Fall homeschool plans: Two Squirrelings, one schedule

Last year I had only one Squirreling here most days for school, so I have to get back into the groove of scheduling two. Ponytails and Crayons are far enough apart in age to need some of their own work--but close enough that we can do some things together. Squirrelings tend to be sociable creatures, and they'd usually rather listen to a book together than be sent off to read it by themselves. But like everything, you have to balance it out.

It took some work (and, as one of my friends says, a good chunk of a tree), but I did come up with a schedule that we'll at least try for the fall.

Together time: Bible stories/Bible reading, hymns, review memory work, copywork, Space Walk exercises.

Working alone: Math drills, math assignments (and language arts for Crayons). Ponytails will do a history or geography reading alone while Crayons reads hers with me. Ponytails will be doing some of her math later in the day with Mr. Fixit.

Together time: French (unless it gets too complicated to do this together). Singing, including French songs. Vocabulary work. One each day of nature challenges, picture study, science biography, composer, and miscellaneous together things.

Lunch break.

Together time: Readaloud literature. One of nutrition or art (although I may reschedule art to allow more time for projects).

Ponytails' time with Mom: Grade 7 special subjects such as Shakespeare, Citizenship, Logic, Economics, Literature. Composition, reading practice, grammar, dictation. (Crayons will do independent reading and workbox activities during this time--or have some free time.)

Later in the afternoon or evening: Extra reading list, miscellaneous workbox activities (such as hands-on challenges and crafts). Time with Dad.

It's not fancy and it's not all timed out--but we have to start somewhere.