| When starting to homeschool your children, | | | | It is so easy to loose focus. You start doing |
| creating a homeschool schedule that works for | | | | laundry, cleaning the house, reading your emails |
| your family can be difficult. Wondering how to get | | | | (big mistake!) :) and pretty soon an hour has |
| everything done - schooling, housework, outside | | | | passed, the kids are running around the house or |
| responsibilities, can seem overwhelming, especially | | | | school room playing, with their projects and |
| for new homeschoolers. | | | | assignments incomplete! |
| Creating a homeschool schedule for your family is | | | | Using a timer is great way to keep track of |
| very important. It will help you stay on task, | | | | those minutes that slip away. Find a timer that |
| remind you what to do and help your family | | | | rings or beeps loudly and constantly, until |
| achieve their educational objectives. It is important | | | | someone turns it off. Getting up to turn off the |
| to consider your family dynamics when creating | | | | timer, or to reset it, will keep you accountable to |
| your family's schedule. You must be realistic in | | | | your schedule and keep you from getting side |
| your expectations - everything can not be done in | | | | tracked. |
| one day. | | | | 3. Allow flexibility. |
| An effective homeschool schedule will: | | | | There is no typical home school day. What you |
| 1. Guide you in accomplishing your daily goals. | | | | do and when you do it is entirely up to you and |
| The best homeschool schedule for your family will | | | | your child. Teachable moments come at many |
| help you take control of your time and reach | | | | times during the day, in a variety of ways. |
| your goals. An effective schedule will help you and | | | | More than anything your schedule should allow you |
| your family complete daily tasks efficiently, | | | | some flexibility. Being too rigid in your scheduling |
| making the most of your time. Your schedule will | | | | will result in frustration and failure. Don't let the |
| help give you direction, so at the end of the day, | | | | schedule control you. It's supposed to simply be a |
| you can see progress. Looking back and seeing | | | | guide to help you accomplish daily tasks and |
| accomplishment is so satisfying - even if it seems | | | | move you toward your bigger goals. |
| insignificant. | | | | A homeschool schedule will not only guide your |
| For me getting a couple loads of laundry washed, | | | | family in reaching educational achievements, but |
| dried, folded and PUT AWAY is a significant | | | | more importantly, help your family work more |
| accomplishment. To someone else, it may be a | | | | efficiently to fulfill your unique goals, your family |
| piece of cake. Somehow I get it laundered and | | | | mission and purpose in life. When creating a |
| folded into baskets, but there it stays. It takes | | | | homeschool schedule for your family, you may |
| great effort for me to get the laundry out of the | | | | have to try many different homeschooling |
| laundry basket and into our drawers. I have come | | | | schedules to find one that works the best for |
| up with some creative solutions to minimize my | | | | your family. |
| weakness, but for me seeing empty laundry | | | | It may take a little time to discover a schedule |
| baskets is a huge victory! :) | | | | that works for you, but be patient, you will find |
| 2. Keep you on track. | | | | one! |