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joann10
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| Posted: July 29 2014 at 9:46am | IP Logged
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I have a problem, I think. In fact, I don't know if it is a problem or not.
I just can't schedule the kids schoolwork...I used to schedule a semester at a time, but now I just can't get it together. I have an idea what we will be doing and what books we will be using, but to put it into a time frame seems nearly impossible around here. I don't know when I won't be feeling up to school, or when Daddy is going to be home and "disrupt" the regular schedule (or the big kids showing up and causing chaos.
We also seem to go off in so many different rabbit trails, they just can't be planned for. If I try to schedule the schedule looks like a giant mess after only a week or two.
For example, last week we read about Paul Bunyan from The Children's Book of America That led to watching the Disney video of Paul Bunyan on Youtube, and that has led to a full blown study of Tall Tales in America, including map study, by finding all the areas in America these folks lived.
I tend to write down what we did right after we did it...
Can this work for the whole year? How can I possible hit everything the kids are supposed to be doing if we head off in all different directions daily.
Here is what we did last week...everything was written down after it was completed.
It's on the blog
I don't know how to put a photo on here.
What do you think? Do I need a to write out plans, or will this suffice?
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: July 29 2014 at 10:16am | IP Logged
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Well, I think that you need to decide how important it is that your children hit *all* the things that they are *supposed to.* It might not be important at all!! It certainly isn't to unschoolers, who would say that the journeys you take out of your child's interest are going to be more meaningful and lead to more learning than through things covered by assignment. If this is your lifestyle--something you want the freedom to do daily, you may need to give your educational philosophy a good look. Maybe it is important that you hit the "supposed tos" in math but not so much in history? That might be okay, too.
I tend to schedule leaving generous room in the margins for extra learning. I also try to schedule in ways that mean we are not "behind" if we take some extra time. I schedule formal lessons for 4 days a week, 30 weeks a year. I number our days rather than assign lessons to days of the week, so we have 24 "days" per six week term--then we take off a week between terms (sometimes not if we got behind and took that time during the term), Advent/Christmas (take time for other read alouds, handicrafts, etc...), two weeks for Holy Week/Easter, etc...
I think what you are doing could certainly suffice! If it is working for you, why fix what is not broken? But then, I am not required by my state to cover anything in particular or report what we are doing. I have no idea whether your system will be sufficient come time to submit your reports, but I can only imagine that there are unschoolers in your state and that they must do something similar in recording their work for submission.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: July 29 2014 at 10:18am | IP Logged
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I wonder if the color coded checklist that Sarah describes on her blog here and here might not be a good system for you to consider.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 29 2014 at 11:23am | IP Logged
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I would go with a list without a timetable so that you know what you want to be moving toward.. AND then writing down what you do after you do it. But I'd find without the list to help maintain some sort of focus I'd "get lost". But I dislike scheduling times of the day.. things shift so much.. much nicer to have a list that can get done whenever we get it done.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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MarilynW
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| Posted: July 30 2014 at 7:21am | IP Logged
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Joann - I think that it is good to have some basic routine to your days. Kids need order to be peaceful. And you will feel better with seeing progress and goals accomplished. You could do scheduled work in the morning - Math, Latin, Language Arts etc. Then have a basic plan for history and science - but as Lindsay said, have plenty of margin for rabbit trails. I think if you are constantly following rabbit trails, children are less likely to be disciplined in their work and thinking, and you might be frustrated.
I think an overall plan like Maria's syllabus or Sarah's checklist are good for YOU to be able to monitor where you are up to. Also to help keep you accountable.
It does not take a lot of time. Have a basic organization of your day - with the understanding that there will be changes in organization. Then take each subject and do a quick checklist - manual or typed. Note the number of chapters. Break it down into terms or quarters or however you organize your year. Check off as you complete and you can see at a glance where you are up to. The good thing is that you can see where you are behind and spend more time on these.
Your schedule is your slave and guide - NOT your master.
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Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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Topic: Scheduling-or lack of....
