 divisibility rules.
- Find numbers to the greatest common factor.
- Find the least common multiple.
- Write a decimal as a fraction.
- Read and Recognize pictographs, bar graphs and line graphs.
- Find the perimeter of a polygon.
- Search the perimeter of a square using the correct formula.
- Finally, find area of a rectangle and square.
My other child’s learning objectives are the same thing pretty much with a twist. We are learning a bit more in addition to 4th grade through Abeka Academy 5th grade. Amazingly he is outstanding in arithmetic.
Particularly, we plan to master these skills this year. If we take a little longer to learn mastering these particular lessons, then so be it. That’s the awesome benefit of homeschool. The flexibility is the why for me.
This is what we are learning in 5th grade.
- Firstly, convert kilometers to miles and miles to kilometers
- Secondly, write a remainder as a fraction.
- Thirdly, convert from the Celsius scale to the Fahrenheit scale.
- Especially, read and write roman numerals
- Divide by one to three-digit numbers.
- Understand the concept of probability.
- Particularly, learn common fraction and decimal equivalents.
- Use the four axioms of algebra to solve an equation.
- Round off to the tenth, hundredth and nearest cent.
- Particularly, compare decimals in order from least to greatest.
- Recognize and draw geometric shapes and figures.
- Finally, find squares/ square roots.
Furthermore, we do arithmetic four days a week for 30-40 minutes. I don’t expect them to wait longer than that quietly. Also. me, myself, have a serious focus problem. Especially, I give tests, quizzes and 2-5 minute speed drills separately. Math is taught like a language. Particularly, the basic foundation must be built through repetition. Continuously reviewing all material then tested and quizzed consistently is a must.
Abeka Academy
For language arts, English, reading and grammar we use Abeka academy, L.I.F.E. P.A.C., and Writing Strands. We use Abeka for spelling and I take ideas from the Spelling Power book too. Obviously, I’m looking into Grammar Galaxy for English next year. I’ve been told some really awesome reviews about it. We do science, history also.
So basically we have Homeschool Daily Schedule, with freedom, tests and evaluations. We have rules, chores and boundaries. And i take time to find their gifts. I allow plenty of time for creativity. Especially, my goal right now this year as a parent, teacher, nurse, therapist, map, video reviewer is to teach my children how to think for themselves. How to think and solve problems with out looking for my help every 10 minutes. n addition, I’m very flexible in my approach to homeschool and education is not a one size fits all. Parents, that’s okay.
In addition, I often struggle with homeschooling , we have had a few bad days but not often. Particularly, I have two boys who are a year apart. At least 10 times each year we didn’t accomplish anything at homeschool because they wouldn’t stop fighting each other.
Finally,If you can relate at all to my unscheduled homeschool life, please leave a comment. Enjoy!
