Change up with school scheduling

We have made some changes to our school schedule for the time being. Bobby is really struggling with completing his work on time and with not being distracted. Sometimes I feel so new at this that I wonder if I am doing things right or not. Roger and I both know this is the best thing we are doing for our kids, but it is a lot of work and energy. After a lot of talk we have come to some conclusions....


1. We are moving to 45 minute periods and only 4 subjects. I have a timer, we are using. We are spending the entire 45 minutes on said subject. then a break then more.

• . Bobby and Chris are doing the same English/ grammar! Chris is in 3rd in a special school, and Bobby is in 5th here at home. Grammar is something I have always struggled with, so this is a challenge for me. The first year we home schooled we did no grammar of any kind. We started with it this school year. We have decided that we need to excellerate Bobby a bit on the grammar. WE do our lessons oral in a discussion format, with him answering questions. We were doing grammar for about 10 minutes a day. Yesterday we started the new format, we spent 45 minutes working on grammar, we used our white boards for diagramming, and did a lot or oral. We covered 8 lessons in that time frame. He completely got the info and was confident about it.

• Bobby is still doing 4th grade math, he really got stumped with multiplication, he still has trouble with it. We start our timer and we go over the lesson then once he understands what we are working on he takes over and completes the assignment. If he is done when the timer goes off great if not we will pick up where we left off later.

• History we have had a hard time finding a good fit for us. I read the text and then we discuss the questions. He really seemed to enjoy doing it this way yesterday.

• Science is the other subject that we have kept, he really enjoys it. He reads the assignment aloud to me and then he does the questions at the end of the chapter.

• He is working on 1 Sam for Bible Bowl, he now does that on his own time. I am no longer taking an actual grade for the grade book but I do grade them so that he will have the right answers.

• For the time being we have done away with spelling and keyboarding. We will reevaluate around spring break.
  

• He seems happier to not have quite as much stress to do so many subjects all at once. Plus I have set up stations for the girls to entertained while Bobby and I are working. Today we have buttons; legos; scissors with paper; and a puzzle. I set 2 of them up in the school room, and 2 of them up at the kitchen table. They have 4 options of what to do. We have taken all the other toys back to the living room. I have lots of preschool ideas, so I can set different things up every day.
  

Here is Bobby's new daily schedule [when every one is well and things are going as planned]
8:00 - Leave for YMCA - work out and the kids gym
10:00- Math with Mom -45 minutes
10:45-11:00 - morning chores and break
11:00-11:45 - Science - 45 minutes
11:45-1:00 - lunch; chores; free time
1:00-1:45 - English with Mom - 45 minutes
1:45-2:00 - break, and free time
2:00-2:45 - History with Mom - 45 minutes
2:45-4:00 - Chores, free time, Bible Bowl Prep
4:00 - Snack time with Chris
ON Tuesdays he has gymnastics in the afternoon, we start earlier and don't go to the YMCA.

The girls schedule
8:00 - Leave for YMCA - puzzles and games with YMCA nursery staff
10:00 - stations
11:00 - cartoons
12:00 - lunch
1:00 - Quiet time and nap time
2:30 - Bekah free time to play , Sarah usually still napping
4:00 Snack time with Chris

I have to get back we are starting late on Science.
God Bless