Master Schedule

Having a master schedule saves me a lot of time during the school year.  I decide how many days I want to spend on core curriculum, and then divide the books by that many days.  Usually the number of days is determined by a math book or a grammar book - one lesson per day.  This year we have 140 days.  I know this seems like a small number.  In our school district, the calendar has 190 days.  A Beka is based on 170 days.  These really are arbitrary numbers.  There is no scientific reason for them.  Having a smaller number of days gives us lots of time for field trips, workshop days, being sick, cleaning the house and whatever else life throws at us without the pressure of feeling like we're "getting behind."

To make my master schedule, I set up a table in Word.  Then I copy it for the number of days, then go through one subject at a time and fill in each day.  When I have finished putting all the subjects in, I print it out and bind it in a folder.  Once it is printed, any changes are just written in with a pen.  I also write notes and ideas as I go - my goal is to have a useful tool, not a perfect-looking page.  As I go through it during the year, I cut the top right corner off the pages that are complete so that it is easy to find where I am.

We do each subject each day.  This year I have a new chart layout because B2 will be doing some schoolwork this year.  Two days are printed on a page.  Here is what it looks like:

G1 is in grade 4, B1 is in grade 1, and B2 is in junior kindergarden.

Throughout the year I plan a week at a time.  I look at the calendar and see what's on it - doctor or dentist appointments, field trips, etc.  Then I decide How many days of school we will do (usually 4) and put them on our weekly calendar.

Sometimes I will split days (eg. on Oct 8, do 1/2 of Day 20 and Oct 9, do 1/2 of Day 20).

When something is completed, we cross it off with a highlighter in the master schedule.  That way we can still read what it says, but it is clear what is completed and what is left.  During the day, the schedule stays open to the page on the kitchen counter.  It is nice to flip through and see all the color knowing that it is work completed.

Gearing Up

I am planning on starting school on September 2 this year, and I just realized that there are only three weeks left.  Friends are asking me "Are you ready for school?"  The answer is yes and no.

The school work is all ready.  I make decisions and order books in April, and I spend a lot of time in the summer planning and doing prep work.  I don't do well to have to prepare every day or week for the next unit.  I plan a schedule for the entire year.  I know I will tweak and change things as I go along, but I have a foundation.  I don't put dates on it, but I know how many days I would like to spend on base curriculum.  This year it is 140.

I also read all new textbooks during the summer.  Books like math and grammar I do not actually read every word, but I go through every page and write the topics on my master schedule.  I read anything that looks unfamiliar, new or interesting.  I do the same thing with books I am repeating with another child.  Everything else, like readers, history and science I try to read the whole book.  That way during the year, I can look at my master schedule and have an idea of what it's talking about.  My brain can process information, and I get ideas of activities and field trips to go along with the topics while there is still enough time to do them.

I try to plan a couple of fun "workshop days" during the summer.  These are days that we take off from regular curriculum and focus on one topic for the whole day - usually a famous person from history.  We do games, crafts, cooking and other activities.  They are my kids' favorite days.

So yes, that is all ready.  I am just printing off my master schedule, getting supplies, and I have to plan some workshop days.  Doing this in three weeks is not a problem.

But on the other hand, I am not ready.  I have a big list of everything I wanted to clean and organize in my house before school starts, and that is not done!  If only I had a maid ...

math game - matching

This is a quieter simple addition game.

Again, you need the basic number token set.  Sort out the numbers so that you have two group of the numbers 1 - 9.

Lay those face down in rows on the table, and put the rest of the tokens back into the can.

Take turns turning over two tokens, like memory or concentration.  A match is two tokens that add up to a total of 10 (ie. 1 and 9, 5 and 5, etc.)

The person with the most matches wins.

math game - highest wins

This is a fast, fun game that can be played by a variety of ages.  It uses the basic number token set.  If you use juice lids for the number tokens, it can also be a noisy game.

Lay the number tokens on the table face down.

Everyone picks up two tokens.  The one with the highest sum gets a point.

Put your tokens back in the middle, mix them up then go again.

Play a pre-determined number of rounds.

variations:  The variations for this game are only limited by your imagination.  You can choose any number of tokens.  Young children just learning their numbers learn a lot even by using one token.  You can use subtracting or multiplying.  You could make the numbers the numerators and denominators of fractions.  You could say lowest wins or middle wins.

Go fast and be fun and your kids won't realize that they're doing math.

math game - Guess my Three

This is B1's favorite game.  He gets a wicked laugh when he knows he is going to win.  Of course, he is not as happy when he loses ...

Guess My Three

2 player game

to play you need a basic number token set

Each player takes three number tokens, looks at them and places them face down on the table.  They tell the other player the total of their numbers.  The player with the lowest total gets to guess first.

Players take turns guessing one of the other player's numbers.  (eg. do you have a seven?)

When a number is guessed correctly, it must be turned face up.  Remember, there may be more than one of a number, but only one has to be turned over, so you could guess the same number twice.

The winner is the first one to guess all three of the other player's numbers.

variation:  With beginning adders, this could be played with only two tokens.

variation 2: To play with a group, each player guesses the tokens from the person on their right.  (eg. mom guesses boy's, boy guesses dad's, dad guesses mom's, etc.)

math game - Get to 20

This is G1's favorite game.  I know it is basically a game of chance, but it also practices math skills.  I don't recommend betting money on it.

Get to 20

This game uses the basic number token set.

Any number of players may play.

Place all the tokens face down on the table.

One at a time, each player picks up one token.  That is their number of points.  Keep taking turns and adding to points.  Players may stop at any time.

The winner is the one who gets closest to twenty without going over.

variation:  It can be made easier by only going to 10 or more difficult by going to a higher number.

number tokens

Math games are great for kids.  If they are fun, the kids will enjoy playing them.  As they get better at the games, they are also building math skills which will help them in other things.  Math games can be made very cheaply so you can play a variety of games.  We play math games all summer even though we don't do "school".

Many of my math games use the same basic number tokens.  Number tokens are simply a set of numbers that can be picked up, turned over, etc.  You could use cards (either playing cards or make your own), but I made some out of old concentrated juice can lids.

They are perfect for it - they are sturdy, they have no sharp edges, and if I didn't use them for school, they would go into the garbage or be recycled.

If you don't drink frozen concentrated juice, ask friends to save them for you.  You will be surprised at how fast they add up.

My husband does video work, so I just happen to have small circular labels, that he has left over from the center of the DVD labels.  I use these on my number tokens, but you could use any type of label.  I found writing directly onto the lid didn't work very well for me because of the finish on the metal.

The basic set of number tokens is the numbers 0 - 9.

 Three of each number is a good amount, and just happens to fit perfectly into the small snack-sized Pringles cans for storage.  (Yes, the can for storage was the most expensive part of the set, but it was also a good excuse to buy chips!)

So this set uses: 30 juice lids each labeled with a number, three each of the numbers 0 - 9.

Stay tuned for lots of games to do with this basic set.