Managing Interruptions in your Homeschool Day

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02/02/2016 By Eujeana Chism Leave a Comment

How do I manage the interruptions?

Plan for the interruptions and be flexible. First, are there things that I can actually schedule or plan? I decide how many of these types of interruptions per week that I can handle based on a good routine day. I have decided that two interruptions are more than enough. So when that friend calls or I call a friend and want to get together in the afternoon, I check my schedule and make that appointment. Now say another friend calls and wants to come the same week but a different time or day, what do I do? I tell that friend that I must look at my schedule first. When I look at my schedule and see that I already have a dentist appointment and another friend coming in that week, I tell this friend politely that my schedule is full. I will have to go to the next week or further if necessary.

Plan for the interruptions and be flexible.

I could fit them in on that Monday afternoon and not worry about reading, math, or whatever subject I already had planned. Let me tell you that subject that I have planned IS an appointment that I will have to make up down the road. It is also an appointment with my child. Who is more important? Who am I training? If I cancel that subject just so I can fellowship with that friend and overload myself AND my children, then what am I teaching my children? I am teaching them that it’s okay to not do that assignment that day. Well, what are they going to do in the work force when they have a deadline to meet? “Well, ‘so and so’ came by the office today so I just didn’t get it done. I will just do it tomorrow.” Do you think they will keep their job very long? We must teach them now to prepare them for their future. Teaching them by example is best.

Unexpected Interruptions

What about the unexpected interruptions that cannot be helped such as sickness, unexpected company, the potty overflowing, the dog gets sick, or a friend that needs you due to an emergency? One way to plan for these interruptions is to plan a day each week to use for review. I plan Fridays as a lighter day. We do subjects that are necessary like spelling, but I schedule English four days a week but not on Fridays. When that unexpected interruption comes on Tuesday, I can move that work out a day. This works pretty well, but what about times that require you to take several days off due to illness or another event? These can be taken care of with an eraser for those day’s lessons and/or a simple notation in the plan book about the interruption. When you come back to your routine, just pick up where you left off but don’t try to double up, just continue learning daily. Remember, they were learning through that event or illness some life skills that you don’t realize. We will talk about those life skills another time. ~smile

Sometimes it is best to not date lesson plans until they are actually done.

Go ahead and make up two weeks worth of plans with a fifth day review with a lighter schedule. Then, date them as the plans are completed. Interruptions are part of homeschooling. These can be great times to have those character building lessons for the children through those life interruptions. Don’t let the interruptions get you down. Use the moments to teach and explain to the children.

If we talk to God first, then minimize the interruptions that we have control over, then most of the year’s struggles are minimized.

This helped us in our homeschool journey. When I realized I had to say that “no” word more often, we actually got so much more done and had so much more time in our day.

Now it is your turn. How do you manage the interruptions in your homeschool day?

About Eujeana Chism

Eujeana has had the privilege of being a stay at home mom and Home Educator for 20 plus years to four wonderful children. She began consulting via HomeWorks by Precept in 2004 with homeschool families from all over the nation. Currently she is a Senior Consultant leading a team of consultants to further the homeschool blessings across the nation. Attending and speaking at conventions throughout the summer is just an added blessing to the homeschool journey.

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