When It's Quiet...

Some days, when I awake and it's quiet in the house.... I have very intelligent thoughts. I always give thanks to God because I know I'm still half asleep. :)

This is one of my ideas...

Organizing Homeschool Time

In the state of Oklahoma, we are now required a time of instruction to complete. 3 hours per day.

Let's do some MATH!

3 hours per day times 5 days per week = 15 hours per week (assuming you only do school M-F)

We are also required to instruct for 180 days per calendar year.

180 days divided by 5 days per week = 36 weeks. (Sound familiar?)

Public school runs 36 weeks. They have some type of 'break' every 9 weeks.... So YOU can take a day off or have a fun field trip too!

So let's break this down a bit more... ( Do your own math in like manner if you are required more instructing time.)

3 hours = 6 (30 minute) sections of time. (Start drawing a graph.)

Each of those 30 minutes blocks of time can be split into 2 (15 minute) sections of time, a total of 12 sections. Add to your graph. (This will end up looking like a family tree and/ or a dog breed paper.)

I bet you can guess what comes next! Yes, Break those 12 (15 minute) sections down into ~~~ 36 ~~~ sections of 5 minute blocks of time.

SOOOOOOO, you NEED to spend at least 5 minutes per day on one subject for 5 days a week for 180 days per year. BINGO! you're done. That's not so difficult...

For older children, let them decide if they want to study EACH subject 5 minutes per day OR maybe they want to study ONE subject in depth for ONE day..... etc.... Let them do the MATH and then CHECK IT.(They will be adults soon and NEED to make decisions so let them practice now.)l

SAY WHAT? It's not THAT easy, right?

Uh huh....it is or CAN be that easy.

Now that you have a graph in front of you.... you do have a graph, right? (OK, I'll wait on you..........................................................................................................................................................................................)

Ok, now that you have a graph in front of you specifically designed for your homeschool requirements,take a break. WHAT?

Yes, we all need breaks. Go take one. Meet me back here in 3 minutes. GO ~ scoot, now - away with you....

( 3 minutes time span clicking away....)

Okay now, let's finish. Why the break , you say? Well, everyone needs breaks, especially energetic kids. Let's not burn out the learning light with stifling air and BOREDOM. We can let the public schools do that if that' s what we really wanted for our little learners......

( I went to public school for 13 years so I have first-hand knowledge and that's MY opinion.Yes, I turned out OK, but I want more than OK for my kids and I am a lifetime learner - most school kids we are producing now are NOT 'into" learning things...)

My graph has 36 (5 minute) sections to the far right and 1 (3 hour) section to the far left.

Now, on the middle section for 15 minutes, start writing down your required SUBJECTS and electives. (One subject per line.)

I have these: Math, English, Science, HIstroy/Geography, Arts and Foreign Language(s).

The next section of 15 minute time frames should break these SUBJECTS down into 2 groups. These are mine:

Math - memorization,practice

English - Reading/Phonics, Writing/Spelling

Science - Nutrition, Science (explain later)

History/Geography - History, Geography

Arts - Art, Music

Foreign Languages - Spanish (primary), German/ ASL (secondary)

Now, the fun part! What do you put on the 5 minute sections of time? WEll, what's important to you and the child who will be living life after you INSTRUCT them AND meets your requirements for your state's laws?

Here are a few things I have on my 5 minute sections for EXAMPLE:

math flash cards,math times tables ( I didn't do this for my LD children),worksheets, fun zerox or game, real world example,reading aloud, phonics practice (games, cards, etc FUN),spelling, writing,typing,Home Ec. (age appropriate),food groups, Biology, Chemicals, machines (start with basics), OKlahoma History, USA History... you get the idea.

Now, GO INSTRUCT and PROSPER!