ummtafari Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 (edited) It seems like I always have to try and "steal" some time here and there to do the proper prep. work for homeschooling. As those of you who piece together their own curriculum are well aware, this takes time away from the children. I always feel like I am obligated to educate/entertain/supervise them when they are up and awake, so that doesn't leave much time for planning until after they go to bed. Edited January 15, 2009 by ummtafari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawneinfl Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 and I love planning. This year is pretty easy with Calvert. Now if I could just learn to add grading my high schoolers work at night... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abreakfromlife Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I usually do it after they go to bed; settle in with a nice cup of tea and chocolate and a tv show and get working. I love the planning aspect of it. I always feel like I am obligated to educate/entertain/supervise them I don't have that same obligation, though, LOL. They do all have a couple hours in the afternoon where they are all in their rooms so I can get some uninterrupted time to get stuff done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtafari Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 They do all have a couple hours in the afternoon where they are all in their rooms so I can get some uninterrupted time to get stuff done. Do they older ones help out with the younger ones or do they all take a nap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Well, I picked before they wake up, while they are playing, and anytime throughout the day. The only time I don't steal bits and pieces of time to do hsing stuff is after they go to bed (unless you count reading a catalog in bed) because I'm pretty worthless after 8PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtafari Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 T For novels, if I have not managed to read ahead and formulate some questions, I use the Elson Readers. They contain mostly short stories and poems. The questions are already written in the teacher's guide. You are scaring me with the though of having to read through novels for each child, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I vote OTHER. I plan all my lessons for the entire year during the summer and make binders that include assignment sheets, worksheets, etc., whatever we will need. Then every Sunday night I take about 30 minutes to get that week's work from the unit binder and put it into their daily binder and review what I have scheduled for the week. It's a lot of work over the summer but the stress I DON'T have to deal with during the school year is so worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I always feel like I am obligated to educate/entertain/supervise them when they are up and awake. . . I do not feel this obligation. Yes, I do feel obligated to educate, and of course supervise to a degree dependent upon age/maturity. Entertain? Nah . . . children are born knowing how to entertain themselves. If we leave them to their own devices they come up with marvelous things. I tend to think that lots of independence with a healthy dose of genuine responsibility produces confident, self-sufficient people. If a kid approaches me saying they are bored, I am happy to give them chores to do. How often do you think my kids are bored? ;) As far as planning goes, I am very much a do-the-next-thing person. I keep long assignment lists per subject in a big binder. I try to write the lists when I have received the curriculum. Often I cannot get the whole list written in one sitting, so I bring the materials along to music lessons or perhaps spread out on the couch in the evening while watching a PBS mystery. In this way my lists get done here and there, in dribs and drabs. The lists contain every possible assignment for the year (or semester or whatever). So for SOTW, I write down reading assignments, which activities from the AG guide, library trips, etc. On any given day I have a schedule of what subjects we will address that day. We do the next thing on the list. I modify as we go--I might choose to skip a science experiment because we don't have time that day or week, etc. When we have accomplished whatever seems good to me that day and I am crossing those items off the list, I glance at what's next just in case I need special supplies for the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I do the vast majority of mine in the summer before the academic year starts. I sit down with all the books and materials I'm planning to use that year and write plans for each week of the coming year. At the same time, I track down any extras I want to have on hand: maps, worksheets, etc. For example, this year I have my son doing one history review-type worksheet each week. I found and/or created all of those over the summer so they are ready to print out as we go. I did the same thing with all of the writing samples we're using. Obviously, there are occasionally needs to juggle or adjust things. We got a bit behind in a couple of subjects in the weeks leading up to the holiday break, for example. So, I had to spend some time (about three hours total, I think) re-allocating work so that we could catch up in the second semester. I just sat down one afternoon before we started back to school and figured it all out. I now have my assignment sheets for all of the remaining weeks of the year printed out and stuck in my binder, ready to go. Oh, and I meant to say that I agree with Strider. It is not my job to entertain my kids all day. If I do that, how will the ever learn to entertain themselves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I vote OTHER. I plan all my lessons for the entire year during the summer and make binders that include assignment sheets, worksheets, etc., whatever we will need. Then every Sunday night I take about 30 minutes to get that week's work from the unit binder and put it into their daily binder and review what I have scheduled for the week. It's a lot of work over the summer but the stress I DON'T have to deal with during the school year is so worth it! :iagree:I'm another year-at-a-time planner. But I picked when she is playing. That is generally when I'll look over what is coming up for the day or will put grades in the computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Other: On a Saturday or Sunday, by myself at the library or even in our bedroom while dh is with the kids and I plan for 6 weeks or so at a time. I plan to plan. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtafari Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Oh, and I meant to say that I agree with Strider. It is not my job to entertain my kids all day. If I do that, how will the ever learn to entertain themselves? I agree. I guess I should have phrased it differently- the referee, lol. I just can't concentrate with going back and forth to assist them and plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abreakfromlife Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Do they older ones help out with the younger ones or do they all take a nap? oh they all are resting, LOL. I need a break from them. Sometimes the olders will go in another room and play playmobil or knex or something, but they are out of my hair. The days when things are going good and I think it will be find to let them stay out in the living room and play - I end up fried by bedtime. So I try to make that a strong priority, even if that means bumping some school stuff to the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I tend to sneak in bits and pieces througout the day. They do a lot of independent work, and once school's over, they run off and play anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtafari Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 oh they all are resting, LOL. I need a break from them. quote] I make it a strong priority to "rest" as well most days! If I don't fall asleep myself, I do light planning (mental planning). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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