Posted in Life in the Crazy House

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Just how does Crazy Mom get any school done in the Crazy House?

I've probably never made a school schedule I've actually kept to the letter.  We just aren't that organized or efficient around here.  For years I would make these wonderful lists, and then would fail to check everything off, feeling totally defeated by the day's end. 

So I gave up.

Now what I do is "Priority Scheduling."  Think about it.  I have eight kids who are taking anywhere from two subjects to eight subjects.   That's forty or fifty subjects to cover in one day.  Like that's even possible!  Trying to do it all was just setting me up for failure.  So this is how I do it now.

When I get up I think to myself, what does each child really need to do today?   If they are lagging in math, I have them do math first, if they are lagging in spelling, I have them do spelling.  I don't worry about them doing everything, I just make sure they are doing what they really need to work on.  Then I list the other subjects in order of importance.  They simply do the subject in order, finishing what they can.  (And here's a dirty little secret, once in a while we start out by cleaning up!)

Of course, there are other factors that also come into play when I make up our daily schedule.  We do a lot of contests.  Sometimes we will just take a day or two, or even a week, to work on the current contest.  It seems to work, because my kids often win!  Sure they have an advantage that they can work hours and hours on it.  Well, guess what?  That's one reason we homeschool.  I like to be flexible and we can adjust out schedule as we see fit.   The ability to spend more time on things that are important is a great advantage.  I'm not going to feel guilty because other kids are sitting in school all day doing busy work. 

This year has been different because we are all testing out new homeschool products for the TOS Crew.  I do have to schedule time to use these products so that I can honestly review them.  We have tried about fifty new things, so you know everyday just has to be a little different.  I don't think we could have done this if we were the rigid schedule types.  It's been fun and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it this year!  I am thrilled to say that I am staying on another year, so here we go again!  LOL

So, it's not like I don't make schedules.  I do.  Every day.   But I don't make my kids do everything everyday and just about every day is different.   I admit, sometimes I feel guilty that they are not doing everything they'd be doing in public school.  Then again, they are not doing everything they'd be doing in public school.  Know what I mean?