As a homeschooling mom, I often get asked questions like; how do you do it? how long does it take you? do you use a curriculum? what is a typical day like?
This is one of the great things about homeschooling; our typical days are not necessarily typical for everyone else. For us, I work very late three evenings a week so we usually get a late start each day. The earliest we get up is on Sunday for church. Matthew is an early riser, but Austin tends to drag his feet staying in bed until 9 or so. Hands down, this is one of the things most of their public school friends are envious of.
Once we are up the boys have a "reminder" list of things to do. Very basic things that you would not think reminders would be necessary for. I do not know if this is the case with everyone or if it is just boys or if it is just MY boys. Simple stuff like; brush teeth, wash face, make bed, eat breakfast, take vitamins. Eat breakfast...I know, but trust me if I don't "remind" them it will be lunch time and they have not eaten (well, Austin anyway). Yes, they are usually responsible for their own breakfast. Once or twice a week I will actually cook breakfast, but otherwise it is bagels, cereal, or toast.
We then take turns with the actual school work. They rotate days - Austin goes first on Mon. & Wed., then Matthew goes first on Tues. & Thurs. Friday you ask; that is our free day. We keep it open for field trips, unfinished school work, park days, or anything else that may come up. I usually work with each one for two hours. While one is with me, the other has independent work to keep them busy. We are usually done in four hours.
That is our typical day.
Definitely not just your kids who need those reminders to do things like, you know, breathe or use the potty. I've been on my way to a field trip or something mid-morning and one of the kids will tell me he has to use the facilities BECAUSE HE HASN'T GONE SINCE LAST NIGHT!! It doesn't matter how much I preach about UTI's. He'll (yes, Michael) still argue, "But I went last night!!" Ugh!
ReplyDeleteToo funny! I would like to say that we do not have that problem, but I would be lying. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, we have to-do lists everyday also and brushing teeth/hair is on the top. Sometimes I miss skate day because they ALWAYS brushed teeth without being told to on those days for the elimination game. And the twins are usually still in their PJ's at lunchtime and I have to tell them to go get dressed.
ReplyDeleteAmy - I honestly cannot say too much about the pajamas. First thing I take a shower, but then I put on my lounge pants until time to go somewhere. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy children wouldn't breathe if I didn't remind them. Hey, if this system works for you, good on ya!. That's one of the best parts of homeschooling - we get to create a system that works for us.
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