Comments on: Your Day http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/23/your-day/ Charlotte Mason method homeschool helps. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:52:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mary in KY http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/23/your-day/#comment-4590 Mary in KY Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:59:49 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=441#comment-4590 I use a modified time-box method. I really wanted to do the scheduled thing but it just did not work for us. We start our school day no later than 9:30 (I would prefer earlier, but it is me and not the kids that just can't get ready to go before that). We have Bible followed by math (3rd grader predominantly independent, 1st grader with me to maintiain focus) and then set the timer for a 10 min break. I put away Bible/Math and get out Phonics, Grammar, Lang Arts, Spelling. We work on these for however long it takes to get completed. Timer set for another 10 min break while I tidy up and mark off the day's accomplishments. We then relocate for reading/narration. If there is still time before lunch we go ahead with these things. If everyone is STARVED (as is almost always the case even if it is only 10:15) I will put on a Librivox chapter while I fix lunch. After lunch we complete the History/Literature/Science/Composer/Artist readings and activities. We usually wrap up no later than 2:30. The rest of the day is outdoor play and extracurricular activities (piano lessons, judo) and chores. I am really excited about looking more at the big picture of planning. We will be participating in co-op next year where we will be doing body science and state history. I was afraid we might be overdoing for science and history. This way, I can lay it all out and make sure things don't get too heavy or skipped. My previous planning method (after selecting the resources for the year) was to print out a blank weekly schedule with subjects down the side - days across the top. As each seatwork item was completed on Monday I would plot out the next several days (up to 2 weeks) onto the blank sheets. I hope to be a bit better than that next year. I tried laying out the entire year in a spreadsheet once - what a disaster! If we had to drop or add a resource or an unexpected field trip disrupts the schedule it was a nightmare. I still like the old pen and ink method for day to day. Thanks for this great series! Mary in KY I use a modified time-box method. I really wanted to do the scheduled thing but it just did not work for us.

We start our school day no later than 9:30 (I would prefer earlier, but it is me and not the kids that just can’t get ready to go before that). We have Bible followed by math (3rd grader predominantly independent, 1st grader with me to maintiain focus) and then set the timer for a 10 min break. I put away Bible/Math and get out Phonics, Grammar, Lang Arts, Spelling. We work on these for however long it takes to get completed. Timer set for another 10 min break while I tidy up and mark off the day’s accomplishments.

We then relocate for reading/narration. If there is still time before lunch we go ahead with these things. If everyone is STARVED (as is almost always the case even if it is only 10:15) I will put on a Librivox chapter while I fix lunch. After lunch we complete the History/Literature/Science/Composer/Artist readings and activities. We usually wrap up no later than 2:30. The rest of the day is outdoor play and extracurricular activities (piano lessons, judo) and chores.

I am really excited about looking more at the big picture of planning. We will be participating in co-op next year where we will be doing body science and state history. I was afraid we might be overdoing for science and history. This way, I can lay it all out and make sure things don’t get too heavy or skipped.

My previous planning method (after selecting the resources for the year) was to print out a blank weekly schedule with subjects down the side - days across the top. As each seatwork item was completed on Monday I would plot out the next several days (up to 2 weeks) onto the blank sheets. I hope to be a bit better than that next year. I tried laying out the entire year in a spreadsheet once - what a disaster! If we had to drop or add a resource or an unexpected field trip disrupts the schedule it was a nightmare. I still like the old pen and ink method for day to day.

Thanks for this great series!

Mary in KY

]]> By: AmyVG http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/23/your-day/#comment-4587 AmyVG Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:48:21 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=441#comment-4587 Great series! Thanks so much for your wonderful, resourceful website! We're in our first year of homeschooling our SK-grade son (plus our two other adorable pre-school grade daughters), all I do at this point is schedule what needs to get done that day and we, together, do each lesson in short 15min (or so) time periods in the morning. We go through all the subjects in the morning, with-in a hour or two. From fun stuff, like fingerplays and singing to (more fun stuff!) our Saxon math program and phonics (Phonic Pathways). Great series! Thanks so much for your wonderful, resourceful website! We’re in our first year of homeschooling our SK-grade son (plus our two other adorable pre-school grade daughters), all I do at this point is schedule what needs to get done that day and we, together, do each lesson in short 15min (or so) time periods in the morning. We go through all the subjects in the morning, with-in a hour or two. From fun stuff, like fingerplays and singing to (more fun stuff!) our Saxon math program and phonics (Phonic Pathways).

]]> By: Diane http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/23/your-day/#comment-4585 Diane Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:48:18 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=441#comment-4585 Thank you so much for your series on planning. I'm a second year homeschooling mom to a 3-,6-, and 8-year old, and with our current situation, I see the benefit of the time box approach. Thank you for your resources, and making the CM method so "user-friendly". Thank you so much for your series on planning. I’m a second year homeschooling mom to a 3-,6-, and 8-year old, and with our current situation, I see the benefit of the time box approach. Thank you for your resources, and making the CM method so “user-friendly”.

]]> By: Amber http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/23/your-day/#comment-4583 Amber Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:10:10 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=441#comment-4583 I really like the idea of time-boxes and short lessons, but I find it challening to make that work well in certain subjects (copywork and math, mostly) because a lot of the time is spent staring into space rather than doing the lesson. I know it is an issue of cultivating the habit of attention, but I'm not sure how to do that other than staring at her for the entire time and refocusing her attention each time it wanders... which is quite frustrating for both of us. I've tried setting the timer for, say, 25 minutes when I know it should take 15 to do a task and telling her she can have the extra for play, but generally it doesn't work (unless I sit and stare at her the whole time and constantly refocus her attention) and she just shrugs it off, saying that she'll have plenty of time to play in the afternoon. Anyways, this has been an interesting series and it has given me some things to think about. I think I do pretty well planning on a yearly basis and even for the next couple of years ahead, but I break down somewhat in planning out my semesters and weeks. We do manage to get done what I'd like to get done, but I think more planning would make it go more smoothly. I know what my overall goals are, but perhaps I should spend some more time thinking about what the rest of our homeschool time is going to look like rather than just looking ahead a 2-3 years. I really like the idea of time-boxes and short lessons, but I find it challening to make that work well in certain subjects (copywork and math, mostly) because a lot of the time is spent staring into space rather than doing the lesson. I know it is an issue of cultivating the habit of attention, but I’m not sure how to do that other than staring at her for the entire time and refocusing her attention each time it wanders… which is quite frustrating for both of us. I’ve tried setting the timer for, say, 25 minutes when I know it should take 15 to do a task and telling her she can have the extra for play, but generally it doesn’t work (unless I sit and stare at her the whole time and constantly refocus her attention) and she just shrugs it off, saying that she’ll have plenty of time to play in the afternoon.

Anyways, this has been an interesting series and it has given me some things to think about. I think I do pretty well planning on a yearly basis and even for the next couple of years ahead, but I break down somewhat in planning out my semesters and weeks. We do manage to get done what I’d like to get done, but I think more planning would make it go more smoothly. I know what my overall goals are, but perhaps I should spend some more time thinking about what the rest of our homeschool time is going to look like rather than just looking ahead a 2-3 years.

]]> By: Tonya http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/23/your-day/#comment-4582 Tonya Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:38:20 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=441#comment-4582 I'm just excited to find there is a name for the way we do things! :) We tried, really, really tried to do timetable as that is what my dh would prefer, but it just never worked practically for us. Over time our schedule became a case of "start school at x time and complete a, b, and c before breakfast. Between breakfast and lunch do d, e, and f and finish everything else before y time." I think it's great that there is a name for it. Time-boxes. I like it! :) I’m just excited to find there is a name for the way we do things! :) We tried, really, really tried to do timetable as that is what my dh would prefer, but it just never worked practically for us. Over time our schedule became a case of “start school at x time and complete a, b, and c before breakfast. Between breakfast and lunch do d, e, and f and finish everything else before y time.” I think it’s great that there is a name for it. Time-boxes. I like it! :)

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