Learning Consistency & Structure

[PhunandFonics]

I'd love to hear from those who have really struggled with consistency and structure over the years, but have finally found their groove. Our youngest child was recently diagnosed as ADHD, but as I read all these books I see myself! Finally, now I understand why this has been SO hard all these years!

So the experts are telling me my daughter needs structure and consistency (in my defense, we aren't a miserable mess, just not where we need to be). But that means that I really need to work on myself.

How do I get my groove????

[RoughCollie]

This is what works for me.

Every week, I make schedules for the kids. I fill it in, from the time they get up until the time they go to bed. First, I schedule their school time. Then I schedule mealtimes and bath times. Free time or outside activities or chores fill in the blanks. I make sure to schedule transition time and travel time realistically. If anyone is on medication, I put that into the schedule too.

Then I make a master schedule for myself, wake up time to bed time. I shoehorn my chores, errands, phone calls, paperwork, dinner prep, etc., where they will fit during the day. Frequently I can do things while the kids are working. I know about how long I will have to actually teach a subject, and the rest of the time is spent on individual work, during which I am available but doing chores. There are times every day in which I tutor each child individually, depending on need. If only one needs math tutoring, I do that while the others are doing their math assignments. If two need tutoring in the same subject, one gets done during math, for example, and I schedule the other one at another time.

I get up before the kids do so I have some peace & quiet to start the day. I wake up the kids and while they are getting dressed, making their beds, etc., I make their breakfast. We eat. They have 15 minutes to wash their faces and brush their teeth and bring their schoolbooks to the dining room. While they are doing this, I clean up after breakfast. I usually combine some classes with meals: Breakfast & Bible, Lunch & Lit. This cuts way down on siblings squabbling during meals and the kids love it.

I schedule the various classes, as much as possible, at the same time every day. I reserve the mornings for homeschool (no appointments unless it is a necessity), and teach the most important academic subjects then. We work for a 50-minute hour, then there is a 10-minute break. This is when they can get a drink or go to the bathroom, plus get their books out for the next subject.

The key to the whole process is that I follow my master schedule, including going to bed on time so I get 8 hours of sleep. I accomplish a lot more during the day. I do not like being a slave to a schedule, but I have to admit that the kids do 100% better, and so do I, in terms of what we accomplish during the day. I make sure to give each child a copy of his weekly schedule on Monday. I have found that the kids prefer to know what is going to happen and when, every day.

I have to force myself to do this.

[mysticamethyst]

it was writing lists of things I need to accomplish, either weekly or daily. It helps me so much to have a check list, also helps my adhd son. I have a list for everything really, if I forget to make them, our week is a mess. I have to have a plan for everything and saddly I am that person who just falls apart when my plan falls apart. Thankfully, my dh is great and can tell when I need a list made and he will do it for me. That is just what I do now, I am sure that will change and will get tweaked but for now list after list is what works for me.