Schooling during a Pandemic - Schedule


         A little background before going into this topic. I've been homeschooling my girls for about 5  years now. I don't know it all but what I have learn from trial and error I am more than willing to share it with you all. So go into this post with an open mind and heart. And know that this is just how we do it, everyone is different and everyone's schedule does not have to be exactly the same to work..

         With so many schools closing because of COVID-19, it put a lot of parents in a pickle as they were so rapidly introduce to the term "homeschooling". Local schools are offering online classes and zoom to interact with the classmates, which is great to see!

         But with the change comes the headache on how to get some type of discipline and order in your home. With that being said, I have notice that my children, personally, do better when they know what is expected of them. Sometimes it is calming to have a schedule or semi schedule. But a lot of the time we don't know were to start. Especially when you were basically put in this position with such short notice. So here is OUR schedule for reference. Tweak it how you like and to fit your family needs. 

NOTE: My children do some of their subjects online through Time4Learning, WE ARE OK WITH SCREEN TIME FOR THESE SUBJECTS. BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF BOOK CURRICULUM'S THAT CAN BE USED IN PLACE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO AVOID SCREENS💁.
We have a room specifically for school but it is not used all the time. They take their work where ever they feel they can concentrate.


7ish - 9ish - Breakfast, Chores, Get ready for the day, and Yoga

---------------------------------------------------------------

9ish - Online school

We use "Time4Learning" for all these following subjects. You don't have to "clock in" with Time4learning so you may start or end school when you please. With that being said time4learning keeps a log everytimes the students logs in so this could count as attendance. We start at 9 am because it works for us. We start with Math and language Arts because they need the most help from me with those 2 topics. Also around 9 am the baby of the family is still waking up and generally pretty calm. So this gives me and my older children more time to work together with minimal interruptions. So if you have little ones I would recommend that you work around the little ones schedule (naps and such). Otherwise you will finish off your day feeling very frustrated and unaccomplished. If your little one is feeling extra needy or is not feeling well a particular day and is demanding more attention than usual maybe just take the day off and give your kiddos some extra cuddles and attention. You want to make learning a priority but if the stress level is high nothing will get done. 

Here is my link for Time4Learning. I do get a percentage off of this link if anyone uses it to sign up but the opinions are my own and I do genuinely love this program. 
CHECK OUT TIME4LEARNING HERE 👇
Free resource 👉 https://play.prodigygame.com/
Free worksheets 👉 https://www.math-salamanders.com/ (I'll sometimes use this instead of the math in Time4learning)
For book curriculum we liked MathUSee

* LANGUAGE ARTS (15-40mins depends on lesson and/or child's pace) (https://www.time4learning.com/signup/step1.aspx?rid=6m95/7cqH2/NUeJ8ir3+SQ==)

⭐After the 1st 2 subjects are finished we will brake for a snack or a run outside, if they need it. NOTICE I didn't put a time here. That is because the time frames on these subjects vary. Sometimes the lesson are short and sometimes there will be a lesson that requires note taking and looking up definitions to words, ect.  There are times they will zoom through these 4 subjects. Sometimes they lag a bit and so this is the point they can choose to go get some air and collect their thoughts. ⭐


* SOCIAL STUDIES (15-40mins depends on lesson and/or child's pace) (https://www.time4learning.com/signup/step1.aspx?rid=6m95/7cqH2/NUeJ8ir3+SQ==)

* SCIENCE (15-40mins depends on lesson and/or child's pace) (https://www.time4learning.com/signup/step1.aspx?rid=6m95/7cqH2/NUeJ8ir3+SQ==)
Or here is a free resource 👉 https://mysterydoug.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------

12ish - Lunch 

---------------------------------------------------------------

12:30ish - Brake "Recess"

---------------------------------------------------------------

1ish - More online work if they didn't finish in the morning. Otherwise we can do art class or board games focused around the subjects they are learning. Every day is different!

1:30ish - 

 * Typing - (15 mins) The program we use is called "Typing Fingers" . I believe it's like $10 to buy the program. It can be bought on the Microsoft store or play store. Once it's downloaded to your computer it can be used offline.)
Or here's another site that is free👉 https://www.typingclub.com/

* History (a documentary, or a book sometimes accompanied  with a worksheet)
Or here's a free online resource 👉 historyforkids.net

The following are just extras. If they have finished all the subjects above and have been productive than I'll allow these following games for the set time frames specified. Otherwise we skip to paper work

* Math Game (15mins) Time4learning has a math game but here are other free options that I also  listed above☝️👉 https://play.prodigygame.com/
Free worksheets 👉 https://www.math-salamanders.com/  (I sometimes use this instead of the math in Time4learning)

* Reading Game (15mins) - Free Reading program if used on a laptop. This is free if you use it on a desktop Link 👉 https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
* Online book - This is a neat website where astronauts read books from out of space. The girls enjoy it. So we implemented into our school. Link 👉 https://storytimefromspace.com/

👉 ABCmouse.com/redeem
Use code: SCHOOL2568

---------------------------------------------------------------
2ish - PAPER WORK - 
This is also nap time for the baby so this is another opportunity for me to have some one on one with my older kiddos.

* Journal - I have them write a diary entry.
* Spelling - for free worksheets 👉 https://www.k12reader.com/spelling-worksheets/
In the passed we have used Spell U See which I liked but never bought the next book up. Than I found the website above and stuck with that instead 
* Cursive - for free worksheets 👉. 
https://www.education.com/worksheets/cursive/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       Sometimes we will skip paper work and I have them play dominoes or Scrabble. OR If it's a good day and we haven't had too much procrastination I'll "dismiss" them and they'll go out and just play.

      NOTE: RIGHT NOW WE ARE ALL IN QUARANTINE BC OF COVID-19.. BUT I WOULD HATE ANYONE TO THINK THAT HOMESCHOOLERS ARE ALWAYS HOME.... IN REALITY HOMESCHOOLING DOESN'T  NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE'RE HOME ALL THE TIME. IN FACT, WE DO SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF THE HOME A LOT. THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF IT, THE WORLD IS YOUR CLASSROOM. SCHEDULES CAN BE CHANGED OR BROKEN AT ANY POINT! 
BELOW 👇 IS WHAT WE WOULD GENERALLY DO IF WE WEREN'T IN QUARANTINE. 💁

     A few days out of the month we visit our local Homeschooling Center to meet friends, classes or attend events. It's a great place for resources and there is always so many helpful mom's there. We also do "field trips" on Fridays. Any extracurricular activities or sports are generally done Mondays or Wednesdays. 

      Because we spend enough time on the laptops doing online work. My girls don't get free time on their laptops or tablets after school during the week. After school they spend they rest of the day outside playing, that is if they don't have a sport or class in the evening. We do, however, have "electronic day" on the weekends. We do 30-45 mins time frames and 1 hour intervals. If we are with family or out I ask them to enjoy the family get togethers or outing and electronics can come afterwards .

That is pretty much it! Monday-Thursday are pretty busy. We take it easy on Fridays though. And most of the times we break our schedule or change it up a bit to fit what we have going on that day. Again, I'm sharing our schedule to give you a start point or to template to go off of. It is okay if you make a schedule up and decide to change somethings here and there. That is the beauty of homeschooling, you make it work for YOUR family. Hope that helps, somewhat. 🤷

Let me Know if y'all have any questions.


-Maria

NOTE: DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE HOMESCHOOLING LAW IN YOUR STATE! HERE'S THE LINK https://hslda.org/content/laws/




History in the Livingroom with a snack.

Math on the trampoline

Science on the picnic table

Art Class

Entrepreneur Club at the local homeschooling Center

At the E-Club again. The entrepreneur in them is nurtured. They learn how to run a business, work on logos, money management, people skill, etc....

Workshop with their daddy



At a festival teaching history and culture

At a car show, where we had our own booth and they got to run their own business. Learning math, people skill and money handling/management.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pre-School Binder - with Links to make your own!

Image
     Having little children in the house is such a blessing. All the cuddles and unconditional love they give. The smallest things make them happy.  They are also curious about everything and have a will to learn. It's true what they say, their little brains absorb everything like a sponge. This works to the advantage of a parent willing to teach! Mud Pie! Enjoying the puddles      Little children do most of their learning through play. So I encourage them to get muddy. Let them jump in the puddles. I get them in play clothes so they can enjoy getting dirty. They are new beings on this planet and are discovering the world through play. We should nurture that curiosity.   Did you know: Soil has a bacteria that releases dopamine in the brain which studies have shown to helps combat anxiety & depression. Studies have also show it to release neurons in the brain responsible for producing serotonin which can also improve your immune system. Happiness
Read more

Kid Allowance Chore Chart and Mock Checks

Image
        One day our children will grow up. They will make their own money. They will be solely responsible for managing their funds in a world full of bills and expenses. I think all parents can agree that we want to make sure they are prepared and ready to face the world with a strong foundation set in place.      The majority of people started off with an allowance as children. I didn't, I got my first job around 13. I worked under the table for a taco shop. Made like 🤔 $160 cash a week. I would also buy LOC sunglasses at the flea markets in Houston, TX. I would double my profile by selling them to the kids at my school. On top of that I would take requests for custom drawings and sell those, too.       I have kept some type of hustle going throughout my teenage years. But I got my 1st official job around 15. I waited anxiously for Friday to get here so I could cash my 1st check. I had calculated it down to the last minute I worked and knew the exact number I would see on th
Read more