This week the Schoolhouse Review Crew is Blog Hopping about Homeschooling Essentials. Each of us of course have our own take on this, so that's why it is very important for you to scroll and read several blogs this week, I have some posted at the bottom for you to enjoy!! You will get variety that way!
Here is what you will find at The Arrowood Zoo this week:
My Essentials
Monday ~ Routine Matters
Tuesday ~ Curriculum - Make it Or Break it
Wednesday ~ Supplies - Are you prepared?
Thursday ~ Children's Advice & Thoughts
Friday ~ Prayer & Attitudes
So let's talk about why a Routine is important.
Schedules are something that I have a love hate relationship with honestly! I try really hard to follow them but I don't like to have to follow it to the exact time frame. That's just not for me.
Schedules are something that I have a love hate relationship with honestly! I try really hard to follow them but I don't like to have to follow it to the exact time frame. That's just not for me.
Routine - Now that is something that I do well. My husband jokes about it all the time. He says it don't matter if I get up to do the exact same thing down to eating the exact same meal every day until I die and I would be content with it. Well he loves me and knows me because that's true.
Over the 9 years of schooling my routines and schedules have changed tons but that's actually a really good thing now that I think about it. It shows that I can adapt to the ways my children and I need to school. This is huge in homeschooling. Our children change as they grow older and need more instruction or if your homeschooling journey is changing routines need to be altered.
As my children have grown our needs have changed and being able to see that your routine needs tweaked is essential in having a smooth day.
When I first started out with Kyle being 5, Lexi 2 and a newborn baby on my side I may have spent 15 minutes tops at a time schooling Kyle. However we did many 15 minute lessons through the day but that was all I could do. At the time I felt why oh why am I doing this, it's not going to work I mean only 15 minutes 8 times a day or so is nothing! Man was I wrong, I'm glad that I realized it didn't matter the amount of time it mattered that it was what I could offer, he was learning while playing and I tried my best.
Later on when I had older children I blocked their learning time but quickly learned that I could school together in areas too! This was a great time saver for me.
I believe it to be essential to evaluate your schooling routine often. Honestly, I try to look at our routine every few months. Even if I only change something minor it's different and might work best at that time in our life. As the homeschool mother we need to make certain that we are having the best day possible. Our heads cleared for our children to learn and explore to the best of our ability.
If that means you change your routine and schedule 7 times this year so be it - You will eventually find the groove that works for you!
I've been at this homeschooling thing for 9 years and because my children are still growing I need to tweak and alter my routine still. So my friends don't get discouraged when your day just seems ruined and impossible, start trying to rearrange your days until it gets better!
Join me tomorrow for Curriculum: Make it Or Break
Below are some of my friends essentials to check out and click here to read on The Schoolhouse Blog!!
Marcy @ Ben and Me
Lisa @ Golden Grasses
Tess @ Circling Through This Life
Victoria @ Homemaking With Heart
Joelle @ Homeschooling For His Glory
Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
Rebecca @ Raventhreads
If that means you change your routine and schedule 7 times this year so be it - You will eventually find the groove that works for you!
I've been at this homeschooling thing for 9 years and because my children are still growing I need to tweak and alter my routine still. So my friends don't get discouraged when your day just seems ruined and impossible, start trying to rearrange your days until it gets better!
Join me tomorrow for Curriculum: Make it Or Break
Below are some of my friends essentials to check out and click here to read on The Schoolhouse Blog!!
Marcy @ Ben and Me
Lisa @ Golden Grasses
Tess @ Circling Through This Life
Victoria @ Homemaking With Heart
Joelle @ Homeschooling For His Glory
Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
Rebecca @ Raventhreads
1. Marcy @ Ben and Me
2. Lisa @ Golden Grasses
3. Tess @ Circling Through This Life
4. Victoria @ Homemaking with Heart
5. Kayla @ The Arrowood Zoo
6. Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
7. Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
8. Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
9. Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
10. Rebecca @ Raventhreads
- See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/5-days-of-homeschooling-essentials-blog-hop/#sthash.8xgfKDbj.dpuf
2. Lisa @ Golden Grasses
3. Tess @ Circling Through This Life
4. Victoria @ Homemaking with Heart
5. Kayla @ The Arrowood Zoo
6. Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
7. Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
8. Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
9. Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
10. Rebecca @ Raventhreads
- See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/5-days-of-homeschooling-essentials-blog-hop/#sthash.8xgfKDbj.dpuf
1. Marcy @ Ben and Me
2. Lisa @ Golden Grasses
3. Tess @ Circling Through This Life
4. Victoria @ Homemaking with Heart
5. Kayla @ The Arrowood Zoo
6. Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
7. Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
8. Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
9. Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
10. Rebecca @ Raventhreads
- See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/5-days-of-homeschooling-essentials-blog-hop/#sthash.8xgfKDbj.dpuf
2. Lisa @ Golden Grasses
3. Tess @ Circling Through This Life
4. Victoria @ Homemaking with Heart
5. Kayla @ The Arrowood Zoo
6. Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
7. Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
8. Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
9. Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
10. Rebecca @ Raventhreads
- See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/5-days-of-homeschooling-essentials-blog-hop/#sthash.8xgfKDbj.dpuf
3. Tess @ Circling Through This Life
4. Victoria @ Homemaking with Heart
5. Kayla @ The Arrowood Zoo
6. Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
7. Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
8. Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
9. Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
10. Rebecca @ Raventhreads
- See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/5-days-of-homeschooling-essentials-blog-hop/#sthash.8xgfKDbj.dpuf
4. Victoria @ Homemaking with Heart
5. Kayla @ The Arrowood Zoo
6. Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
7. Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers
8. Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
9. Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
10. Rebecca @ Raventhreads
- See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/5-days-of-homeschooling-essentials-blog-hop/#sthash.8xgfKDbj.dpuf
I am with you …. ROUTINE is an essential! My first day was about "A" Plan. Without a plan, we FAIL!
ReplyDeleteI suffer from a lack of routine myself but understands its value, so I am one of those who keep tricking that routine so as to try to find something I can work with. I am hoping we've found one in the past week or so. Loved your post.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this! I save scheduling for appointments and have a routine for everything else.
ReplyDeleteI find this to work best for our family, too: "Later on when I had older children I blocked their learning time but quickly learned that I could school together in areas too! This was a great time saver for me."
Great post! ~Heather @ Principled Academy with the Crew
After attending a Celebrating Calm workshop, I realized that a lot of my son's anxiety was caused by not know what to expect every day at school. Now we have a posted list of school work and schedule for lunch/breaks/ chore time. It's has helped his mood immensely.
ReplyDeleteYes so true, routine does keep growing and changing with our children.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading the rest of your essentials. Warm regards, Victoria
I have never been able to have a routine myself, but my daughter has appointed herself the keeper of the clock. She goes and checks the clock and keeps us on a semi-regular routine each day :-)
ReplyDelete