Being that we are “noobs” to homeschooling (we only just started this past November), we still have much to learn about managing our time wisely. I have found one of our biggest time management challenges to be overcoming the numerous distractions surrounding us in our home. I have weekly lesson plans and goals I would like to see accomplished within that time. How do you get schoolwork done quickly when there are so many other things competing for your attention and time?
When I began preparing to have my nine year old at home with me, one of the first things I did was create a “school nook” just for her. We purposely created a space next to the living room because I envisioned her working quietly at her desk (distraction free) while I sat on our living room sofa, reading or working on one of my many projects, ready to help her at a moment’s notice (that is, when I wasn’t teaching her directly). And I honestly believed that she (and her school mess) would stay content and contained to this area…ha ha, how wrong was I???
I am just as easily distracted by my ever-growing “to-be-read” pile, the phone ringing, my computer (emails calling, favorite blogs begging to be read, my blog needing content, online “educational resources” to be perused), and one must certainly not forget to mention my sewing machine and the lovely shining sun! And when mama gets distracted, her little one takes the opportunity to push aside her schoolwork and move on to something else.
My lively, precocious girl is always on the move and always into everything! She prefers hands-on learning and drags her schoolwork to wherever suits her latest whim. Her favorite haunts are sitting on the floor in the dining room in front of my craft armoire…“why Mom…don’t you know that everything wonderful and enchanting can be found in there…” and working on the floor (you would think we didn’t have a nice big dining table right next to it!) near the kitchen island, which conveniently holds the flour and salt and is in front of the sink and next to the oven…more on this another time! She has a terrible time staying focused on her schoolwork when there are so many distractions and other more interesting things she could conjure up. She particularly loves making her own books filled with stories, pictures, and poetry, which is wonderful and great, but there is other work that needs her attention too. I believe her to be the perfect candidate for “unschooling.” Unfortunately, I don’t believe myself to be the perfect teacher for that…not yet anyway. She could probably even be coaxed to do a super-long math sheet if I’d allow her to do it while crafting a cardboard dollhouse! So really, the schoolwork that should take only a few hours to complete can sometimes take an entire day (and I haven’t even brought up the television or our adorable kitten and dog)! Are you distracted yet?
As for me, I am just as easily distracted by my ever-growing “to-be-read” pile, the phone ringing, my computer (emails calling, favorite blogs begging to be read, my blog needing content, online “educational resources” to be perused), and one must certainly not forget to mention my sewing machine and the lovely shining sun! And when mama gets distracted, her little one takes the opportunity to push aside her schoolwork and move on to something else. By the end of the week, our attentions are short, our distractions are long, and we are in need of a change of scenery!
While talking these distractions over with a homeschooling “long timer” friend of mine, she suggested having “school” occasionally at the library or elsewhere (why didn’t I think of that?) So tomorrow (Friday), I am going to try something new…. I will pack a bag with the schoolwork that needs to be finished for the week, we will jump in the car and drive to a huge library that we’ve never been to (a few towns away), and we will see how our schooling goes there. This might be just the thing we need to do once a week to shake things up a bit.
Who knows…maybe next week we will try schooling at the local ice cream shop over a hot-fudge sundae??? I am interested to learn how you all escape the distractions in your home and some fun places you have conducted school!
This post was written by Colette D., a homeschool mom living in Upstate New York and author of the Year of Handmade blog. You can find out more about her, and our entire blogging team by visiting the Our People page.
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I think that is a great idea. My kids range from 5 years to 18 years. Sometimes when the weather is nice we have a picnic and school work on a blanket in the backyard. We also go to the park for our school work when we start getting stir crazy. Just an extra tidbit; there are plenty of distractions wherever you go. lol My crew are professional distraction finders!!
We are new to homeschooling this year as well and have the exact same problem. Sooo many things to talk about, to investigate, etc. My son seems to focus on his work best when he is under the dining room table! (We sometimes drape blankets to give it the real fort feel.) : )
Colette, Your daughter sounds like a very Kinesthetic learner. As the mom of a HIGHLY kinesthetic learner I have found a few things that work for keeping their butt in a chair when long worksheets and writing projects are necessary.
Here are a few: Make sure their feet can always comfortably touch the floor where they are sitting – this can have AMAZING effects on their attention span.
Also we have found that a bench seat with various sitting textures is great for keeping my son in his chair – I have a plastic picnic table we drag around to different areas of the house that has a prickly plastic bathmat over part, a piece of shag carpet over part, this strange “gooshy” rubber foam frisbee glued to a “seat” and a piece of that furry animal print material glued to a section. He can slide around as suits him and use the materials to pet and meet some of his K needs while working.
BUT the rule is do not get up from the table until the task is done!
Sum it up I think you need to look at some research on the K learners and also perhaps be a bit more hands on in your enforcement of tasking/timing. GOOD LUCK! Jody
hmmm…interesting…I will definitely do some research. Thanks!
That sounds great, but if you want her to buckle down- the best thing is structure. Now that can sound harsh, and I am not referring to that at all. She needs to know that when it is school time, that is all it is… mama too. You are the teacher and she is the student. Find a cozy place that has all your resources close, but not distracting. If she does not like the table- give a clipboard, and a bean bag! You sit close to her and be open to watching her- show a interest- see if she has a question. Do you know any tricks that involve math or entice her with a story about what you did to figure it out. Turn off the phone, and just do lessons… it will come! Good Luck!
I agree completely…we definitely need more structure. I love your idea about the clipboard and beanbag ~thanks!
Wow!!! I’m left brained dominant and OCD, I’m not as “stuctured” as Nancy. All of my girls have different learning styles. I had to learn to accomodate. That meant…throw my structing and anal rentetiveness out the window:-)
I had always thought that when my youngest was ready to start her formal learning, I’d used to Rod & Staff Curriculum. It is very structured…like doing school at home. I had it all planned out. By the time she was in her high school years, we’d do dual enrollment for college. HA!!!
Well, after talking with the elementary counselor at our umbrella school a couple of weeks ago, I realized, I needed to not only challenge my bright daughter, but change the way I was teaching her. So the research began….Then when I became overwhelmed and just downright exhausted with all of the possibilities, I began to Pray. I asked God to show me how he wanted me to teach this very annoyingly active, but super intelligent child. I stayed away from google for a few days and just watched my daughter run amock. I payed close attention to what really got her clicking. Well…she likes computers(not suprising as we are web designers), being read to while she does flips on the couch(but she’s still absorbing the story!!!), and the ever so evil TV. I have come to the conclusion that Aliens dropped her off here as a joke(lol).
Nevertheless, I got my butt back on google in search of a way to teach this child. My discovery….Charlotte Mason. I’ve been against her theory during my whole homeschooling adventure. I was afraid that it was just too eclectic for my taste. but wait…is is. But not for my youngest…and I probably should have used it with my oldest too. I bought my curriculum from Timberdoodle. As long as my daughter works well with the curriculums they put together, I believe we are going to use them as long as we can. They include Bible or electives in their packets. So you will have to add your own. But they do included a big handful of what they call thinking putty. Why didn’t I think of that???? We ar now a happier bunch now that momma has stopped thinking that everyone should have her learning style(lol).
Good Luck and God Bless!!!
Christina