Thursday 23 January 2014

Homeschooling essentials: time

Welcome back to the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials series. Today, I'm talking about time.


Day 1: a reason to home educate.

Day 2: a support network


Day 3: a place





Home education takes time. Biblically, education isn't restricted to the formal time learning Reading, 'Riting and 'Rthmetic. 


 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 
Deuteronomy 6v6-7


Of course, some time needs to be given to formal paper learning and certainly, for us, this works better at the same time every day. We tend to work during similar hours to schools but this is just what suits us.

Home education doesn't just take children's time, it takes parent time. Time to teach, time to encourage and mentor, time to listen to reading, time to read aloud and so on. Not only that but there is planning time, research time, marking time and recording time. Perhaps, most important-time to be together. 

This means that there are choices to be made. I realised that I couldn't combine a professional career and home education. Other people have had to give up other professions, hobbies and life styles.

This also means that there are choices to be made on a daily basis.  Don't think that I always get this right-I don't. 

A few thoughts about making time. Please feel free to add to this as I could do with more ideas!

  • People are more important than things.
  • Put the washing machine in the evening and the next load first thing in the morning.

  • Plan meals and put the easiest meals on the most busy days.
  • On-line grocery shopping is a friend!
  • Present shopping on-line is also a friend.
  • Try to make routine appointments after formal learning time or when having a day off.
  • Have a family calendar and/or weekly planning meeting with your spouse. This might not seem to save time but it has saved us several major clashes.
  • If an arrangement sounds too complicated on paper, review! 
  • Have bags for outings/swimming ready in advance.
  • Have homes for shoes/coats-don't ask why I know this is important!
  • Prioritise.

Do visit some of the other blogs writing around the theme of Homeschooling Essentials.


or pop over to the Schoolhouse Crew website for more.
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6 comments:

  1. You are so right...homeschooling my boys takes up the majority of my time too, and what is left over is given to running the house. But, I feel that it is the best investment of my time possible!

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    1. Yes, home education is time consuming but worth while.

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  2. Love your tips for making time! For me, also, it involves getting up a couple of hours before the rest of my family to take care of my "me" time so that I don't feel grumpy during the day if I can't find time for it.

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    1. Thank you for visiting. You are organised to manage to get up so early.

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  3. Time is so precious and we do need to make the most of what we are given. We will all be accountable in the end for how we have spent it. Good tips. - Lori

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  4. Yes, and once time is gone it is gone. We need God given wisdom to spend our time well.

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