My Very Own School: A sample schedule

In my first blog today I introduced the concept of MY VERY OWN SCHOOL as an organizing strategy if you have children under six at home most days during the summer. In this piece I show you a sample schedule you can play around with until you find what suites you all best. This schedule is suitable to children ages 3-6. The Mailbox publishes year-end hard cover books of activities for each grade, they are a lifesaver.

Setting up your morning schedule with young children over the summer can look like anything from wing It! to planning out a consistent series of activities that you and the child or children move through a few days a week. There are many skills you are helping your children master in the early years of school. Like:

Waiting your turn
Coping with frustration
Asking for help
Saying what you need
Tolerating "No"
Managing transitions
Sitting patiently
Listening to others
Paying attention
Problem solving
Decision making

When you provide structured and unstructured activities you provide your children the opportunity to learn and practice these skills.

I will say from experience, that when you are doing MVOS at your house all the other kids in the neighborhood will be knocking at your door, 'cause they are often sitting home watching TV and you are playing!

My Very Own School @ Home

SAMPLE MVOS SCHEDULE 9-12 Three Days A Week

DAY 1
9:00 AM Circle Time – Schedule review, rules review, drawing out the day
9:20 AM Table Time – Beads, Making things, putting things together, puzzles
9:45 AM Outdoor Play and snack
10:10 AM Behavior Check (how are we doing this morning, are we following the rules)
10:15 AM Car Play/Building Small Motor Movement
10:45 AM Learning Centers – Letters, Math, Science
11:10 AM Behavior Check
11:15 AM Painting
11:30 AM Cooking, food creation
!1:45 AM Behavior Check
Transition song

DAY 2
9:00 AM Circle Time
9:20 AM Phonics
9:45 AM Outdoor Play and snack
10:10 AM Behavior Check
10:15 AM DK Books and activities
10:45 AM Learning Centers – Letters, Math, Science
11:10 AM Behavior Check
11:15 AM The Memory Game
11:30 AM Legos and Blocks
11:45 AM Behavior Check
Transition song

DAY 3
9:00 AM Circle Time
9:20 AM Phonics
9:45 AM Outdoor Play and snack
10:10 AM Behavior Check
10:15 AM StoryTime (read it, write it, draw it)
10:45 AM Learning Centers – Letters, Math, Science
11:10 AM Behavior Check
11:15 AM Drawing/Art and Crafts
11:30 AM Cars/Trains and Building
11:45 AM Behavior Check
Transition song

These are ideas for you. You might have other activities your children like to do. Incorporate them into a schedule, draw it up, post it and discuss it each morning, first thing. You really don't have to be rigid, you can have a spot of flexibility but practicing the transition from one activity to the next is an important skill for children so don't let all the structure fly out the window. Have fun!