Finding a Schedule to Fit our needs

I was up late last night trying to figure out a schedule that would work a little better than the one I have been using the last few weeks. The "old" schedule for our day worked well, but I was at a loss to figure out how to fit everything in. Catherine has more to do than the boys. The boys, in turn, need more practice on certain subjects and more one on one work with Mom. I studied what Susan Wise Baurer suggests in "The Well Trained Mind"-she has many examples for different grade levels- BUT it leaves out two things I consider important to us: Memory Time and Bible Time.
I took from Susan what I could use and set up schedules for each child to meet their needs better. I also made sure I alternated between "close" activities like book-work or reading, with "far away" activities like block building, acting, or listening. The reason for this has to do with Josephs "eye issue". I found so far today it worked great for all three kids. For those of you interested.. here is a combined schedule (hope its not too confusing) .

Combined Daily Schedule

Make Bed, Get Dressed, Eat Breakfast, Brush Teeth and Hair.
After the above is complete you have free time until 9:30.

9:30 - 10:30--Math book work and Correction (Catherine and Joseph)

9:30 -10:00 -- Math book-work (Nathan)
10:00 - 10:30 -- Alone quiet play time (Nathan)

10:30-10:45--Math Flash Card Work (everyone)

10:45-11:00--Handwriting (Joseph and Nate)
{Cat continues flash cards until 11:00)

11:00-11:30-- Bible (everyone)

11:30-11:45--Spelling (Joseph and Nate)
{Cat does spelling on MWF and Grammar on TTH)

11:45-12:00--Break (everyone)

12:00-12:30-- Lunch (everyone)
******
12:30-1:00 -- Reading to self and writing in Common Place Book. (Catherine)

12:30-12:45-- Reading to Mom (Jo)///Computer time (Nate)

12:45-1:00-- Reading to Mom (Nate) ///Computer Time (Jo)
*******
1:00-1:45-- History (MWF) Science (TTH) {everyone}

1:45-2:00-- Memory Time (Everyone)

2:00-2:15--Latin Memory (Everyone)

2:15-2:30(?)--Latin Book-work (Catherine)

2:15-3:30-- Free Reading Time/Art Time (Jo and Nate)
Catherine's free reading time starts as soon as she finishes her Latin.

3:30-4:00--Free Play time

4:00-4:20--Chores

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I printed out separate copies for each child with their name on it and hung it up on the wall in-front of their desks.
Tomorrow will be the "full day" test.. as today we got off by thirty minutes because we were working on the schedule :)

As far as the rest of our day.. Heres a sampling:

Bible was fun .. as the Egyptians chased the Israelites across the Red Sea! We were surprised to learn that it took all night for God to part the Red Sea... .. we discussed how long we thought it took based on videos and what we had imagined and seen in artwork or books and all agreed that the less that thirty second parting of the sea on film was no where close enough to what really happened :) .. Great fun! We are really enjoying our Bible readings!

In History we are now learning about Mohammed and the rise of Islam. We discussed what we believe as Christians and what the differences were between Islam and Christianity. Needless to say..seeing from the expressions on the kids faces.. I think it was a bit surprising for them to believe that yet another group of people dont believe that Jesus is God's son and our Savior. The kids also did map work.

In Memory time we are almost halfway through the Nations of the world song! The kids LOVE it! .. and .. The Little Old Man of the sea poem.. well I made up a tune so we can learn it with song :)

So.. thats a bit of what we did today..

we are off now to head to the store before all the kids get out of school and it gets crowded :)

blessings to you and yours!

Ruthie