| Educating your children at home is a full-time job. | | | | time period. I type this up and display it on the |
| How do you get it all done each day? By creating | | | | bulletin board. Finally, I have a list of weekly House |
| a schedule that you can both live with and live | | | | Jobs for every family member posted in plain |
| without. Here are some guidelines to follow to help | | | | view on the bulletin board. I have found it is |
| keep things running smoothly: | | | | important, especially in a large family, to have the |
| Plan Ahead In the late spring of the year, take an | | | | routine jobs of running a household as well as |
| overview look at what you want to teach next | | | | academics set out in some regular schedule |
| year, with all of your children. Create an outline | | | | format. That way your house does not take |
| that you will then be able to fill out more | | | | hours to clean but a room or a series of rooms |
| thoroughly as you get closer to the fall. Include in | | | | are done each day along with other daily chores. |
| this outline unit studies you can do as a family | | | | Your house may not be totally clean all on the |
| together as well as independent work for an | | | | same day, but within a week to ten days every |
| individual child. Pencil in important dates like | | | | room and household task will have its attention. |
| holidays, birthdays, and known family trips as well. | | | | Deep cleaning (scrubbing the baseboard, |
| It is also a good idea to purchase supplies early | | | | shampooing rugs) can be done seasonally. |
| that you know you will have what you need for | | | | Be Flexible This may sound like a contradiction of |
| the fall. | | | | the first two points, but the fact is that you |
| Create a Weekly Schedule As time for your | | | | cannot let a schedule get in the way of times |
| homeschooling year to start gets closer and you | | | | when you need to do something spontaneous or |
| will have a better feel for things like | | | | unexpected. The schedule is designed to help you |
| extra-curricular activities and co-ops. This is a | | | | have a smooth rhythm to your day, not to be a |
| good time to create a Weekly Homeschooling | | | | yoke around your neck weighing you down with |
| Schedule. I use a different color for each child and | | | | duties! Make sure there is also free time or down |
| one for myself. Each day of the week and the | | | | time for yourself in your weekly schedule so that |
| hours from 8 AM to evening are listed. I put into | | | | everyone can relax and unwind in an unstructured |
| this schedule the routine and regular activities of | | | | way. Perhaps, one of the most important things |
| our homeschooling day and times for | | | | to keep track of is making sure that the family |
| extra-curricular activities away from home. One | | | | vacation is well-planned for and dreamed about! |
| good way to see if you have over committed | | | | By planning an outline several months ahead and |
| yourself to outside activities is to and map your | | | | creating a weekly schedule and housework list, |
| daily schedule onto your weekly schedule. If it | | | | you will find that you can adjust easily into the |
| looks like too much on paper, it probably is and | | | | daily rhythm of homeschooling. Remember that |
| you might want to consider simplifying your | | | | you don't have to do every subject everyday as |
| out-of-house activities. Another good idea is to | | | | long as your basic monthly goals are met. Allow |
| schedule your shopping trips as well so you can | | | | yourself time and occasions when you will not |
| create menu plans and be more organized in your | | | | follow the the regular schedule and work to stay |
| expeditions away from home. Along with this | | | | flexible when the unexpected happens. Most |
| schedule, I have an Outline List of | | | | important, enjoy the closeness and joy that is |
| month-to-month homeschooling topics for each | | | | possible in your homeschooling family! |
| child that I want to be sure and cover in a given | | | | |