A big part of homeschooling is figuring out a good schedule for your family. Schedules help you accomplish your long-term goals and provide an anchor that lets you enjoy flexibility. Without a schedule, you can take a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach. But when life gets in the way, you may find chaos dictating your journey versus your dictating where you're going.
PRO TIP: Using CRAM CAMPS when you complete 2 weeks of curriculum in 1 week.
PRO TIP: Spotify Playlists for transitions.
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QUOTABLES
Ximena: "Scheduling ... is what keeps me grounded and helps me stay focused."
Ximena (quoting an unnamed source): "Scheduling is power. It provides you power over your time and attention. Scheduling is not putting restrictions on your time and energy. It is methodically directing that time and energy to your priorities and goals."
DeeDee: "A schedule is not trying to lock you down. It's trying to free you."
DeeDee: "The curriculum doesn't own you."
TIMESTAMPS
02:42 Why is scheduling so important?
03:00 Knowing your personality is helpful when it comes to choosing a schedule. Ximena and DeeDee discuss their Enneagram types and how it impacts their ability to stay on task.
04:10 The advantage of the slow-and-steady approach.
05:20 What is a homeschool schedule: strict itinerary versus a flow of an ideal homeschool day.
05:37 Ximena's friend who homeschools without a schedule at all. (She's 10 weeks behind by summer.)
06:39 Setting long-term goals. How a strong curriculum helps you set and reach goals. Making your own curriculum is time intensive.
07:35 Without a schedule, you can take a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach. But when life gets in the way, you may find chaos dictating your journey versus your dictating where you're going.
07:49 How to tweak a curriculum's schedule to suit you.
08:25 As a homeschooler, it's okay to cut things from the curriculum if you need free time as a family.
08:39 Schedules help you with short term goals — a specific skill or habit you want your child to master (tying shoes, how to clean a bedroom, etc.).
11:00 A schedule prevents the constant nagging of kids asking "What are we doing today/next?"
12:27 Routines help kids with habits and willpower. It's a life skill your kids will use throughout their lives.
16:03 Taking a retreat or having a planning party to focus on scheduling your year.
17:22 How to take a calendar and plan out your schedule, step-by-step.
19:45 Moving from a yearly plan to monthly (or 40-day) plans. Paper planners vs. digital.
21:36 When you do your monthly planning, check your curriculum to see if you are pacing as desired.
22:04 CRAM CAMPS
23:13 Planning your homeschool week, 5 days, 4 days, or even... 3 days!
24:41 Doing some subjects every day and others every other day or weekly.
25:35 Setting daily schedules that work for your preferences.
26:49 Loop scheduling
27:34 Will power
Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
