A parent with a child or two can get by without a plan on
some days, but as your family grows, the tendency towards chaos can increase
exponentially. Throw in children at different ages and a mix of curricula
and it can quickly turn your smile upside down. But, organizing school time for large families
doesn’t have to be a hassle if you break it down into easy steps.
1. Prioritize
This is your chance to set boundaries–not only about what
subjects are most important, but also about what extracurricular events need to
be included. If you feel that math is most important, put it at the top
of your list. If your children take music lessons that you feel can’t be
missed; add them in. But if you feel like those lessons are on an
as-needed basis, then list them towards the bottom.
2. Plan
Now that you have your priorities straight — set them to
paper. If writing is your number one concern, make sure to schedule it at
the time of day your children are at their most attentive. Organizing
school time for large families requires keeping your school plans on paper.
Plan out each month, then work backwards to assignments for each week,
then each day.
3. Protect
Once you have your plan, try not to deviate. Don’t
worry about being “too restrictive” — research shows that children find
comfort in pattern and order. If your phone rings; ignore it. You
are not being rude. If you were conducting school outside of your home,
you would not be answering the phone anyway! Try to discourage
well-meaning neighbors from “dropping by” in the middle of your school day and
make an effort to schedule things like hair appointments or other errands
outside of school time.
Employing these few simple steps will give you an
advantage when organizing school time for your large family, and help
make your homeschool experience more productive.