{may contain affiliate links}
This year, for the first time in a while, I’m trying more of a schedule than a routine. My kids are getting older and we have more to fit into our day. Several years ago I tried a homeschool schedule, but it just didn’t work in a house full of little kids. I felt like I was herding cats all day, not educating my kids. I’m not sure if I would have tried to schedule this year if it weren’t for the encouragement of my husband. After years of mostly being gone from the house each week day, he now works mostly from home. I guess I have grown accustomed to a bit of chaos during the day – he has not 😉
So far we have been using a modified form of our schedule, we are in the process of moving, for the past several weeks and I’m pleased with how our days are going.
Important Parts of Our Homeschool Day
My Morning Schedule – it starts with me getting up and ready to go!
Start our day with the Rosary – we only say a decade, {two during Lent and Advent}, but we always go over all the mysteries of the day. We have also started using a Scripture Memory box and that has been a fun challenge for the kids.
Breaks for Exercise – when we are diligent about this it makes a difference. Â It’s easy to take a few moments throughout the day to add in some Brain Breaks, lately the younger kids and I have been taking short bike rides, and we take pool breaks too!
 Quiet Time – we have had a quiet time for many years. This year our quiet time is changing just a bit in that now my oldest (8th grade)  and I will be using that time to work together. He does most of his work independently, but we were missing out on doing some review work and reading together.
Chore Time – Make time in the day to get chores completed. My kids have certain chores in the morning that they need to complete before school starts, make bed, brush teeth, empty the dishwasher, etc. and then we have a set time after school is done and before dinner when we work together to do certain tasks to clean up the house. Also, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my big laundry days and I have assigned the older kids to be a laundry “helper” on a certain day.
Daily Homeschool Schedule for Many Kids
Large Family Homeschool Resources
Large Family Pinterest Board
Homeschool Planning Board
Looking for more ideas for scheduling and planning your day? Check out the Big Book of Homeschool Ideas
* Managing Your Home While Homeschooling
* Managing Multiple Ages
* Homeschool Time Management
I also have a subscriber FREEBIE that I’d like to share with you! Enter your e-mail address below to receive a copy of my short e-book 10 Tips for a Stress Free Homeschool Year.
I have to agree with a schedule being a must over a routine as the kids get older. I’m struggling getting a schedule in place. It takes a lot of discipline on our part and I’m not use to it yet.
Cassie recently posted…Our Trip to Kansas
Yes, it does take discipline on Mom’s part to stick with a schedule!
Jen recently posted…Our Large Family Homeschool Schedule
This helped me this morning! I’ve been thinking about a way to incorporate the rosary in the day. The decade a day plus mysteries is a good way to do it. And the breaks. I had read earlier this summer about the importance of moving and learning. This reminded me, as I get ready to begin school, that this is an important part of our day –helping the other parts to go well too! Thank you!
I’m glad you found it helpful! Being diligent about taking breaks makes a difference. Sometimes I think let’s skip it and just get it done, but that never works as well. Blessings for your school year 🙂
Jen recently posted…Our Large Family Homeschool Schedule
You are a rockstar for doing all of that all day long. Kudos to you!
Pam recently posted…It’s 3:16. How’s Your Homeschool Plan Holding Up? Part One
LOVE that schedule document! I need to figure out how to fit us all on one paper like that!