What would you say is the single most important predictor for a good hs day?

[MomOfOneFunOne]

I know you are like me and cannot narrow it down to "single most."

 

Topping my list, though, are clean kitchen when I wake up, limit my time on the computer, and a good night sleep.

 

what are yours?

[sagira]

Kids: having had enough sleep and a good breakfast.

Me: having a clean enough kitchen and schoolroom, shelves (I know not enough for many of you!) and a decent breakfast and being hydrated.

[Homeschooling6]

 

• I don't expect my day to be perfect
  
• I'm okay if I don't get everything done (so far I haven't. There is always one lesson I didn't get to with one of the dc)
  
• I need to eat a good breakfast, otherwise I'm a grumpy mom.
  

 

[AngieW in Texas]

My kids need to have a good night's sleep. None of them are pleasant to be around when they haven't had sufficient sleep and they can't seem to concentrate either.

 

That's really about it.

[kalphs]

A good nights sleep.

Coffee to jump start my brain cells in the morning.

A positive attitude.

A plan.

Edited October 2, 2010 by kalphs

[HappyGrace]

-good sleep for all of us

 

-planning the day ahead so it's all laid out to pick up and go

[Wheres Toto]

A good nights sleep for everyone so my 3 year old doesn't spend 1/2 the morning crying over EVERY LITTLE THING. (we had a rough week this week)

 

5 minutes of peace to wake up with breakfast and a cup of tea.

[Melissa B]

starting on time in the morning

 

If we don't start school on time each day we lose our routine from the get go and the whole day begins to fall apart.

Edited October 2, 2010 by Melissa B

[Guest Alte Veste Academy]

1) Having everything ready to go "out of the chute." Not just a plan, but everything laid out and ready to go.

 

2) Computer off! Phone off! Answering machine on.

 

3) Planned meals.

 

4) Good sleep all around.

 

5) Quiet time enforced.

 

6) Tidy home.

[rafiki]

.

[JudoMom]

If we start on time @7:40 with read-alouds & poetry over breakfast.

[Paintedlady]

enough sleep

a cheerful attitude (for all of us)

coffee :001_smile:

[myfatherslily]

and a decent breakfast and being hydrated.

 

:iagree: I lose it very quickly if I don't drink my water! I realized recently that one glass wasn't enough - it was just the minimum. Upping my water intake has really helped make everyone's morning go more smoothly!

 

It also helps if the 2 year old is having a smooth morning - this can be determined early by whether he happily eats the breakfast I give him or if he screams and demands cookies instead. It all goes downhill from there:)

[bluemongoose]

In general: enough sleep for everybody, good breakfast, and some organization.

 

Lately though, it hinges on whether or not DD has decided it is going to be a test mommy day. When she starts the morning with drama and ignoring or disobeying everything I ask her to do, I know it is not going to be a good day:glare:. Please tell me this stage is not a long one! She is about to turn 6!

[Closeacademy]

The big one is that everything we will need will be together waiting for us to get started. No hunting down supplies.

 

Others:

 

good night's rest

computer time to get my brain charged

 

:001_smile:

[Jilly]

My attitude!

:iagree:My attitude and the kid's attitude. That is the most important predictor for us.

[anneofalamo]

my kids get up at 7am

I get up at 5am

if I miss my time, I feel rushed...that can cause the day to be very squishy...like I am being smooshed all day from the pressure.

 

I need that time to

1. drink coffee

2. read and pray alone

3. send off emails for my on-line job and make to do lists for my day

4. check on days subjects for any Ooops, we are gonna need something missing.

 

When they all come down the hall, in search of breakfast, I am in a chipper mood and prepared to teach.

[abbeyej]

Fully-engaged Mom. When I'm fully present and working *with* the kids rather than trying to direct them while I get five other things done.

[ThelmaLou]

Most of the important factors in a successful hs day at our house revolve around me.

 

Enough sleep

Stick to our HST schedule

no computer distractions

no phone interruptions

Keeping kids in separate rooms while working independently

Managing my 4 year old well

My attitude

checking work consistently(both school and chores)

not getting behind on laundry

not getting behind on kitchen duties

[radiobrain]

HAHAHA. ;)

 

For me, coffee, my hour of computer time and no one to talk to me for that hour.

[sassenach]

* A good breakfast, including at least 1 cup of coffee for mom.

* An early start- if we're not going by 9:30, we're in trouble.

* No appointments before 1pm.

 

I think an early start has proven to be the most important. A good night's sleep is also on the list, but it's not as much of a factor for our family as one would think.

[kalanamak]

No distractions, like hubby barging in, phone ringing, cooking, laundry, UPS, the neighbor getting out his big honking Harley or nifty little boat.

[lisabelle]

I can come up with a single most pretty easily: Not letting ds (11) start the day in front of the computer. It's something I'm guilty of--I get up at 6 every morning so that I can drink my coffee and read the news and FB on the computer. I've tried being respectful of ds's urge to do the same thing--if I want a little time like that in the morning, why would I deny it to ds? But what ends up happening is that is that I have to pry him away from it and we start our day at loggerheads. And things seem to go downhill from there.

 

So now I'm sure to be done and showered before he gets up. Things just seem to go more smoothly if we have a nice breakfast together and get down to work.

[TechWife]

I haven't read all the answers - I'm afraid my list would get too long if I see what everyone else does!

 

Having enough sleep (everyone) and having a clean school room and living room are usually indicators of how smoothly our day will flow. Both are needed to avoid unnecessary distractions around here.

[mcconnellboys]

This is not dependent so much on me as on my son. I try to make sure I'm getting an appropriate amount of sleep for myself. If he's not doing the same (either for one night or several in a row), then his behavior can go progressively downhill. He gets very mouthy and combative. The prescription for this is naps in the afternoon after school, for as long as it takes to get him back on track, along with earlier bedtimes that are enforced rigidly. We don't have too much problem with this nowdays....

[TKDmom]

For me, getting out of bed, and showered before 8am. If I get up and get on the computer instead, my morning is shot.

[ktwensel]

An early start

Attentive, compliant kids

Easy Science projects!

Little distractions from our pets

 

and COFFEE!!!

[In the Rain]

Fully-engaged Mom. When I'm fully present and working *with* the kids rather than trying to direct them while I get five other things done.

 

Oooh, this is a good one! I was going to say my own attitude, but this one hits home also.

[nukeswife]

Going with the flow, and being ok with not getting everything done.

 

I do have a schedule of what I'd like to get done, but we have the best days when we just pick a place to start and then keep moving along for about 3 hours. If we get done with the whole list before that great, if not oh well it will go on the list for tomorrow.

 

A big key to the above is also letting myself and my kids sleep until our bodies say it's time to get up. If we're woken up (me by and alarm clock and the kids by me) then it's all downhill for the whole day.

Edited October 2, 2010 by nukeswife

[gpsings]

enough sleep

kids don't get up too early

don't get up/ start too late

[cupajoe]

For me, it's:

• getting up at least 90 minutes prior to waking up the kids (that's around 5:30am for me).
  
• drinking at least 2 cups of coffee, relaxing, reading the Bible, praying, and browsing some news/websites before they get up...this is all part of "me time" and it is a MUST!
  
• making sure I am organized before we begin each day (all copies made, tying up loose ends, etc). I usually do this the night before, so as not to interrupt said "me time!"
  
• starting the school day NLT 8:00am so we are done in time to enjoy late afternoon activities, etc.
  
• following my schedule/routine. I don't do "fly by the seat of my pants." It just doesn't work for me.
  

[8filltheheart]

I find it interesting that almost everyone listed sleep b/c it is the one thing I am not getting and haven't for literally months. Our baby is the sweetest tempered thing, but she does not sleep. It is really impacting me......not so much tempermentally but in my ability to analyze clearly. That doesn't really matter for my younger kids, but it does for high school. I am so glad that I am not teaching high school math this yr b/c I am living in a perpetual brain fog right now.

 

For everything else:

 

Getting up really early (5:00 is our best starting time)

Throwing in a load of laundry as soon as I wake up

Starting school with morning prayer

Preplanned meals

 

and most of all.......definitive lesson plans that guide me specifically through everyone's day.

[SweetMissMagnolia]

any day that we get homework done without a major meltdown is a good day! ;)

[kpnick in nc]

When I wake up AND get moving - hands down!

[Beth in SW WA]

Starting off with a hot cup (or 2) of coffee and my Bible -- alone. :)

[LoveBaby]

It also helps if the 2 year old is having a smooth morning - this can be determined early by whether he happily eats the breakfast I give him or if he screams and demands cookies instead. It all goes downhill from there:)

 

 

LOL...I make breakfast cookies - oatmeal, peanut butter, eggs, honey and a few chocolate chips or m&m's. great protein, great taste and chocolate. it makes *everyone* happy!! wash them down with a glass of milk and they are a great power breakfast that the kids think is a huge treat!

[Hedgehogs4]

good night's sleep

 

getting up before the kids

 

a clean kitchen and school area

 

starting on time

 

having everything laid out and ready for the day's lessons

[Hedgehogs4]

LOL...I make breakfast cookies - oatmeal, peanut butter, eggs, honey and a few chocolate chips or m&m's. great protein, great taste and chocolate. it makes *everyone* happy!! wash them down with a glass of milk and they are a great power breakfast that the kids think is a huge treat!

 

wow. can you share the recipe?

[LoveBaby]

wow. can you share the recipe?

 

I'll try to post it to my blog tomorrow...I meant to ages ago and never got around to it!

[SnowWhite]

In all honesty, the SINGLE most important predictor of success for our day is time spent as a family in prayer and Bible reading. There is something about listening to those little guys say, "Lord, let us have a good school day" that melts my heart.

 

The other important factors, MOM's attitude, starting on time, having things "lined out" ahead of time, minimizing interruptions (no phone conversations)and keeping the breaks to our scheduled times.

[hsm6kids]

1: a clean kitchen

2: an hour or so with my coffee before anyone else wakes up

3: our morning trip to the park for exercise.....if not the little one have way too much energy and I need to get my blood flowing.

4: having the day planned out

[Forget-Me-Not]

LOL...I make breakfast cookies - oatmeal, peanut butter, eggs, honey and a few chocolate chips or m&m's. great protein, great taste and chocolate. it makes *everyone* happy!! wash them down with a glass of milk and they are a great power breakfast that the kids think is a huge treat!

 

Recipe, please? :D

 

As for the original question, I would say

 

1. Scripture study and prayer. I usually do mine before bed, but I find if I'm consistent about it, it helps a lot. Especially with my patience!

 

2. Kitchen and dining room (our school room) clean and tidy when we get up in the a.m.

 

3. Getting started by 9 a.m. and starting with math with my K'er

[Maverick_Mom]

I know you are like me and cannot narrow it down to "single most."

 

Topping my list, though, are clean kitchen when I wake up, limit my time on the computer, and a good night sleep.

 

what are yours?

 

An early start -- for me, and then for the kids.

[Woodland_Mom]

Four things:

 

 

• A good night's sleep
  
• A nice hot cup of coffee
  
• Clean Kitchen to greet me in the morning
  
• The ability/discipline to give my time to my kids for our school day and put the things that "I" want to do aside.
  

 

[Plink]

[*]The ability/discipline to give my time to my kids for our school day and put the things that "I" want to do aside.

 

 

 

:iagree: This is exactly what helps us to have a good school day. No folding laundry while trying to teach math or browsing online while they listen to history CDs. I need discipline for myself, and they follow right along. When I'm distracted, they are distracted.

[Macrina]

I have't seen this one yet, sometimes it's out of my control. But if there is serious sibling rivalry in the morning that is an indicator of a BAD day ahead. So if they can get through breakfast and chores without major fights, there is a good chance we'll make it through the day in a fairly peaceful manner.

[Nestof3]

I cannot list a single factor. :)

 

1. Do what I can the night before -- be prepared.

 

Have eveything photocopied and ready for the day.

 

If we are doing a project, it helps to have everything pulled the night before and on the table.

 

I like to place their independent work on the table so that I can just say, "Okay, let's start." I also place the tool carousel on the table.

 

While they are doing that, I gather the round of table work items they do at the same time with me (spelling, writing, and science or history worksheets).

 

I place all books I will read aloud on the ottoman.

 

Have the house clean before going to bed.

 

2. I need my half hour alone in the morning with my coffee and computer.

 

3. Limit running around -- try to have meal stuff already on hand and try not to leave the house during school unless we have to.

 

4. My attitude. I can usually snap them out of a bad attitude, but if I'm grumpy, it's hard to undo that.

Edited October 3, 2010 by nestof3

[momtoccm]

Starting on time, a relatively clean school room, being prepared (copies made, project stuff ready, etc.), and staying home at least until the afternoon.

[sheryl]

I know you are like me and cannot narrow it down to "single most."

 

Topping my list, though, are clean kitchen when I wake up, limit my time on the computer, and a good night sleep.

 

what are yours?

 

 

If my dd makes eye contact with me and is "engaged/socail" with her daddy and I...joyful behavior and taking initiative right off, then I know it should be a good day.

 

My house is a mess so much of the time and I'm trying to work on that. Sheryl <><

[TKDmom]

wow. can you share the recipe?

 

:bigear: Pretty Please?