More School Scheduling

So, as usual, I started the academic year with a schedule for our homeschool, and as usual, I've had to make some changes. This is not surprising (to me, anyway) - I've learned over the years that it just doesn't work for me to set up a system and expect it to be a "once and done" thing, mainly because I've forgotten something, or because there is tweaking to be done.
This time, it was piano practice. It just wasn't really happening very much when it was listed as a part of the girls' daily chores, and I didn't really like the idea of their practice being considered a chore, anyway. I figured it was really the best thing to incorporate it into their school day, since it is a music credit. I also figured it would be best to have their daily practice occur at the same time that their fortnightly (every two weeks) lessons would be. Of course, when you tug on one thread, the whole net moves, but this is what I came up with:

	Mom	Abi	Anna	Noah	Ellie	Dan	Caleb
8 – 8:30	Chores/Nurse	Chores	Chores	Chores	Chores	Chores	Nurse
8:30 – 9	Bible & Read with Littles	Literature	Literature	Bible & Read with Mom	Bible & Read with Mom	Bible & Read with Mom
9 – 9:45	Bible with Girls	Bible	Bible	Play	Play	Play
9:45 – 10	Check work/ diapers	Make Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack/Diaper
10 – 10:30	History with Girls	History	History	Play	Play	Play	Nurse
10:30 – 11	Grammar with Anna & Noah	Piano	Grammar & Spelling	Grammar	Color	Color
11 – 11:30	Grammar with Abi & Play with Littles	Grammar & Spelling	Piano	Play with Mom	Play with Mom	Play with Mom
11:30 – 12	Math	Math	Math	Math	Math play	Play
12 – 12:30	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:30 – 1	Nurse & Read to Littles	Read	Clean up & Read	Read	Read	Nap	Nurse
1 – 2	Rest	Quiet Craft	Quiet Craft	Quiet Craft	Nap	Nap
2 – 2:45	Help with work/Chores	Finish work	Finish work	Lego	Nap	Nap
2:45 - 3	Nurse	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Wake up	Wake up	Nurse
3 - 3:15	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack
3:15 – 4	Exercise/Craft	Play with Littles	Play with Littles	Play	Play	Play
4 – 4:45	Special	Special	Special	Special	Special	Special
4:45 – 5	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Nurse
5 – 5:30	Dinner prep	Shower/Free	Shower/Free	Shower/Free	Shower/Free	Shower/Free	Bath
5:30 – 6	Dinner prep	Help out	Help out	Help out	Help out	Help out

Bible * Literature * History * Math * Grammar * Piano * Lunch * Rest * Naps * Exercise

 Specials:

Monday – game

Tuesday – Outing

Wednesday – Movie

Thursday – Computer

Friday - Craft

 

 

Overall, I'm pretty happy. We don't always start on time, so when that happens, things get a bit squiffy, but it all still works pretty well. During the rest/quiet craft time is the perfect time for the bigger kids to be doing things that they enjoy but can't do with Dan around. Often they're just reading, but I'm in the process of putting together a collection of stuff that they can do with out my supervision. The question is where to keep such things that the big kids can get to and the little ones can't...
I'm liking the time for the bigger kids to be playing with the little ones as well. I kind of see it as babysitter-training time, as it's really an opportunity for the girls (mainly) to be playing in a way that serves the littler ones, not just including the littles into their own game. It's also nice for me to be able to pursue some of my own interests and they can see those things as a priority for me - perhaps they'll pick some of those interests up for themselves one day?
A word on the "Specials" category - it was an inspired idea, even if I do say so myself. It's been such a blessing to have a time where we do something all together that my kids love but would tend to get pushed aside for lack of time. It doesn't always happen, but the times where we've played a game or gone for a walk or done a craft project has really blessed them and allowed me to love on them in a way that is meaningful to them. It's also a great way to get to know them - walking along and chatting with Noah or seeing what a clever artist Anna can be has been so worth the effort. I'll be honest, though - movie day and computer day tend to be my extended craft/chore/nap time. For real.
So there it is. I'd love to know how some of you divide your time and spend your days, mom or not, homeschool or not. It's always fun to glean some good ideas from others, so please share!