Organizing School Time for Large Families

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.