Sep. 1, 2007
Keeping it simple
Posted in School Stuff
Did you ever have a problem that you were trying to solve and you thought up a bzillion elaborate possible solutions? I've been doing that all week.
My quandry? I really really really like finishing our lessons by lunchtime. But with the addition of Spanish and being determined to actually do science every day, it seems like an impossibility.
I thought about moving our read-aloud to breakfast time (and just eating early by myself), doing a horizontal schedule (science and math on certain days, history and writing on the other 2 days, etc), and even *gasp!* making the kids get up at 7am.
Okay, I knew that I was crazy when I came up with that last idea. But I was desperate, people. Desperate, I tell ya!
It seemed that I was destined to schlep through whatever our last subject of the day would be. After all, post-lunchtime is the sleepiest time of day for my whole familia.
*ding*ding*ding* Then it hit me.
MOVE LUNCH BACK ONE HOUR TO 1:00 PM!
Voila! An extra hour of lessons before lunch! I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. So simple!!!
And I shudder to think that I actually considered waking the kids up so early... on purpose...
Comments
Sep. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CAgirlwithasoutherndrawl
Actually....I get the kids up at 7:30 (they eat breakfast and do chores) school starts at 8:30 and I *still* had to move lunch to 1! We do have a snack at 10:30 which keeps their little minds focused. :)
But it is amazing how different it is then last year.
~Annemarie
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Sep. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by chickadee
you crack me up! i had to do this a few years ago when our lessons got longer too. it seems like once you break for lunch you never get them back. though, now that our lessons are even longer, we do have to do history or science after lunch. i try to get most of the table work done before lunch.
glad you were able to figure it all out. never get up early if you don't have to! (my personal motto)
chickadee
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Sep. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
We don't usually have lunch till 1:00 or after. Even so, what about having science and history alternate on days of the week and do all the other necessaries like math and language every day? I think I might do that with History and Geography since we are doing Beautiful Feet for both and they will tie in together. Don't think we are doing science. I have Christian Kids Explore Biology and hope to get a unit in here or there during the year. Oy, I need to get planning.
Susan
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Sep. 1, 2007 - That's crazy talk!
Posted by kympossible
Getting kids up early on purpose, I mean. LOL My first hour of the day is my ALONE time and we'd have to be getting really behind in schoolwork before I'd consider waking them up and taking away from my time! Glad you found a better way to get things done before lunch.
Blessings,
Kym
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Sep. 1, 2007 - isn't it weird...
Posted by Juliestew
that most all the solutions to our problems are really simple. reminds me of all the answers to my problems....JESUS.
sometimes forget that.
have a great "before 1pm" school time next week.
julie
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Sep. 1, 2007 - I love reading your blog
Posted by NancyLake
I takes foooreever for my computer to load it up, but is sooo worth the wait.
You always make me laugh. You have such a wit about you!! I also love the artwork on your blog... sigh.. if only *I* had such creative talent...
Also, is that your son's real names?? It's so cute! I wanted to name my twin boys "Chase" and "Payne" but my dh wouldn't let me..... go figure.
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Sep. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by KarenW
Glad you got your schedule figured out. I planned on teaching (learning) Spanish this year and now my 16 year old ds says he wants to learn German. Good thing I haven't bought anything yet.
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Sep. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
you're a genius! And I'm a bad example...I don't wake my kids up early to do school. It just isn't me, but I admire gals who can do it.
But I like 9am school in jammies kinda school, ya know?
Emily
thelearningneverstops.blogspot.com
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Sep. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Michelle32
Great plan! :)
Michelle
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Sep. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ccmmum
I tend to find that school goes much better if they are still asleep when we do it! :) It goes best when "I" am still sleeping, though!
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Sep. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Diane
Having lunch at 1 is genius. :)
Thank you for the webranger site- my Son will love it. You rock!
Diane
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Sep. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by DanielleW
LOL, That's about when we eat lunch too. Glad you thought of it. As I was reading I thought is it super important that she eat at 12? You thought of that yourself.
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Sep. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
You crack me up! I love your thinking though. I spent about 5 hours tonight working on schedules and lesson plans. Even though we started back part time 2 weeks ago, tomorrow is our first day "FULL TILT." I hope my work paid off! Yours too!!!
Teresa aka Queen Bee
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Sep. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Our school day will be running longer this year too. My quandry is whether to put our "together" time first or their independent work first. Tomorrow is our first day so i guess by the end of the week we will figure it out!
Randi--I have to say
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Sep. 5, 2007 - You are so funny!
Posted by amibrain
I love your blog. :)
Glad your problem is solved. I know some homeschoolers-- like my friend with 6 kids-- who do get their kids up early (6 am), but not here...no, no, no...all children sleep late here.
:)
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Sep. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by EEEEMommy
Yes lunch at 1pm is good! For us it usually ends up being closer to 2pm and there's still work to do.....we're working on that though!
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Sep. 7, 2007 - scheduling
Posted by Jimmie
Yes, it was my goal to be done with HS before lunch. But my DD likes to sleep in. And like you, I really don't like to wake her. I love that time to myself, to be honest! So our compromise it to keep doing school after lunch. We're not sleepy like your crew. :-) Lunch seems to be a nice break anyway and gears us up to finish the last leg of school work.
The fly -- YES! I took that shot! He was one of those BIG ugly flies. So he's kind of lazy -- just sat there even when I moved the branch! Yuck! I hate those guys.
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