It seems just as I get used to something, change is needed. We've switched our schedule this week to a conventional schedule with class periods. All I need is a bell system. The results have been immediate. The kids' school work has improved and both have expressed that they prefer this; it keeps the day more interesting. They are getting a lot more done.
I however do not prefer this. It has been awhile since I have felt so confined and tied to a clock. Our periods are 40 min long, with a 5 min break in between, 1 hour lunch and 30 min break in the afternoon. The kids get a 5 min warning before the end of a class time. I am directly involved in 7 out of the 8 classes. I guess that is my planning period. I can't leave the house unless I can do it in under 30 min. And that is only during one class period a day. Gone is the luxury of hitting Cruces on a work day to run errands and avoid the crowds.
The previous way was doing lessons and assigning most of the work on Mon & Tues. Then the kids would work independently and I would have free time on Wed & Thur. Friday would be our Homeschool group, library and testing. But the truth was the kids had a hard time staying motivated and would forget work they needed to complete. My optimistic hope is that they just need a refocus and then we can go to something a little more flexible.
