It has taken me a very long time to figure out how to juggle teaching 1st grade, preschool and manage a toddler! I like a set routine in place that we can all follow so we all know what is expected for that block of time in our day. It just makes things run smoother. I had the hardest time finding that groove again with three children in the mix. It literally took me the first half of this school year to figure something out to keep things calm and flowing in the mornings.

We begin our day with Morning Routine which includes the girls doing their chores, getting dressed and eating breakfast. Then, after breakfast, all 3 children head to the playroom where they play for about half an hour. During these 30 minutes I get the kitchen cleaned up, eat my breakfast if I haven’t done so already and then get laundry going if it is a laundry day.

Around 9am I announce that it is Independent Work Time!

Sarge goes to the pack n play for Independent Playtime and the girls head to their Independent Work Time spots. Little Bug works at the homeschool table and Sweet Pea works at the kitchen table. In the homeschool room they each have a basket with their Independent Work for the week.

Little Bug’s Independent Work consists of: Explode the Code, Handwriting/Copywork and Calendar. Once a week, I take 5 minutes to write down all of her Independent Work assignments for the week in a notebook. There is a square before each assignment that she checks off when she is finished.

Sweet Pea’s Independent Work consists of: Handwriting activities, educational games and activities. Sweet Pea knows to go to her basket and pick one activity to complete for Independent Work Time each day.

The girls work on their Independent Work for about 15-20 minutes. While the girls are doing their Independent Work, I am free to take care of Sarge (lay him down for his morning nap) and then I gather materials needed for Bible Time and CC Review. As soon as Sarge is in bed for nap, it is Bible Time followed by CC Review Time.

Then I do preschool with Sweet Pea (while Little Bug finishes Independent Work, if necessary and/or has free play). After preschool it is time for a phonics lesson with Little Bug. Sweet Pea has her Independent Playtime. We break after phonics for about 10-20 minutes to read a chapter of our current Read Aloud. Then it is math time for Little Bug followed by a quick clean-up time and then outside time for all by 10:30/11am!

I want to foster independent learning in my children and Independent Work Time is a first step! There is not much school work littles can do alone but handwriting and educational toys and activities is a good place to start fostering independent learners.

I love beginning our school day with everyone quietly working on their own assignments after the morning rush of chores and breakfast!

- Elaine