Our Homeschool Daily Schedules: K & 1st

After looking over dozens of sample kindergarten schedules, this is the one that we decided best fits our needs. We are flexible, so although down on paper, it is not set in stone - meaning that on some days we will be not follow it exactly but rearrange to "go with the flow" of the day. For example, we volunteer at the local food pantry one day a month so on that day, some of our morning activities will be moved to the end our "to do" list and extend our school day a little (unless we worked ahead the day before).

Kindergarten:

7:00 – 7:30 a.m.          Breakfast Time & Bible Study

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.          Morning Chore Then To Skill Specific Learning Stations

                                    & Free Choice Play

8:00 – 8:15 a.m.          “Morning Meeting”: Attendance, Pledges, Prayer, Calendar (Count The                                         Number Of School Days So Far, Weather/Season Charts, etc.

8:15 – 8:30 a.m.          Art

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.          Math (hands-on manipulatives, Saxon curriculum)

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.          Handwriting/Fine Motor Skills practice

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.       Science

10:00  - 10:30 a.m.     Snack Time, Sharing Time, and Recess (Outdoors, Weather Permitting)

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.      Reading/Language Arts (Alphabet, Phonics, Reading instruction, Story Time, Literacy

                                  Centers, big books, literacy activities, Spanish lesson, etc.)

11:00 - 11:30               Social Studies

11:30 – Noon              Lunch Recess (Outdoors, Weather Permitting))

Noon – 12:30 p.m.      Lunch Time

12:30 – 1:00 p.m.        Rest Time (w/pillows and blankets, listen to a story tape, watch                                                       movie, or free reading time while I do lunch dishes)

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.          Computer Lab

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.          Music

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.          Journal Time, Then Clean-Up Time

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.          Physical Education (outdoors when possible)

Schedule Explanations...

Clean-Up:  As they clear the table or put away the blocks, children learn how to plan, organize, and work well with others.

Free Choice Play:  Children choose from a variety of different activities available to them: block building, puzzles, dress-up, water or sand play, drawing, painting, playing with magnifying glasses, etc. They initiate their own play, either alone or with their siblings. They learn how to work independently, take turns, share, and play cooperatively with others.

Group Activity: During this time, the children of different ages may learn together to sing or dance. They may participate in making up a story, preparing a meal, planning a village, or working on a science or art project. They practice new skills, develop fine motor control, learn how to communicate their ideas and needs effectively, and how to work together as a team.

Journals: I set up a word wall in which the kids and I decide on appropriate words for that month. Simple pictures are drawn next to the words. Their journals contain pages that are half lined and half plain paper. The first day they decorate they're journal, in the following days they number the page, write, and draw.

 “Morning Meeting”: Family sits together and I will initiate a conversation about topics such as the weather, the calendar, the seasons, a field trip, or an upcoming holiday. Sometimes  the discussion might be about a special theme, a place, or group project. The children learn concepts of time and space and gain new vocabulary words.

Outdoor Play: Climbing, running, jumping, bouncing balls, and crawling through tunnels helps children develop large muscle control, motor coordination, and balance.

Snack: As they eat, preschoolers learn social and practical skills: how to set the table, about healthy food choices and nutrition, about mealtime prayers, to pass the food, to carry on a conversation, and how to clean up after themselves.

Story Time: Children gather together in a comfortable spot in a room to listen as the home educator (or a special guest) tells a story or reads from a book. They look at the illustrations and discuss them. The are asked questions about the story, helping them to learn to predict what will happen next. Encourage them to think about the characters and plot and to use new vocabulary from the story.

1st Grade:

7:00 – 7:30 a.m.          Breakfast Time & Bible Study

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.          Morning Chore Then To Skill Specific Learning Stations

                                    & Free Choice Play

8:00 – 8:15 a.m.          “Morning Meeting”: Attendance, Pledges, Prayer, Calendar (Count the                                          Number Of School Days So Far, Weather/Season Charts, “Where’s Dad?”

8:15 – 8:30 a.m.          Art

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.          Math (hands on manipulatives, Saxon curriculum)

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.          Writing and Grammar

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.       Science

10:00  - 10:30 a.m.     Snack Time, Sharing Time, and Recess (Outdoors, Weather                                                  Permitting)

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.      Reading/Language Arts (Phonics, Reading instruction,                                                                     Story Time, or Spanish lesson)

11:00 - 11:30               Social Studies

11:30 – Noon              Lunch Recess (Outdoors, Weather Permitting))

Noon – 12:30 p.m.      Lunch Time

12:30 – 1:00 p.m.        Quiet Time (w/pillows and blankets, listen to a story tape, watch                                                     movie, or independent reading time)

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.          Computer Lab

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.          Music

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.          Journal Time, Then Clean-Up Time

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.          Health/Safety & Physical Education