I think I have to choose what kind of education I want to give...

[Kfamily]

I've been thinking about this a lot this past year. I know we are not doing enough and I will have to change that. It is actually changing that is so hard sometimes. I read how many of you moms and dads accomplish so much with your children. A "rigorous" education for us will require a lot more hours and this is the part we need to improve.

 

I think I struggle with this because I want the girls to have social times and dh likes school and social times to be done around dinner time so that we can eat as a family and practice piano, take baths, etc. and so that he can spend time with us. He also likes to have some private family time over the weekends (not the entire weekend). We both also come from large families and family events are at least monthly and during the holidays and summer it is more often. There just seems to be sooo much to balance.

 

I guess my question is this: For you moms who require your students to work/study at least 5 hours a day how do you balance this with all the rest? Do you simply have to accept that errands, social get-togethers must not get in the way of this? After 5 hours of school with occasional spurts of household chores in between I'm not sure I even want to try to run the girls around to social events between the hours of 3:30-5. Also, it seems so many of our local homeschooling families do not want or plan social events in this time span.

 

I'm starting to think that this may be part of the price we must pay to obtain an excellent education. Dh and I want to give this to the girls but I have realized that this will take effort and maybe even sacrifice on all our parts.

 

I know I can do this. I want to give this to them. I must work harder myself. I promise I will repeat this often!:D

[MIch elle]

We do go out during the day but only for those activities that we don't want to give up like guitar lessons or skiing for 8 wks in the winter.

 

I learned a long time ago that school takes all day at our home. There is no getting around it! :tongue_smilie:

[Harriet Vane]

. . . Dh likes school and social times to be done around dinner time so that we can eat as a family and practice piano, take baths, etc. and so that he can spend time with us. He also likes to have some private family time over the weekends (not the entire weekend).

Yes, this is how we choose to structure our days and weekends as well. Those times are set aside for Dad. You will never regret that kind of investment in the parent-child relationship.

 

 

I guess my question is this: For you moms who require your students to work/study at least 5 hours a day how do you balance this with all the rest? Do you simply have to accept that errands, social get-togethers must not get in the way of this? After 5 hours of school with occasional spurts of household chores in between I'm not sure I even want to try to run the girls around to social events between the hours of 3:30-5.

Yes, we have chosen to accept this as a fact of our life. As an introvert and someone who hates to drive in traffic (I live in a big city with insane traffic) this is a sacrifice for me. However, I have found it impossible to school effectively any other way, try as I might. School comes first. I rarely schedule anything outside of our home earlier than 2pm. It's an important boundary to uphold.

 

I know I can do this. I want to give this to them. I must work harder myself. I promise I will repeat this often!:D

 

My thoughts are above. I want to also encourage you that yes, you can do this. Of course you can. Draw these boundaries for your family strictly, and don't deviate from them except for a field trip or a genuine emergency (like someone is in the ER). If you choose to live by these boundaries, it does get easier. It becomes a habit over time, and one that will benefit your children academically.

[dragons in the flower bed]

For you moms who require your students to work/study at least 5 hours a day how do you balance this with all the rest? Do you simply have to accept that errands, social get-togethers must not get in the way of this?

 

Mostly, but there are other things you can do, also, like getting up earlier, assigning science and history as bedtime reading, and schooling on weekends.

 

Multitasking helps! Recently I discovered that we gain a whole hour if we start schoolwork during breakfast instead of waiting for the kids to be finished eating. What's a workbook next to a bowl of cereal, really? I always did my homework that way in elementary school. I eat lunch alone so I can recharge at the same time.

 

Remember, five hours is only 8-1.

[Stacy in NJ]

In part it depends on the ages of your children. If they're under the age of 10, I don't see a problem with squeezing school into your everyday life.

 

After the age of 10, or so, a more consistent attitude to school work is probably in order. We dedicate from roughly 8:30 am to 2 pm daily to school work. Sometimes we begin a bit late, sometimes we finish early. We take breaks for exercise and lunch. But, we need that dedicated time to really accomplish school. I really suggest just not scheduling activites/errands/park days during the early part of the day. Don't take phone calls, don't invite friends over. Save that stuff for late afternoon.

 

HTH, Stacy

[Amber in AUS]

I am starting to realise we are going down this path too. More structure with 'school' time. Outside events after 'school' time. So far, so good. All i have done to date is make sure that we don't leave the house for anything until the basics are taken care of. No running to the shop to buy milk until we are done with the basics.

 

I am also trying to use DH more, he is watching kids so i can do late night grocery shopping so i don't have to interrupt our day for 2 hours to go do the weekly shop.

 

As they get older i am sure more and more structure will come.

[Kfamily]

Your words are encouraging!

 

My two dds are 11 and 5. This age separation is not as difficult as it might have been because dd5 reads well above her age and loves to read too. She usually does about 1-2 hours of work (this is spead out with breaks in between)and she reads a lot on these mini-breaks. She also colors and sometimes wanders off to do her own thing.

[PeterPan]

I know you've heard this, but the general time suggestion is grade + 1 = hours per day. And yes it gets real. No you can't cut into your school day and get as much done. I did that last year with a Friday morning class, and while I LOVED the class, I vowed never again!!! It just makes it too hard to get everything done. I totally agree with everyone else's comments and wanted to toss out that you also look at your start time. If you start at 10 am and break for lunch, that 5-6 hours takes a lot longer to get done. Ask me how I know. ;)

 

The best way to make your day longer is to start finding some things you really WANT to do, things you're dying to study with him. Then you'll be aching to find spots in your day. Maybe right now nothing is scratching your itch? Maybe you need an infusion of some new curriculum or something with pizzazz, a new kit or something? I'm getting new stuff to kick our January off right. I usually buy twice a year, just to keep the good times flowing...

[rafiki]

.

[Beth in SW WA]

For you moms who require your students to work/study at least 5 hours a day how do you balance this with all the rest? Do you simply have to accept that errands, social get-togethers must not get in the way of this?

 

We do NO socializing or errands or outings during school time. I guard that time fiercely. No company. No coffee-time w/ moms. No co-op. No phone calls from friends. Its school & I need to be on my game. So do the kids. I don't want interruptions that will interfere with our mojo.

 

My kids don't complain. They get PLENTY of social time in the evenings & weekends w/ church, sports, CYT, etc.

 

HTH!

[sagira]

If you do short lessons a la CM, you shouldn't have to do more than four hours or so for a long time. Not all subjects are daily either. And there are subjects that take much less, such as Poetry (5-10 min), Copywork (10-15 min), and Penmanship (15 min).

 

Just a thought.

[Brindee]

I agree with little socialization during the day, not answering the phone, etc. However, when I have to schedule a dentist or dr. or orthodontic appt., I do it as early as possible after they open in the mornings. That way we are in and out in WAY less time, there is less traffic going to and from the appointment, and we're back not TOO long after we would've started anyway. The appointments don't come that often, and I found it has saved us a lot of wasted wait time. The kids take books to read along in the car and get things done while going there and back. I now NEVER do the afternoon appointments, since so much delay has built up throughout the day!

[Carol in Cal.]

For my DD, that means the mornings until about 10:45 or so. That is when she has always learned best, and so I just flat out refused to schedule regular activies more than one day per week during those hours, and often she would do schoolwork on the weekend to keep us caught up.

 

At early ages there is a lot of work that can be incorporated into night reading--FLL, history, science, Bible, literature. Now that DD is older I usually have two books going--a novel and a non-fiction book of some sort. (Right now the non-fiction is a beautiful picture book about Leonardo DaVinci, because a big DaVinci exhibit is in my town right now and we are getting ready to go see it. No, I don't usually read picture books to my 12YO, LOL, but given the drawings, paintings, sculptures, and scientific inventions of DaVinci, I wanted a more visual presentation than a typical biography would have.)

 

But mornings have always been for math, and for whatever else is hard--reading acquisition in the earliest years, writing, and grammar.

 

That is why we have never joined a park day group--they all seem to meet around 10:30 or 11, and I just don't want to go anywhere before mid-afternoon unless it's really, really valuable. And we have not done coop classes in the mornings either.

 

OTOH, this makes us often feel 'ahead' enough to schedule field trips to plays, science museums, and nature studies. Those are a lot more fun when they are not infused with nagging guilt.

 

I do think that it's important for kids to have a social life and a true family life, but I don't think that school should suffer for it over the long haul. Otherwise I would not be doing my job.

[Peela]

I guard our morning school time fiercely too, however most years we have ended up with one day where we only have a couple of hours in the morning before we head off for an activity. The activity has to be very worthwhile, though. The last 2 years, it has been a Science class for each child- one at 9.30 till 11, the other at 12 till 1.30. it has been worth it, it is a Friday, and it doubles as socialising time because it is in a hall at a park, and there are lots of siblings to play with, and I get to go run errands, knit and chat with other mums.

But overall...yes, we start early, we finish soon after lunch, we have the rest of the day free.

If your dh wants to be involved, I suggest you have the kids show him their work around dinner time, have him read aloud to them before bed, and other little routines like that which include him.

[elegantlion]

Our schooling time is sacred too. We school from 10am to about 3pm. I only answer the phone if is dh or my mom. We don't have a car during the day so appointments and such are not a distraction. Our week flows much better if we don't have distractions during school time.

 

I simply consider it my work schedule and only interrupt if absolutely necessary.

[Tami]

I think balance is important. It's possible to have both a social life and academic rigor. Flexibility is part of the reason we homeschool, after all.

 

We school four hours in the morning: 8-12, with only one 10-20 min break, and even during that break we are doing music or phy-ed time. So, I agree with the getting up at 7am or earlier if you want to get school done at a decent time. For us, it starts by having a set breakfast time. Breakfast is at 7:30, and school begins after that. Being late simply results in missing breakfast and beginning school on an empty stomach (gasp!) and that seems to be enough motivation for my middle schooler.

 

There is a written list to be completed every day. Consistency and structure keep us from spinning wheels trying to decide what to do. With a written checklist, we are on the same page. I believe a set amount of work in a set amount of time builds good habits. If dawdling happens, we put away that book at the set time, and it is "homework" that afternoon or evening. That way I don't waste time and energy nagging, helicoptering, or waiting.

 

From 1-4 pm we have choice time. This time may also be a social activity, time at the gym, educational video, or productive activities of dd's choosing. On many days, we are out of the house during this time. This week, for example, she was crocheting Christmas gifts, and listening to an audio of "Call of the Wild". She has also made some Christmas cards for family and friends or practiced for the Christmas play she is involved in. On some days, she also does lots of drawing and singing. This is time for a variety of activities and social times. If dawdling occurred in the morning, she will do her table time rather than activities, but this rarely happens now. :D

 

4-5 pm is quiet study time. This is where dd typically does book basket reading such as history or literature, or finishes any independent work that was not done. This is my time to prepare dinner, and while I cook, light candles, etc I usually listen to audio lectures that I love. Sometimes I listen to my favorite music or an audiobook -- something just for me. If I am going to be gone during this cooking/quiet time, I prepare dinner in the morning and just reheat it. I also do prep for more than one meal at once by chopping onion and garlic for several meals. It saves so much time to streamline meal prep!

 

Dd has swim team at 6:30-8 on three to four nights. I will usually work out myself after I drop her off. On other nights we hang out, watch a family movie, or have free time.

 

8:30 is read-aloud time - dh does this and I am so thankful!

 

Anyway, that is what our day looks like. We get about 5 hours of school in, and have plenty of free time. With multiple children it is a matter of scheduling so that you can work with one while another is doing independent work. Getting up early and running a tight schedule has actually given lots of flexibility in the end. I would not be joyful to be stuck in the house bent over books all day without seeing friends. At the same time, I would not feel happy if I felt that not enough school was being done. It's tricky to find a balance! I know you will.

 

Blessings,

Tami

[Kfamily]

You've all given me a lot of different ways to make the most of each day. We do have piano on Tuesdays from 10:15-12:00 and I really can't change that but it is for both girls and my older dd does schoolwork while she waits for her turn.

 

I am going to give dd11 her own assignment sheet so that she can work on this when she has independent time.

Dh and I discussed this carefully and we both agree we want to step this up and will both take care in our schedules to see that we do.

We do read a book at night but we usually choose a good quality but still fun book for both girls to enjoy. We all listen and take turns reading together.

I think starting our day earlier is #1 on our list of improvements.

 

Thanks so much for your support! It is more valued than you might know.:grouphug:

[Pam L in Mid Tenn]

I usually work on school for about 5 hours a day, but the kids are not working that long. Even my high schoolers have some days they only work 2 or 3 hours. Some days my high schoolers might work 6 or 7 hours a day IF they have been dwaddling with lessons.

 

You have to find the fit for your family. Your schedule, your husband's job, the meals your prepare, health conditions, extendend family, church, all types of things play a role in finding the best fit for YOU.

 

Even SWB does not do EVERYTHING in WTM.

 

I HATE the word "rigoruous"... which is probably misspelled because I need more coffee.

 

I have been homeschooling 13 years: don't beat yourself up because your school day does not look like someone else's day. Find your fit and flow with it. Don't stress or the kids will pick up on your stress and then they will stress.

[skylark]

I've found myself thinking the same thing. I feel like I need to do more, so I'm re-reading the WTM and know I can make improvements. I think the key for me is to get up early each day. If we wake up late, the day goes by way too fast and we seem to be lazier.

[Homeschooling6]

The only 'social' time the children have is AWANA on Wed. night and Sunday School on Sun. If we go out on Sat. but that's as a family. Like driving around listening to music/stories in the car or a picnic type stuff other than that we stay home and love it.

 

I know many families here do lots of co-ops but that is not for our family. If we did all the extra stuff we would never get school done.

 

Blessings,

[IsabelC]

If you feel you need to do 5 hours per day, remember that is still much less than a schooled child would do. At school they are there for 6 hours or more, then they spend time driving/bussing/walking to school, then they have homework, not to mention the inevitable school activities that take place outside of normal school hours. So most schooled students are looking at maybe 8-10 hours of school and related activities per day.

 

Suggestions? You could go early or late. Eg an early schedule might look like: up at 6am, eat, wash etc, schoolwork 7-9.30am, half an hour break, schoolwork 10-12.30, lunch break, chores, and you're finished by about 2. Or you could reverse this and try a later schedule where most of the home ed stuff is done in the afternoons (or evenings, if your child is one of those who can be productive in the evenings). Alternatively, you could have fewer "school" days but make them more intensive, eg school mon-Wed 9-5, excursions / sports / kids social stuff on Thu, errands and housework on Fri, family time over the weekend. Or do 3.5 hours a day but do it every day including Sat-Sun. With so many more options than the typical schooled child has, it's only a matter of working out which will work best for your child and the family.

[Ester Maria]

If you feel you need to do 5 hours per day, remember that is still much less than a schooled child would do. At school they are there for 6 hours or more, then they spend time driving/bussing/walking to school, then they have homework, not to mention the inevitable school activities that take place outside of normal school hours. So most schooled students are looking at maybe 8-10 hours of school and related activities per day.

There is some truth to that, from the point of view which deals with the pure quantity, however, what about the quality? How much of that time is the actual work?

 

So much time in the classroom is a wasted time. Time and concentration are split between many students, lessons are longer to suit everybody's needs, for many students their homework is basically the only thing they actively, fully do regarding their schooling, and they aren't as concentrated in the class. I was personally like that - I always had excellent grades, but I felt that out of my, on average, 8 daily hours spent at school, about a half was purely wasted time. I felt that if they assignmed me the same material, and gave me 4 hours, that would just do. And I went to one of the "rigorous" schools; had I attend a "normal" one, even higher percentage of time would be wasted.

 

Homeschooling is a chance to avoid that, since you work one-on-one, and the kids have to concentrate and can't secretly do other activities (how many years at school I spent holding a book on my knees in class and reading instead of following a lengthy lecture on something I can read on my own in 20 minutes at home?!).

I'm frankly amazed by the things my daughters accomplish in less time than I used to spend at school only! If you impose a routine and don't allow their minds to wander, and accustom them to high standards from the beginning, even not many hours can do lots. We do many, but we do the entire Italian curriculum (long story), classics and Hebrew, AND most of the "regular" stuff kids here get (those not covered, or not covered enough, by the Italian curriculum + some enrichment, and English). (We don't do all of that every day though, but have a weekly schedule. ;)) If we were doing ONLY the "normal" stuff, with one extra language, and if we followed a more specific curriculum, it would take us up to 5 hours daily too, in my estimation (they're 11 and 12), but with all the extras, it adds up a little.

 

I really take care not to "split" the school day too much. Obviously they need a break and they need to eat, but I don't schedule any greater interruptions during the school day.

I also agree with whoever said you need to have fixed goals for the day. If they don't do it during the school day, it's considered a "homework", as they will still have to show it done the next day. They got accustomed to the fact they won't get away with it, so they concentrate and do what they must.

 

They do get free time in the evenings, provided all of their work for the day is done. They also get half Friday and all of Saturday off because of shabat (which we don't strictly religiously adhere to, but prefer to have it instead of "weekend"). They mostly socialize during that time.

 

Also, I insist on the school rigor because they spend large portions of the year abroad. I mean let's face it, I give them two full months of Italy, every year, when they're totally free. I don't request them to do anything during that time, they basically travel around, stay with our family, do a bunch of sleepovers at their friends, go out, etc.

We also spend, all put together, a few weeks yearly in Israel (usually divided in two smaller chunks), and an odd week or two yearly in Italy more during the year, and even with all that, every year we take a family trip, for about a week or two, somewhere else.

 

That means that, effectively, I'm losing more than three months of school a year because of being abroad only. A lot of it coincides with "holidays", but add to it an odd holiday, days when things simply don't function, all the things that somehow come up (doctors, needing to go somewhere for a day or a few, museums & exhibitions, taking tests - again in Italy - and such stuff...), I'm losing probably about FOUR MONTHS of every year.

 

So I'd say I have a right to do it "the proper way" for the rest eight. That's basically why I have them doing the full day (7-8 hours, when you take away all the pauses) - but again, realistically speaking, it's because of the extras that it's that long in the first place - it's not Math and Italian that eats up the time, but Greek and Latin and such stuff which we technically don't "have" to do, but I simply don't give up on them as long as they're homeschooled. :)