I think one thing many new homeschoolers have a hard time avoiding is the “school at home” attitude. That nagging feeling that if you’re not ringing a bell at 8am and doing school work on a tight schedule, you’re doing something “wrong.” I had trouble with this our first year, specifically with the concept that school should be done in the morning. Public schools, of course, start early, and there are always those “experts” that insist children learn best bright and early (although I’ve heard some say later is better; I feel vindicated!) Plus, I felt like a slacker if we hung out in our pajamas all morning and didn’t start school until after lunch!
And while starting in the morning certainly works well for many homeschooling families, it just didn’t work for us. My oldest daughter (the only one currently homeschooling) and I are both about as far from “morning people” as you could possibly get (unlike my 4 year old, who is a loud, bubbly ball of sunshine from the very moment she opens her eyes in the morning). Trying to start school in the morning just made us both snippy and grumpy. And then of course, there were the two little ones to deal with, who could only be placated if I allowed them to sit in my lap and coloring all over my lesson plans. Needless to say, that was distracting and stressful. After a couple months of trying to turn us into happy morning people ready to tackle a pile of work at 8am sharp, I gave up. I left the mornings clear for whatever the heck we wanted to do, and I waited until after lunch, when the toddler was off at pre-school and the baby was down for a nap.
It was amazing how much of a difference it made! My daughter and I both started the school day in a much better mood, and being able to go one on one with her, without the little ones distracting us, not only made the school day more enjoyable, but we also got through everything much more quickly. This year I started out this way right off the bat, and so far, it’s been really great. We have lunch, I see my 4 year old off to pre-school (she rides the bus, which she loves!), lay the baby down for her nap, and then we get started. So far we’ve been able to get everything done right around the time the baby wakes up and sister gets home from school.
Of course, it seems obvious now, looking back. I mean, why on earth would I try to stick schooling into a time slot that doesn’t work for us, when one of the touted benefits of homeschooling is flexibility? But sometimes we have deep-seated notions of how schooling should be, and bucking that can make us question ourselves. Even if it’s something as simple as when to start school!
Does your family homeschool during an “unconventional” time?
No related posts.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Our "school" time is spread out all over the day depending on what works for each of us that day. We do start each day with a schedule for the day but not every day is the same. It works great for us.
This is our first year and I'm only HSing a 1st grader, but also have a 3 year old and a 2 year old at home. So far what seems to be working well for us is 15 – 20 minute increments throughout the day (about 4 – 6 sessions).
I'm so thankful for posts like this that remind me each family is different AND that what works one day might not work the next (which I've already found out!)
And why is it that we need to have "experts" tell us what is right for our own family before we feel vindicated? I hope there comes a day when I stop listening to "them"… whoever "they" are! :)
This will be my first year home schooling and I was trying to implement a schedule before school even started that was more "school-like" and less "home-like". My two oldest were in public school and I thought that I needed to mimic that type of schedule. I don't think it helps that my mother, who has never home schooled, continues to interject her thoughts (up and dressed, separate room, etc., etc.). Thankfully I have a friend who is homeschooling her 11th child now who set me straight. She pretty much stated the same thing you did. Do what works best for your family, that's the beauty of home school. I plan on starting in the morning and just take breaks as necessary. Thanks for a great post.
My daughter does best in the morning, so we usually start right after breakfast. However, we often have errands to run so we just do homeschooling whenever.
we do something different each year depending on the babies / toddlers and how quick i am to catch on to the need for change. right ow we do independent work stuff, errands, out of the house stuff n the morning. as soon as the 2yr old goes down for her nap, the phone goes off, dishes stop and we are reading and doing projects for history and science
We do reading and math in the morning. My daughter is always more excited about doing it and reads with better attention if we do it right after breakfast. Eveything else we fit in when it works. Usually we do most everything in the morning, except History projects and Nature Study. Those we do in the afternoon.
We are spread out through the day fitting in with the demands of 3 younger children aged 3 and under. We have "scheduled" school times for our read aloud time (just after the babies go down for a nap) and memory work and worship times. Then the work boxes just get worked through during the day. If it is sunny she may play outside with the little ones until after lunch then "school" during their nap time. Rainy days she tends to hit the boxes first thing unless there is an especially interesting sheet tent in the lounge room. She loves to show off a book she can read to Daddy after all the other kids are in bed at night time sometimes too! The HOME and SCHOOL parts of homeschooling get equal weight in this house! My difficulty is my little book worm often needs to be pried AWAY from the workboxes – this may change as she gets older!
I totally agree. There are many days that we do school after lunch through the late afternoon. My daughter is not a morning person either. Sometimes are best work comes from later in the day.
Blessings
Diane
Thanks everyone! I love to hear how other families fit schooling into their day :)
My 10yo son likes to do his schoolwork at night…after supper while I am bathing the little ones. He completes all of the work that he can do independently, and then the next morning we finish up together. He loves to have the late mornings/early afternoons to be outside. I am currently waking up my older girls (12 and 14), because we have cross country practice 3 times a week and piano on one of those days too. They need to be finished with their schoolwork and chores before we leave. On the days we don't have practice, I let them sleep in.
You will find over time that you just need to do what works for your family. And what works this year, may not work next year or even next month.
I have a "schedule", but it is really a guide.