And just when do I do all this? Schedules for Home Schoolers

Cornell Notes

Main Notes

Home education is a family commitment that requires shared responsibility between parents
Combining home schooling with work is possible but requires organization and flexibility
A typical school day for young children can be accomplished in about an hour, increasing to 5-6 hours for high school
Time management is crucial for home schooling success
Year-round schooling with periodic breaks is recommended over the traditional 9-month schedule
Setting yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals helps maintain progress
A four-day school week can often accomplish as much as a five-day week in traditional schools
Daily schedules should be planned and followed, but flexibility is important
Strategies for managing home schooling with babies and toddlers are provided
Record keeping is essential for home schooling, including notification, portfolios, and transcripts
Elementary and middle school records are typically kept as portfolios of work
High school records require formal transcripts with grades and credits
A credit in high school typically equals 120 hours of classwork
The classical curriculum outlined provides more than enough credits for high school graduation
Transcripts should include extracurricular activities and any college courses taken
Diplomas can be obtained through state home school associations or designed by the family
The GED is not recommended for classically educated students
Colleges often have specific application processes for home-educated students
Various resources are available for record keeping and planning

Cue Column

How can both parents share home schooling responsibilities?
What strategies can be used to combine work and home schooling?
How does the time required for home schooling change from elementary to high school?
Why is year-round schooling recommended over the traditional 9-month schedule?
How can goal-setting improve home schooling effectiveness?
What are the benefits of a four-day school week?
How can home schooling be managed with babies and toddlers present?
What types of records should be kept for elementary and middle school students?
How are high school credits calculated for home schooled students?
What should be included in a high school transcript for a home schooled student?
How does the classical curriculum compare to traditional high school requirements?
What options are available for obtaining a high school diploma as a home schooled student?
Why isn't the GED recommended for classically educated home school students?
How do colleges typically handle applications from home schooled students?
What resources are available to help with home school planning and record keeping?

Summary

This chapter provides a comprehensive guide to planning and record keeping for home schooling families. It emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility between parents and offers strategies for combining work with home education. The text suggests that home schooling can be more time-efficient than traditional schooling, with younger children requiring only about an hour of intensive instruction per day, gradually increasing to 5-6 hours for high school students.

The authors advocate for year-round schooling with periodic breaks, rather than the traditional 9-month schedule. They provide various options for structuring the school year and emphasize the importance of setting goals at yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily levels. The chapter also offers practical advice for managing home schooling with babies and toddlers present.

Record keeping is presented as a crucial aspect of home schooling. For elementary and middle school, portfolios of work are typically sufficient. High school, however, requires formal transcripts with grades and credits. The chapter provides detailed information on how to calculate credits and structure a transcript, noting that the classical curriculum outlined in the book provides more than enough credits for high school graduation.

The text also addresses the issue of diplomas, suggesting that they can be obtained through state home school associations or designed by the family. The authors advise against taking the GED for classically educated students, as it only requires mastery of 10th-grade material. Instead, they recommend contacting potential colleges to understand their specific requirements for home-educated applicants.

Overall, this chapter serves as a practical guide for home schooling families, offering advice on time management, scheduling, and record keeping. It emphasizes the flexibility and efficiency of home education while also stressing the importance of maintaining rigorous academic standards and proper documentation.

Action Items

- Both parents should be involved in planning lessons, investigating curricula, taking trips, and reviewing progress
- Attend home education conventions together
- Regularly discuss and share what goes on in home school
- Consider flex-time, part-time, or semester-oriented jobs
- Explore options like home businesses or telecommuting
- If necessary, consider home educating in the evenings or during summer
- Schedule a 2-hour quiet time each afternoon for all family members
- Provide age-appropriate quiet activities for children during this time
- Use this time for parent rest and catch-up
- Choose a year-round schooling option (e.g., 3 weeks on, 1 week off)
- Set specific goals for each subject
- Divide textbooks and materials into manageable daily or weekly segments
- Plan to order next year's materials by June to avoid delays
- Consider a 4-day in-house teaching schedule with 1 day for off-campus learning
- Allocate time for major projects, family trips, and rest days
- Be flexible and adjust the schedule as needed
- Set consistent wake-up and bedtimes
- Schedule specific times for each subject, prioritizing daily practice for math, spelling, and writing
- Create a family activity chart to track all commitments and activities
- Create a portable notebook system with sections for daily plans, shopping lists, household information, etc.
- Maintain up-to-date records of family sizes, school progress, and gift ideas
- Replace TV time with reading
- Use the public library for weekly family outings
- Control phone usage during school hours
- Limit outside commitments
- Simplify lifestyle choices to focus on education
- Provide structured activities for toddlers during school time
- Maintain regular nap schedules for babies and toddlers
- Involve young children in age-appropriate learning activities
- Schedule daily cleanup times to manage toy clutter
- Develop a master weekly plan for the family
- Assign specific subjects to each parent if sharing teaching responsibilities
- Adjust schedules based on individual children's needs and progress
- Include time for extracurricular activities and subjects like music and foreign languages

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