Plan of attack

I am bound & determined to get things back on track around here.  And it isn’t just schooling.  A couple weeks ago, I really started to crack down on the boys’ morning routine & chores.  Now that our mornings are going smoothly, I am ready to tackle the next obstacle – our afternoon schedule.  I have gone through seasons of very strict minute-to-minute schedules & then lived the complete opposite for way too long.  LOL  I’m ready to find some middle ground. 

Here is my plan of attack

1. Make your dream schedule (with or without time slots)
2. Set unchangeable activities that you aren’t willing to be flexible with of the day (wake-up time, meals, etc.)
3. Take into consideration special needs (beginning readers, areas there is struggling, demanding toddlers, etc.)
4. Set guidelines & create boundaries to avoid interruptions
5. Add personal quiet time for recharging. 
6. Consider an early morning or later bedtime for older kids to have uninterrupted work time.
7. Give yourself a catch up time for the things you didn’t get done during the first part of the day.
8. Rotate history & science (every-other-day, weekly, monthly, seasonally)
9. Stagger new lessons
10. Create stations & rotate (independent work, one-on-one time, educational play/electronics)

One thing that I am having to flip back & forth from is core work vs. “extras”.  I have had great school years where we started with the core, got ‘er done, & enjoyed our other studies during the afternoon.  This has worked great for us at times, but during this season, Tyler’s work just isn’t always completed by lunch, so it either doesn’t get done or we are left waiting on him.  So in my attempt to use our time best, we are going to do the opposite.  Do you start with core subjects or group studies?