Schedule - EX1850

[dhudson]

I'm trying to come up with a workable schedule for us. I have seen Marie's schedule in the TM. I was wondering if you all could share some example of your own? Thanks!

[see the end of the story below]

I have a 6th grader and twins 3rd graders.
Our schedule for the day is:

get up do chores, breakfast all done by 8:30
8:30 - kids start independent work (spelling, handwriting, math drills)
9:00 - pledge of allegiance, Bible
(the schedule becomes less time driven than subject driven at this point)
Math
LA
10:30 - Snack
History
Art
Science
Lunch/play time outside at 12:15 - 1:00
Rosetta Stone and Piano

We usually finish up around 2:00-2:30. I do not do piano or Rosetta Stone with them so I am done by 1:00 or so. Sometimes we have to finish something after lunch but normally we are done with all of our main subjects by lunch

Hope this is what you were looking for!

*** I forgot music which we do in the car driving to karate or dance and read alouds we do in the evenings before bed.***

[Julie in MN]

Jenileigh,
We don't have a firm schedule. It's more like (a) start with Marie's schedule, and (b) intersperse reading with movement, in order to keep alert & absorb as much as possible. (This also allows me to be flexible to do things for other family members as needed.)

If I had to put it on paper, it would look something like this for my 7th grader:

1. Hymn, prayer, various Bible work, In God We Trust (relating history with faith).

2. Lay out all the "English" work for the day, most of which he will do independently (grammar, independent reading, verse copying, writing assignment, spelling related to science this year). Go over any errors on grammar pages from the day before.

3. First history reading, including taking notes, narrating, and/or adding information to a notebook page.

4. Intersperse other activities between readings (English assignments, Guitar practice, Spanish, read-aloud, book basket, history activity).

5. Continue history in & out of the day, culminating in good writing about the main historical event/person. I am big on writing at my house. It doesn't need to be a lengthy report, but it does need to include important points and be written fairly well!

6. Add in other subjects if needed between history readings. Otherwise, set to these tasks after everything above is finished:

- Math (often I introduce the textbook still in 7th grade; when he is finished, I have him call out answers to me & I check answer key; that gives me the best idea of what needs to be taught)

- Science (I bring another gal over to do a lab & quiz if needed once a week, so he must be done by then; afterwards they do hands-on sciency stuff or phy ed)

- We set time aside for Health or Shop Class (my husband & I trade off)

- Art/Music is last, if time allows, sometimes making up several days at once (right now, he isn't doing much "art" from the book; this is mostly my reading & showing him the artist's work in the Sister Wendy book that was suggested I think in CTG; then on some days, I give him a simpler art activity or book & say he must create!)

[Michele in WA]

Let's see if I can make this make sense in writing!! I have 3 kids who are doing ex-1850, one who is listening in while finishing 1st, and a 3yo, and a 16 month old.

We usually start around 8:30, but we do not stick strictly to "times", as there is always something that throws off our schedule if we are trying to do "this at 9, that at 9:30". Sometimes diapers, toddlers, and deep questions just can't wait!! So, that said, we do more of a routine, than a schedule.

After breakfast (around 8:30) we will do the Bible portion, and maybe the hymn. Often, we'll do the hymn at night with daddy, too.

After that, the kids will do 30 minutes of piano/violin, and 30 minutes of math. Oldest ds does his math before breakfast, so he'll play with the littles for his extra 30 minutes. While they are doing that, I will be teaching 1st grader.

But back to the ex-1850 schedule.....

We then meet back together and I'll read history (all of the books except the read-aloud chapter book.... we read that in the eves with dad). They will take turns narrating the lesson back. (30 minutes about)

Then we will read the science lesson, and do the notebook page or project. (another 30 minutes or so)

They then do the history notebook page, if there is one. They can usually do that independently (sometimes I'll write some ideas on the white board for them to copy). Then I can be working with someone on English/spelling while others are doing a notebook page.

Art comes last, on the days it's scheduled, and we listen to our music during lunch. They read from book basket whenever they want, and they read aloud to me whenever we have a chance. I also do the 2nd/3rd grade suppliment books usually after lunch. Oldest does typing whenever he has an extra few minutes, and we aren't doing a foreign language right now.

It's really just a modified version of the schedule in the TM. Sticking to that has amazingly allowed us to get done with everything, usually before lunch! Praise God!

Hope this helps somewhat,
Michele

[Jenileigh]

I can't imagine being done before or by lunch! Today was a long hard day. I hope all of our days won't be this long. Thank-you ladies for sharing. I was thinking today as we were schooling in the living room, I don't even have a clock in here. So I'm going to buy me a clock and a timer. Then once I *see* how long its taking each child to complete their subjects I'll determine what is fair and set our schedule.

I have to have a schedule. I've homeschooled for 7 years and basically I've been laid back and winged it. The kids haven't suffered *that* bad. They both placed on level at the Christian School-actually they placed my 2nd grader in 1st and she needed to be in 2nd and that was why we pulled her. She was miserable. But we aren't covering things we should. I want them to get what they are suppose to, you know? I understand God comes first and that education cannot be your God but it does have to be a priority and I got lazy and allowed it to slip away. The girls formed an attitude that education wasn't important from the way I lazily handled things here. It just couldn't go on like that.

So...here I am, the most unscheduled person in the world, trying to create one that we can be successful with but not a slave to. Am I dreaming? Ha!

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

[LSH in MS]

We are never done by lunch. It is usually 3 or 4 o'clock. We were finished earlier in previous years but not this year. We have Spanish and art coop 2 afternoons per week so I am doing history and science on MWF. It takes a long time to do all the reading in 3 days. Add in a 2 year old, teaching one to read, and the 3rd grade supplement and it takes even longer!

[Julie in MN]

I have to have a schedule.

Jenileigh,
The first two pieces of a schedule for me are:

1. Start time & finish time. In the beginning, set the hours & allow nothing else but school during that time -- no phone, no laundry, no TV. Later you may add in extras like household chores, but at first do school only from X time to X time. Then as a reward, know that you will end your day at that time no matter where you are.

2. Have everything prepared. Specific books you'll need set in a pile, with page numbers marked with a scrap of paper or sticky tab. Copies all made ahead. Supplies ready for an activity or cross it out (or put an arrow to the next day).

Those are the two things I start with whenever I am heading into a new year or a "restart" for a year that has been dwindling.

Julie

[cbollin]

echoing this information: The first four weeks of EX1850 are heavier than the rest of the time. I think weeks 28 and 29 also seemed fast and heavy. I remember thinking at the time when I did EX1850 that the first four weeks felt like I jumped into the deep end of the swimming pool instead of taking the steps slowly in the shallow end.

so, on that note.....I think many of us ease into our school year when coming off of summer break. Your summer break was a bit longer. It might be better for you to not run a full schedule for the first 2 or 3 weeks and then gradually add in all of the language arts, math.

Being done by noon probably is not realistic for the 7th grader if you are doing the 7th grade recommendations of MFW. In the TM for EX1850, you'll see that some things were shifted around to meet their needs and get math done after lunch in their family with older kids. So, it's ok. Keep working. We're usually done before 2 with full day and that includes life interruptions. The first weeks will feel heavy as you adjust.

I'll say this several times in this post: it is going to feel overwhelming to jump in at full steam.


I'm not good at fixed time frames. but I just wanted to give some general ideas on it:

*If your 7th grader is doing Apologia General Science -- please note the first module will take a learning curve. 7th grader should be working on her own and allow about 45-60 minutes for that book. Module 1 in that book has a lot of information, some people prefer to take 3 weeks to do that module instead of 2 weeks. That's ok. Module 1 can be tough for some kids. There's an older thread around here with a lot of information in it about lab reports and study sheets for Module 1. If you are interested, just ask. We'll link you to that or start over and summarized it again. Jumping in full steam is going to feel exhausting. (((hugs))) prayers.

*Math at 7th grader level think about 45-60 minutes

*I emailed some of this to you with some notes for Writing Strands.
When I did EX1850, I had 5th and 2nd grader and younger in special preschools.
It helped me (might not be the case with everyone, I realize that) to start with the 2nd grader's things like language arts and math. Then we did fun science. Worked on just enough history for 2nd grader and let her have some free time (and/or book basket). Worked on history with older and worked with her on what she needed help.

*The James memory work was done at meal times. We printed out from biblegateway the book of James and had it taped on the kitchen wall to see at each meal.

*read alouds -- in the evening


Agreeing with Julie about the idea of a definite start and stop time for the day for the academics. Read Alouds for us in the evening is a fun family activity. And the memory verse practice at meal time is a fun thing to do together at the table.


-crystal

[Jenileigh]

today. WoW

We aren't finished school yet but the girls are drawing a picture of Christopher Columbus now and I took a moment to come here and say. This is good stuff. I'm just amazed. I LOVE it!

[Jenileigh]

We have just begun week two today. It took us a bit to get through week one, mostly due to things popping up, but we are moving along and having full satisfying homeschooling days. The hymns are really growing on the girls and I find they are learning the words and singing through out the day. :)

I can't complain about anything. I'm just overjoyed at how good God is and how well things are going.

I want to thank each of you that helped me get on my feet and get going with this year. Hugs!

[TNLisa]

Is there a place that I can find a copy of the suggested schedule grid that MFW has in the EX1850? If not does anyone have a copy of it that they can post?
Thanks,
Sara

If you go to the Exp-1850 curriculum product page you can download a sample of the schedule. Hope that helps!

[cbollin]

Excellent Lisa! Thank you! I would also love to have some idea of suggested times for the different subjects if anyone could give me those.
Sara

If you still have your RTR manual, it's similar in structure to the same thing that is in the intro section under Help! How do I fit it all in ?

Bible goes from 20 to about 30 minutes for some days.
spelling is still 15 minute block
15 for english
40 for history
15 for basket time
science for elementary remains at 20 min block
break times. lunch..
reading same time block
art/music 15 min block
foreign lang. same
math 45 minute or so. (sometimes less)

and at jr. high level, some of it takes longer.
does that help any?

-crystal

[TriciaMR]

I have been so excited to get my EX1850 package in the mail and finally got it yesterday!

Now today as I look through the TM, I have to personalize our schedule since we have a different LA program + I have a preschooler to tweek in there somewhere. I think I need encouragement. I'd like to end this year amazed at what a great year we had.

-Melissa

I'm doing EX1850 with 3 kids this year: 11 yo dd (6th) and twin 7 yo boys (2nd).

I had to come up with a routine so I could do individualized language arts and math with each kid. My days are long, but my kids are getting the one-on-one time they need.

If you go to my blog (see link in my signature), and look at my latest post, at the bottom is a picture of a pocket chart I use to schedule my days.

So, we start with Bible.

Then I work on Spelling with oldest, while one works on Math Drill and the other on his AWANA verses. (If they finish early, they have free time).
Next oldest does AWANA, I work with Spelling with one, and the other works on his math drill.
Next oldest does Math drill, one does AWANA, and I work with spelling with the other.

Then I do similar for English/Rosetta/Book Basket

Again, Math/Wii Fit/Handwriting

Then we have Reading/Notes Drill/Clean desk or room

By then it is time for lunch. (I do read alouds at lunch)

After lunch we do History, Science, and Music/Art.

So, the kids are motivated to work hard and finish their "self-directed" work quickly so they have "free time" in the morning, and I get one-on-one time with each kid. Since you have a preschooler, I would schedule the older two to play with the youngest one on a couple of those, and then also schedule time for you to read him a story or something.

So, basically, you need to figure out what stuff your kids can do on their own.

I use All About Spelling for Spelling, but otherwise use MFW's recommendations for LA and Math.

Adding, that I use a timer and set it for 15 minutes for Spelling, English. I do 10 minutes for Reading. I don't set a timer for Math, as that just takes as long as the kid needs.

-Trish

[Poohbee]

Welcome to the adventure of homeschooling!

In the beginning of the TMs (teacher manuals), there is usually a sample schedule that the Hazell family used while homeschooling their children. I am not usually so scheduled with time segments and everything, but this year, I decided to use the Hazell schedule as a model and try something different. Usually, I just start our day and go with the flow. I do usually have an order to the subjects, but sometimes they get mixed around, and I usually don't keep any sort of time frame for them. In the past, I have started our day around 9 a.m. with Bible time and history together. Then I'd get one dd started on independent work while I worked with the other on English, Math, etc. We'd work on various subjects, back and forth from one girl to the other, until lunch. After lunch break, we'd usually do art and science, because those things tended to need extra time for projects and experiments and such.

However, I'm going to try being a bit more scheduled this year, and I'll see how it works. Here is my proposed schedule for our schooltime this year. Keep in mind, I will be doing EX1850, which will be a longer day than yours in ADV, and I have a dd starting 7th grade, so her day will run a bit longer than my 3rd grader's day. Also, I have scheduled time for my preschooler in the morning, but I also do things with him throughout the day as the older girls work on independent work, even though I don't have those extra times with him scheduled.

8:30-9--Hymn, Bible, Memory Work, In God We Trust/Trial and Triumph (together)
9-9:45--Reading and Spelling (both girls independently) and I work with my son on preschool
9:45-10:15--English/Writing and Foreign Language (I work Eng with one girl while the other does foreign language and then switch)
10:15-11--History, notebook, timeline, activity (together)
11-11:30--Book Basket/Building City on a Hill (Grace)/Pioneers & Patriots (Hope) (I read with one while the other does BB and then switch)
11:30-12--Art
12-12:45--Lunch
12:45-1:05--Read-aloud
1:05-3:35--Math and Science (I work with younger dd while older dd does hers independently--younger dds will not take the full time)

So, that is my proposed schedule for the year. As I said, I've never done it quite this way, but I want to see how it is going to work. I'm hoping it might help our days to flow more smoothly and feel less rushed and chaotic. This is just one idea for you and one way to do it. You'll figure out what works best for you and your family.

[carlamom2ansnm]

I am strongly considering coming back to MFW after a few years away. To keep up with the cycle process we're in, we would be in Exp to 1850 next year. It's been a few years since we've done MFW (CTG was our last one...and I didn't truly do it very well that year lol). Anyway, I have a high schooler who is doing other things, plus a 7th grader, 4th grader, and a baby that will be 1 in October...so she'll be toddling around getting into everything around this time. I need a realistic view of how much daily time commitment I'm looking at for the history/bible/science/read-aloud portion (I have a handle on our own math/writing). Let me hear it. How much time do you REALLY spend on this.

[TriciaMR]

I am strongly considering coming back to MFW after a few years away. To keep up with the cycle process we're in, we would be in Exp to 1850 next year. It's been a few years since we've done MFW. I have a high schooler who is doing other things, plus a 7th grader, 4th grader, and a baby that will be 1 in October...so she'll be toddling around getting into everything around this time.

I need a realistic view of how much daily time commitment I'm looking at for the history/bible/science/read-aloud portion (I have a handle on our own math/writing). Let me hear it. How much time do you REALLY spend on this.

Well, if you have your 7th grader doing Apologia General Science as recommended, it is supposed to be done a little more independently.

I think it was 2 hours [for those subjects] for us when I did this first time around with a 6th grader and twin 2nd graders. Now, my 2nd graders are 7th graders and doing General Science, so it takes us less time. It will also depend on how much effort you put into memorizing James.

[ruthamelia]

We're on week 24 of exp to 1850 right now. I would say it has varied from 1.5-3 hours, not including any breaks, and only for the subjects you listed. That is with 3rd 5th and 7th graders. The middle school science takes a little longer, but he does much of it independently. As we get nearer to the end and recite whole chapters of James at a time, that takes a while. The weeks in George Washingtons World also have longer reading time, but it's a great book and worth it. We also do all the hymns, all the read alouds, and all the optional reading.

Remember that many language arts skills are incorporated in these subjects (like handwriting, composition, copy work, notebooking/narration), so if you skip anything to avoid duplication with your other language arts program the total time will be less.