I shared a daily to-do list for homeschoolers, but that doesn’t cover everything we should be doing, does it? This weekly list is a great goal for six other tasks. If you’d like a free printable copy, click the orange button below to subscribe to Psychowith6 and you’ll receive it in your inbox lickety split! Current subscribers can find it in the folder linked at the bottom of your Psychowith6 email. Click Here to Get the FREE Printable
Add your printable to your homeschool binder in a page protector, laminate it, or frame it and you can use it every week with a dry erase marker. It’s a great reminder for me and I hope it is for you! Note that this is a PDF as pictured above and is not editable. If you want a to-do list that you can create yourself, check out the Homeschool Record Form or the Quarterly Checklist.
#1 Group Time
I admit that I once thought homeschoolers couldn’t possibly get enough social time. How wrong I was. But it’s a vital part of our homeschool to get together with other homeschoolers for co-ops and classes. We’ve also enjoyed having the kids participate in other sports and activities that aren’t just for homeschoolers. I don’t have to worry about forgetting this task. My kids insist upon group time!
#2 Field Trip
While we don’t go on a formal field trip every week, I do aspire to regularly take the kids out where they can learn and explore. Nature walks, parks, museums, and even the grocery store can work. Ask questions of the different workers you come into contact with. We’ve learned so much from just doing that!
#3 Rest
Some of you laughed when you read my suggestions of group time and field trips, because all you do is go, go, go! But homeschoolers need a day of rest, too. Sunday is our day, but we all have different schedules. Allowing everyone to relax and do what interests them with no schedule is so important physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
#4 Review
I believe it’s so important to review what we’ve learned–not through formal testing–but by discussing it and answering verbal questions, especially when kids are younger. I haven’t done a great job with this and that’s a shame, because review reminds mom how much she has actually accomplished and helps move information into long-term memory. Every day, write a couple of questions on notecards based on what you’ve learned and play a little Jeopardy game at the end of the week. It could be everyone’s favorite time. That’s my goal.
#5 Clean
If we didn’t clean up twice a day, our house would be condemned in no time. But we still need time for more time-consuming tasks like dusting, vacuuming, and laundry. Build time for this more concentrated cleaning into your school schedule so you won’t be stressed. I assign various tasks based on the kids’ ages. We have been doing a little of these throughout the week for years, but we are going to try to knock these chores out on one day. We’ll see how it goes.
#6 Worship
We see our worship as part of our homeschool. We all learn something in Bible class and from sermons, even though we study in depth as part of our studies. Church is something we don’t want to miss! But when illness strikes, my husband will often read and discuss the Bible with us. I have some Bible study DVDs that I would love for us to watch together as well. We haven’t made the time for them, so that’s a goal, too.
Want a copy of this daily to-do list to print and place in a page protector or frame to use with a dry-erase marker? Click here:
To-Do List Please!When you’re a new homeschooler or even when you’re experienced, you can become overwhelmed by everything you think you should be doing in your homeschool on a daily basis. The good news is there’s nothing wrong with you! You may have just overloaded your to-do list. To save our sanity when we’re trying to add too many things to our days, I created a simple to-do list with six tasks that we can accomplish most days.
#1 Pray
As a Christian homeschooling family, this is foundational. I shared in the video below that we pray about what we’re thankful for, sorry for, and what we need help with. It never fails that when I’m feeling stressed, prayer will calm me down. We also pray for family and friends by selecting a few of the Christmas cards that are sent to us each year. Want to read more about establishing a family devotional time? Check out this post.
#2 Read
Reading is our favorite homeschooling activity. If it’s not your child’s favorite, check out these tips for reluctant readers. We enjoy reading individually, but love reading books out loud that correspond to our Mystery of History volume. One of our favorite books this year was Raiders from the Sea (a Christian fiction series about the Vikings). Reading is also a critical skill for our kids’ academic and life success, so it’s going to be high on our to-do list. I hope it is on yours, too.
#3 Solve
Math skills are also very important for life success. Avoid the college remedial math courses by making sure your kids are practicing their math facts, playing math games, and regularly learning math principles. We love Life of Fred math for this because it’s reading based and just plain fun. Check out my Homeschool Math board on Pinterest for some great activities to try.
#4 Create
I’ve written before about my angst about art, but I’ve found programs I really liked such as Atelier. But creating time (which is so important to our children’s happiness and future accomplishment) can be writing time, Lego time, robotics time, Minecraft time, or music time. Time to create and some basic materials are all you need.
#5 Test
Science is becoming more important to future careers than ever before. Doing experiments with a science curriculum you love (click to see a list of the best!) is a great way to give kids the opportunity to test their hypotheses, but nature walks are too. Cindy West has created an amazing curriculum for this purpose that you can use on the fly. There’s no reason not to put a little science into your day!
#6 Play
When the day becomes so crowded with seat work and classes and activities that there’s no time for play, there’s a problem. It’s even a problem when we don’t get time to play as homeschool moms. We all need a little margin in our day and dare I say it, a little boredom, to help us unwind and find our own fun. I think it’s really important not to dictate what the play time is used for, because then it isn’t really play. I do, however, believe in setting some screen time limits. I encourage you to pick up your free homeschool daily to-do list if you haven’t already! To-Do List Please!>If you already subscribe to Psychowith6, you’ll find the link to the Subscriber Freebies folder in your welcome email.
Is there anything else you think is important to do daily (if possible)? Let’s chat about it at Homeschool Sanity on Facebook.
I love the green smoothies I can buy at the grocery store, but the problem is, they’re quite pricey! I wanted to make my own to save money and skip the preservatives. The nutrient quality should be even higher with homemade.
If you’re afraid of drinking greens, I encourage you to give this a try. It doesn’t taste like spinach. It tastes fresh and fruity.
Blend 2 cups packed baby spinach with 1 cup water until smooth. Add 1 banana, 1 cup frozen mango, and 1 cup frozen pineapple. I added a little more than 1 cup mango and the consistency was thicker. I liked it better!
Be sure to watch me on Periscope @Psychowith6 on Friday morning when I share a protein shake recipe that rivals any $4 number you can buy. Broadcasts are also announced on Twitter.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent way too much time trying to make digital homeschool planners work for you, when they just don’t!
That’s why I created the Easiest Homeschool Record System Ever that you can easily customize for your kids. I still think it’s a great way to keep homeschool records. But something happened that made me create a form that I think is even more MOTIVATING for kids (and for parent teachers, too).
I call it the Quarter Checklist, but you may call it a lifesaver!
Here’s how I came up with the idea. We were nearing the end of the school year. Some of my kids were behind in some subjects and were close to being finished with others. I really wanted them to be done with their independent work before we went on our family vacation. So I asked them what lesson they were on in each subject. I then made them a checklist of lessons to complete to be done with the school year. Here’s what happened.
My daughter became obsessed with finishing her school work, even begging to stay home from scrapbooking so she could work.
My son began working through multiple math lessons a day.
My older son spent hours finishing up his history reading.
All without any nagging on my part! That’s when I got to thinking.
How could I motivate the kids to work this way all year long?
I thought about what made that list so effective and here’s what I realized:
It was a closed list. My kids knew that if they finished the list, they didn’t have to keep working.
It was a short list. Unlike the list in their regular planners, the list seemed very doable.
It offered a reward. Not only were we going on vacation when they finished, but the kids worked for the reward of having free time.
I could do this during the school year too!
So I created a school quarter checklist for next school year.
The great news is I created one for you, too. Here’s how it works:
Make a list of each subject your child will do independently. Label one column with that subject. For example LOF for Life of Fred Math. You may need more than one sheet per child, depending on the number of subjects. If you end up with multiple sheets, note the page numbers at the top of the forms. Don’t have something next to each checkbox? Even better! Your child will feel like they have very little to do!
For each subject, determine how many total lessons s/he will complete in a year. Divide that number by four.
List the lesson or page numbers for the first quarter next to each check box on the form. If your children’s handwriting is neat enough, you can have them complete these forms themselves. If that isn’t a sanity saver! (If you run out of room for that subject, circle NEXT PAGE; otherwise circle YOU’RE DONE!)
Write the date the quarter officially ends in front of the year and plan a reward. We love to go out for breakfast. If your student finishes before that date, s/he enjoys the reward of no independent work (even if family subjects and classes continue through the quarter).
Store your completed checklists on clipboards. There’s something about a clipboard that’s so motivating! I love these Dexas clipboard cases that have space for notebooks and pencils and have a carrying handle. Don’t you? There is a color for every student.
Even if your child has multiple pages to work with, the perception will be that their lessons are very, very doable! Because that’s the case, your student is likely to be extra motivated. One tip: only plan one quarter at a time. Life happens!
How to Use the Quarter Checklist as a Teacher
I know I’m not the only one who gets discouraged when I get behind on my school plans. Using the Quarter Checklist, I think I can not only stay on schedule, but even get ahead. Here’s why:
The kids will be motivated to move through lessons quickly so we can get done with ALL of our schooling ahead of schedule.
I will be motivated to finish all the lessons because I’m working with a closed list.
I can use the form to show them how we’re doing after taking a sick day or free day to motivate them to spend extra time with me on subject.
I’d love it if you’d share the sanity with homeschooling friends and let me know how it’s working for you on Facebook. Check out the other great ideas I’m pinning on Pinterest.
When you’re the teacher, the last thing you want is a long lunch duty shift. These crazy easy homeschool lunch ideas can buy you some relaxation time–especially if you have the kids make lunch!
I need easy and filling ideas because I have three teen boys still at home and a work-from-husband to feed. This is what we have for lunch on a regular basis. We typically add cold veggies (baby carrots, peppers, sugar snap peas, cucumbers) or salad to these entries. Each meal serves 6-8, so modify serving sizes as needed:
#1 French Bread Pizza
We love pizza as you will see from our lunch ideas, but we like a little variety like we get from this meal.
Ingredients
2 loaves of wide French bread, cut in half lengthwise
1 jar of pizza sauce
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package pepperoni, 1 package of sausage crumbles, or both
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Put French bread cut side up on cookie sheet. Spread each loaf with pizza sauce. Sprinkle each loaf generously with mozzarella cheese. Cover each loaf with desired amount of pepperoni and sausage. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted and beginning to brown around the edges. Slice and serve.
#2 Buffalo Chicken French Bread Pizza
This is just as good with canned chicken!
#3 Pizza Roll-ups
We serve these with marinara and they are absolutely fabulous!
#4 Pizza Burgers
This is my Aunt Sharon’s recipe. You can make up a bunch of these to freeze. Wrap them in aluminum foil and bake them frozen at 350 for 45 – 50 min. Save time by browning ground beef ahead of time and freezing in bags. Pop the frozen beef into the microwave and in just a few minutes, your lunch will be ready.
Ingredients
2 pounds lean ground beef
12 hamburger buns
2 cans tomato soup
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1.5 cups low fat shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Brown ground beef. Drain ground beef. Add soup, season, cheese and heat through. Serve on buns immediately or bake for 15 minutes at 350 for crusty sandwiches.
#5 Homemade Hot Sub Sandwiches
Again, we often eat regular cold sandwiches on sliced bread, but there’s something about hot sandwiches on French bread that makes lunch more exciting. The bonus is that they’re cheaper than restaurant fare!
Ingredients
3 sandwich-size loaves of French bread, sliced midway lengthwise
Your favorite deli meats (we use smoked turkey, hard salami, and sandwich-style pepperoni)
Your favorite deli sliced cheese (we use cheddar cheese slices from Sams Club)
Your favorite condiments (we love Miracle Whip and at least one of us adds mustard)
Directions
Assemble sandwiches. We like to add our condiments before baking, but you may like to add them later. Bake at 350 F for 5-6 minutes or until cheese is melted and the bread is beginning to get crusty.
#6 Chicken Quesadillas
These are so easy and yet they are so good, especially when served with sour cream and salsa.
Ingredients
2 cans white chicken meat, drained
6 large flour tortillas
2 T chili powder
2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese (I use the 2% fat kind)
Salsa & sour cream as condiments
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 F. Mix chicken and chili powder in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook for two minutes on high * Meanwhile, spray a large flat cookie sheet (no raised edges) with olive oil cooking spray. Arrange 3 tortillas on sheet. Spread warmed chicken mixture evenly on tortillas. Cover with shredded cheese. Top with remaining tortillas. Bake for 5-6 minutes or until tortilla begins to brown and curl. Cut each tortilla into four pieces with a pizza cutter. Serve with desired condiments.
#7 Burritos
We serve these with con queso and sour cream and they’re as good as restaurant fare and so easy!
#8 Nachos
So it isn’t the healthiest lunch, but it’s probably the quickest. When I’m in a hurry, there’s nothing like nachos to get lunch to the table fast.
Ingredients
1 bag tortilla chips 1 jar con queso dip 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese 1 can chili with beans S our cream
Directions
Put a layer of tortilla chips on a microwave-safe plate. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and/or con queso. Repeat layer. Spoon chili on top and heat in microwave until cheese is melted and chili is hot. Dot with sour cream and serve.
#9 BBQ Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches
Start this easy recipe early in the morning and it will be ready at lunch time. Ingredients 1 bag rinsed, frozen chicken breasts or tenderloins 1 bottle barbecue sauce 12 hamburger buns Directions Add a liner to your crockpot, followed by the chicken and the barbecue sauce. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Shred with two forks or even better, use your hand mixer while the meat is still in the crockpot. Serve on hamburger buns.
When I heard about free learning resources for the summer, I was interested. But when I learned that Discovery Education and myOn Literacy were some of the free programs available to us homeschoolers, I couldn’t contain my excitement.
I have used Discovery Education with my family and the incredible videos and teaching helps they include are absolutely perfect for low-key summer learning. My association with myOn is a little more interesting! I used to be a sales rep for this incredible program that is marketed to public schools. Whether you have a beginning, struggling, or avid reader, you will be amazed by the interactive books that are available with reading supports (audio and highlighted text and more). It is like having an entire library in your home.
But that’s not all that’s included as freebies for and if you’re smart, you’ve already started scrolling down to see what you get! I’m definitely claiming my freebies now. Have a great learning summer!
I’m a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. My life can be a little crazy, so I look for sanity-saving ideas to use and share. I hope you’ll read my About page to learn more.
I shared a daily to-do list for homeschoolers, but that doesn’t cover everything we should be doing, does it? This weekly list is a great goal for six other tasks. If you’d like a free printable copy, click the orange button below to subscribe to Psychowith6 and you’ll receive it in your inbox lickety split! Current subscribers can find it in the folder linked at the bottom of your Psychowith6 email.
