After posting a picture of my kids’ notebooks and independent work checklists on Instagram earlier this week, I received many requests for a close-up look at the checklists along with questions about how I schedule my day. I love looking at other people’s schedules, so it’s hard to believe that I’ve never done one of these posts before. I think it makes me a little nervous for people to be peeking into my schoolroom (smile), but here goes!
Before I jump in, here are a few things to remember:
- There is no recipe. This is is just one way of doing things. It’s what works for me now, in this season. My schedule looked different when I had less kids, when my kids were younger, when I was pregnant, when we were moving, when I had newborns, etc.
- I use “forms” to describe my kids’ grades because that’s the British format that Charlotte Mason used, but there are other reasons, and Wildwood Curriculum gives a great explanation of CM forms if you’re interested.
- This schedule only reflects three children, but I also have a four (soon-to-be-five) year old sitting on my lap, crushing Play-Doh, and asking for snacks throughout all of this. He is my sidekick during the day, and he always plays with siblings who are taking breaks. Speaking of breaks…
- My kids take a lot of breaks throughout the day. They are not scheduled because scheduled breaks never work for me. They go outside and ride bikes, skateboard, garden, jump on the trampoline, run, explore, etc. multiple times throughout the day. There’s a creek and a “lake” (big pond) one minute from our house – two minutes if they dawdle. They usually go outside in groups of 2-3 but rarely altogether. They also play with toys indoors. Some of the toys are plastic 🙂
- I cannot do it all, and I’ve learned that it’s better for me if I don’t even attempt to stuff myself and my children full of every good thing at the church dinner. I’m super committed to redefining the Charlotte Mason feast and “cutting back until there is peace in my home” (Nancy Kelly). Because of this, you will see many things “missing” from my schedule that are important aspects of a Charlotte Mason education. Where is Latin? Swedish drill? Solfa? Why aren’t some kids doing copywork every single day? And {GASP!} where in the heck did Plutarch go? Well…those things didn’t make the cut this term. Maybe some or none will be swapped in next term. Or next year. Or never. I don’t really know. All I do know is that I love Charlotte Mason, but I love my kids more. So when I have to choose between perfect execution and peace & happiness, I choose the latter every time.
Now down to the nitty gritty. I’m going to let the schedule speak for itself, but here is a broad interpretation of my day:
- Breakfast @ 8:30 AM
- Subjects we do altogether
- I work with my Form 2 students together while my Form 1 student works on his Independent Learning checklist
- I work alone with my Form 1 student (1st grade) while Form 2 students work on their Independent Learning checklists. This is likely the end of his day unless he went outside after breakfast instead of doing his checklist.
- I work alone with my Form 2B student (4th grade) while siblings work through their checklists. This is the end of her day.
- I work alone with my Form 2A student (5th grade) who is done with her independent work and has been doing her own thing until I’m ready.
- Everyone is done with everything. I play with my youngest. I try to give him my undivided attention because he hasn’t had it since early AM when we were both the only ones awake. I check email and prep dinner.
- Everyone eats dinner and the kids get ready for bed. I read to the girls while my husband reads to the boys. The girls can stay up another hour reading quietly in their room, and the boys are “lights out.”
- I talk to my husband about whatever and then get things ready for the next day – pull books from the shelf, prep copywork for kids, pull up any links needed, etc. I get on Instagram even though I should be going to bed 🙂
- On Sunday afternoons, I edit the Independent Learning checklists and print new ones for the week. This takes less than 30 minutes because they mostly stay the same. I just update page numbers, list new books, change things that aren’t working, etc.
Note: The schedule timing for Fridays is not accurate, but I don’t want to complicate my scheduling spreadsheet. The children have far less independent work and we do easier subjects on Fridays so we can finish early and go on a hike/walk or some other adventure. Or sometimes we just CHILL.
The Independent Learning checklists are just that. They are things the kid can do by themselves while I’m working with their siblings.
Please note that there are apps on the checklists. Some Charlotte Mason moms do not permit any electronic usage during school or even in their homes at all.
I am not that mom.
I’ve invested money in high quality apps that engage my children, are not just busywork, and don’t have ads or outside influences. These apps help my children learn while I’m working with their siblings, and they are FUN.
Fun matters to me.
Electronics should never be their only source of fun, but if watching a science video once a week (Generation Genius), completing math adventures (Dreambox), and learning social studies topics I never think to teach (BrainPop Jr.) bring happiness to my children’s days and peace to my schedule…I’m all about it!
And on Fridays after dinner, my kids watch a movie (or show episodes if they can agree on something which is never).
I’m not saying this so you’ll include apps in your schedule if you don’t want to. I’m saying it because most traditional Charlotte Mason moms won’t say publicly that their kids own ipads, let alone use them.
I just want you to know what’s real. A LOT of us are using devices, wisely and with care, throughout the week.
I’ve included screenshots below, but here is a copy of the Johnston Family Homeschool Schedule. Click FILE and then DOWNLOAD to save a copy to your computer for editing. The individual checklists are Tabs 2-4.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
You can find me on Instagram @heritagemomblog.
“I love Charlotte Mason, but I love my kids more”
I love this! Your perspective on allowing CM to be a tool to serve your family is so helpful to me as we prepare to start 1B with our first.
I’m really glad that you were able to take something from this. These posts are always hard because no two families are just alike, but I do think it’s helpful to see how many different people do things as you’re developing ideas for your own home. And 1B is such an exciting year! I hope you enjoy every moment.
Also I see the kids do independent work. Are you checking what they did during your 1on1s or something else?
During our 1:1 time, my primary goal is to work on things they need me to provide a lesson for or talk through – math, grammar, and spelling. I also listen to narrations (or read written narrations) from their readings during this time. I don’t usually review copywork or other things until that night or early the next morning before the kids wake up.
Hi! I’m braaaaand new to this homeschool world (just started reading some CM stuff and love it!). Could you expand a bit on what you mean with the numbers & letters (2a, 2b). Is that Charlotte Mason? Specific curriculum you use? Thanks!
Welcome to homeschooling, Jenna!!! I’m actually going to edit the post to include this explanation because I’ve received the same question on IG too. But the short answer is that Charlotte Mason used British “forms” instead of grades. Form 1 is 1st-3rd grades. Then you can break it down further to Form 1B (1st grade; to remember think of b = beginning) and Form 1A (2nd and 3rd grades; to remember think of a = advanced). Then you can break it down further to Form 1A lower = 2nd grade and Form 1A upper = 3rd grade). So it’s like another little language for describing grades. My children are in Form 1A lower (2nd grade), Form 2B (4th grade), and Form 2A lower (5th grade). I hope this helps!
This is so cool! Thanks for giving us a peek into your schedule!
You’re welcome! Thank you for coming over for a little visit, lol.
Hi. I had posted this question on another forum and was directed to your website.
Last school year I had wanted to do a CM style picture study focused on African American artists. I really like Simply Charlotte Mason’s Picture Study Portfolios but they had no black artists featured. I ended up using the “Come Look With Me” book featuring several black artists. We enjoyed it, but again, I wanted good quality pictures of ONE artist, not a medley. I’m wondering if what I want exists? Do my children and I need to create something ourselves? Any resources would be appreciated.
Hello! What you’re looking for can be found here, however, they are nowhere near as nice as the SCM portfolios. Mine are “homemade” – just sharing what I’ve done for my own family – but I hope you can find something useful: https://heritagemom.com/2019/03/22/african-american-picture-study-resources/
Thank you! I’m looking forward to looking through the recommendations. Your link has now introduced me to Alma Thomas. I’ve never heard of her and I’m really excited to learn more about her!
Me too! I was excited when I learned of her as well. Happy hunting!
Your post is incredibly refreshing and REAL! I have three kiddos, my 2 yr old, my middle going into form 1A Lower, and my oldest heading into 2A lower. I loved your explanation of the forms! Thank you! I started incorporating many Charlotte Mason subjects this year as my kids made the transition from public school to homeschool. I hope to do “full” Charlotte Mason beginning August, but you hit the nail on the head! You love your children more than any philosophy of homeschooling. Your schedule provides me so much inspiration!!! Thank you for sharing and inspiring so many moms on this journey 💖 God bless!
You’re so welcome! I’m really glad that you found this helpful. I changed my schedule multiple times during the school year, but the spirit and format remained the same. Getting organized in the summer really helps so much!
Your perspective is so refreshing and freeing. I got a few good ideas to use in my homeschool for this year! Thank you!
That’s great. I’m glad you got a little something to throw into your mix. And you’re welcome!
Sista,
You have given all the CM mommas permission to do what’s best for their families. I’m with you on doing what is right for your family! 👊🏾
Well said and well done! Can I get an “Amen”? 👏🏾
Amen! It’s taken me such a long time to get to this place. I hope others see early on that they have to do what they know is best – even when it means letting go of “perfect” execution.
This is my first time here and this post is amazing. I love CM but don’t abide to every aspect as well. Are you familiar with Woke Homeschooling and Blossom and Root? I’m looking for American History that emphasizes African Americans. Thank you.
Thank you. I’m glad that you like it! Yes, I own the Woke Homeschooling curriculum, and I really like it. We had already read many of the books by the time it came out, but I still bought it to support the work of the mom who created it. I’m familiar with Blossom and Root but have not used their resources. However, at quick glance, we’ve read and enjoyed many of the books on their website as well.
Thanks for giving us a detailed look into your schedule. I love your honesty about your homeschool approach. To read about a homeschooling approaching is one thing but to get a glimpse into how it’s actually being executed by one family is gold! Thanks for this!
You’re welcome, and I totally agree. I have learned so much from seeing how different people actually execute their plans. For example, I still have not figured out how to be completely done by lunch, but I see it work for other people on paper. My oldest has a big gap from when she finishes her other work until when I can work with her alone. I’d love for that not to be the case. Anyway, those are just examples of how I’m still learning and figuring it all out.
Thank you so much for sharing about your schooling in such a transparent and genuine manner. Its so refreshing to find another Black family using a CM inspired approach. I absolutely love your independent checklists for the kids! Absolutely using that idea for my kids! I was handwriting them daily last year. Why didn’t think of making a reusable checklist?!? Thank you so much! Looking forward to reading lots on your blog and supporting your business!
Thank you, Nicole! The checklists have definitely been a game-changer for us, so I hope they work well in your home as well. I’m glad you’re here!
Hello Again! So, I just took a deep dive into your checklists and am ready to make ours. 🙂 I’m totally not skilled at excel, so this might be an amateur question. Is there a specific template or something that you used to create the checklist format?
Thanks in advance for any guidance!
I created them in Excel. If you click on the link right above the spreadsheet pictures, it will take you to google docs. The first tab is the family schedule and the remaining tabs are the individual checklist. You can just download one of them or create a copy and then edit it to change anything you’d like to meet your needs. Or of course you can just start from scratch in Excel!
Thank you for this, Amber!
This is so very helpful! Thank you. I find myself going into the CM rabbit hole and not knowing what I was doing! This is great! Thank you!!!!
I’m so glad that you found it helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions.
I don’t even do CM, but I love how you made your schedule! I have been trying to find a new way to make a schedule/routine for our family, but I hadn’t figured out how to make one that works. This looks like the perfect starting point!
I’m glad that you found it useful! It’s definitely not dependent on CM at all. It’s been such a helpful way for us to organize our days, and I hope some aspect of it works for your family too.