I share your view on routines. Having a general routine helps to level everyone's expectations, and it works really well when it allows for flexibility, as you have described. It looks like you've achieved most, if not all, of this term's objectives. I also find it important to have a broad idea of our goals, even if the goals exists only in my head rather than on paper.
Routines are great aren't they? I'm amazed by how that little whiteboard has kept me focused over these last few months!
You do school just like how I love to do it. We do have a vague schedule, but we do a lot of free-wheeling, too. Love hands-on math.
It's surprising what wonderful learning adventures you end up having when you leave room for them, isn't it?
You raised many really good and helpful points. I like the idea of routine as I constantly struggle with fitting in all in but not being able to sneak in an activity that pops up, like a book/activity or science experiment I've read about.
I also like that you have a schedule for the child who needs it. My daughter thrives on schedule and will finish an incredible amount of work before lunch time (if it's on the schedule). Where as the schedule seems to really bog my son down. He works diligently but often takes longer to complete assignments. Once he's started on them he wants them to be done well.
My kids currently have different curriculums because they need it, but they have similar schedules. I'm glad you mentioned this as it gives me ideas on how to reevaluate the way the day is structured for each of my children.
Thank you, Julie. Your daughter sounds very like my son as regards the schedule, and your son like my daughter. I'm amazed by how efficiently J(8) gets through a visual list, whereas for C(9) a list seems to drain her energy and learning enthusiasm – she wants to be able to fully immerse herself in each project without other things weighing on her.
Your homeschooling looks similar to ours. We don't use curriculum either. We use books Keilee loves and things I find online and things like that. I am impressed by your daughter's handwriting! Neither Keilee or I write that pretty. 🙂 I LOVE project based learning. It is one of my favorite ways for Keilee to learn. Happy weekend Lucinda!
You always leave such lovely comments, Karen – thank you 🙂 My daughter learnt to write neatly at private school (LOL) – pretty coloured gel pens encourage her to keep it up! Happy weekend to you guys too!
don't you just love a good whiteboard? i have individual ones for the kids to work out math problems or try to figure out the spelling for a particular word or even just to doodle on while i read aloud. and then i have a big one for our daily assignments. but i think you're onto something. wonder if a schedule of sorts would help us this summer? nothing too formal or school-ish, but to give us direction.
oh, and thanks for visiting. it's very hard to tell spd behavior from just regular kid stuff so i try to treat both as with a discipline approach: teaching appropriate behavior or words in a particular situation. both require kids to learn respectable behavior no matter what is causing it.
I was so excited to come across your SPD page – thank you for replying over here too. Yes you're probably right, they do need to learn how to learn how to behave no matter what. Easier said than done sometimes though! I'm reading the Explosive Child today which is giving me some extra tools.
Oh yes and whiteboards – love love love! I bought several in Target when I was over in Florida last year. My husband thought it was hilarious that I returned from Disneyworld with a suitcase full of whiteboards.
I really liked your comments about routine vs. detailed plans! I, too, thrive on routine, but actually don't do all that well with detailed plans. My daughters REALLY don't like for me to make detailed plans because that can feel very confining. I do like lists, though…they help me to remember what I was thinking of, keep me on track sometimes, and it helps to get thoughts down on paper and out of my head!