Can you help with my school schedule?

[LNC]

Since my son started special ed, I'm trying to get our schedule made over. I really want them to have free time to play while he isn't here. We have to be very structured again once he gets home.

My trouble area is cramming in language arts. We finished SSRW with my 6yo and I'm not sure how I'll teach R&S to 2 kids - dreading it! I'm considering Christian Light bc of the time factor. I'm saving thinking skills and bible programs for summer bc of time. I'm allowing more time for language arts in my new schedule. Any other ideas?

7:15 brother on bus
7:15-8:00 eat Breakfast, mom exercise, sister practice piano, everyone get dressed
8:00-9:00 Christian Light Math
9:00-10:30 Language Arts
4th CLE reading
Veritas novel comprehension guides
A Reason for Handwriting
Christian Liberty Press Spelling
Worldly Wise 1
Rod & Staff English 4

2nd Veritas First Favorites
A Reason for Handwriting
Christian Liberty Press Spelling
Rod & Staff English 2
10:30-11:30 History/Science 2x week Art & Music other week
11:30-12:30 Lunch w/ mom reading a loud
12:30-2:15 free time, free reading etc.
2:15 special needs brother comes home from school and structured afternoon time begins

Thanks!

[Beth in Central TX]

Well, for your 4th grader, it looks to me like you could eliminate some of the duplicate language art studies that your are doing. I would choose either CLE reading or Veritas novel comp guides and either CLP spelling or Worldly Wise 1. That would cut 6 programs to 4 and be a little more manageable in your hour and half timeframe.

[LNC]

Christian Liberty Spelling isn't a vocab program - not sure what you mean? Also, Veritas comprehension guides are indespensible for writing. She is learning how to develop her thoughts into complete sentences at a young age. They are fab. Can't let that go either :)

[Beth in Central TX]

I was just trying to help you streamline all of the language arts that you have planned. Usually, you start with spelling and reading in the lower elementary grades and move into vocabulary and comprehension in junior high and high school. It's difficult to do it all in every grade--that's why you're having trouble trying to squeeze it all in. There are lots of great programs out there that I would like for my boys to do, but there isn't enough time in the day, and I really want them to have some playtime too. Therefore, I had to prioritize what I really want to get done. Just my $0.02 of course. I hope this helps.

[karensk]

9:00-10:30 Language Arts
4th CLE reading
Veritas novel comprehension guides
A Reason for Handwriting
Christian Liberty Press Spelling
Worldly Wise 1
Rod & Staff English 4

2nd Veritas First Favorites
A Reason for Handwriting
Christian Liberty Press Spelling
Rod & Staff English 2


I don't know if you were trying to have your kids finish all their language arts work by 10:30, but an alternative would be to use the 9-10:30 slot for lessons with mom. If they have extra time, they can start on their individual assignments; the rest could be finished as "homework" in the afternoon, similar to what kids in schools do (they often start the homework assignment in class, then finish the rest at home).

For your 4th grader, that might mean doing Wordly Wise completely in the afternoon, if you're not needed for the lesson. You would do the R&S4 lesson together (ds10's R&S-5 lesson usually takes 10-20 min.), then give the homework assignment (I usually give ds10 ~10-20 min. worth of homework).

Spend some time together with literature discussions, but leave the VP guide work for homework.

When I'm doing an individual lesson w/one child, the other may use the time to do the independent work--handwriting, Wordly Wise, spelling assignment, other homework (then they'll have more free time in the afternoon/evening). We switch back & forth like this several times throughout the morning.

HTH!

[LNC]

Thanks Beth and Karen! Wow - homework idea! Paradigm shift :)

She does have room time in the afternoon to split everyone up - she could finish some things then. Hmm...

[karensk]

...and it's really been working out great. Ds10 sometimes prefers to do his homework while I'm cooking dinner, in the dining room area. That's fine, too; I think he sometimes needs a mental break from academics in the afternoon, and he seems to be able to concentrate better after that break.

Hope it works out for y'all!

[OhElizabeth]

I agree on how valuable the VP lit guides are, so I was streamline out the CLE reading. In the VP school, the teacher actually reads aloud the chapter in the book and discusses it with the students. You could probably accomplish any skills from the CLE Reading by tweaking how you're doing the VP lit guide. (Have her read aloud some to you, whatever.)

And ditto on not needing spelling *and* vocab. Are you having her write the sentences for the R&S grammar? If not, then she could start using the workbook (under $3) and make it take even less time.

Sounds like you have a good set-up overall and are doing what it takes to give your dd the writing skills she needs (using the VP lit guides, etc.). I'd keep that up and not get discouraged. My dd would need that broken into sessions, so I like the homework idea. I usually break it up, doing something brain-taxing together then something fun like memory songs or singing, alternating hard and easy.