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!

My littlest boys

They are both terribly cute, though they wear "cute" differently...

 

Sometimes the cute is as plain as day...

 ...and sometimes you have to work to see it (like when the two year old climbs out of the tub and covers himself with toothpaste).

But it's there, all the same.

Whatcha reading?

Earlier this year, I was sailing through my reading list - I even added in a few extra items. Since Caleb's been born, though, my reading has slowed down, which is really unusual for me. Normally I have a lot of time to sit and read while I'm nursing, but it turns out I've been doing a lot of my reading aloud to the kids when I'm nursing. That being the case, I probably won't make it all the way through my planned reading list before the end of the year, but so what? For me, the plan is the thing, even if I have to deviate from it for a while...
I'm currently reading The Mission of Motherhood, by Sally Clarkson. It's been good - refreshing and good for refocusing on seeing my position of mother as that of being a missionary to my kids. It's been convicting for me, too - as a serious multi-tasker, I don't always take the time to focus on the details. I'm also a pretty self-absorbed individual - I have a plan and "pity the fool" who keeps me from it. Yet if my kids don't feature heavily in that plan, I'm the fool to be pitied.
I loved reading Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story. What an amazing story! Her life was definitely a testimony of God's grace and generous love that really came through in each story she shares. I hadn't read Treasures of the Snow or the Tangelwoods' Secret growing up, so it was marvellous to "meet" the real her - I'm looking forward to introducing the kids to some of her books!
My husband has been on at me to read Practicing Affirmation for quite a while (perhaps he's trying to tell me something?), so I'd like to try to read that and Give Them Grace before the year's end. I'm not sure if I'll make it, but it's worth trying!

 

What are some "must reads" that you've come across this year?