The short answer is, because that is my goal. I decide to implement 90 minutes of instruction and that is what we do. Are there exceptions? Of course.
If we keep it short, the rates of the likelihood for frustration drop.
It also helps to keep things novel or interesting. Other ways this can happen is changing the environment we complete a subject in or the subject itself is presented in a new way.
I’m okay with not getting to all of it. That sounds counterintuitive, but to have a shorter time means more focused attention rather than longer, redundant and wasted. I forgive myself and move on. There is always tomorrow (remember, traditional schools have to keep to their time allotments too).
I’ve learned that the skill-based subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic are best performed if kept incredibly short. After the short lesson, these subjects are practiced every day by the child working independently.
Each day is a day to move forward.
As Aesop so wisely taught through his fable, The Tortoise and The Hare, it is better to move slowly and consistently than in quick spurts and stops. If I want to finish the math lesson, but my student is obviously struggling, I choose to wrap it up with a quick win. Then I assign something they can succeed at (even if it’s a review from the day before) and restart the lesson tomorrow. Stretching a lesson over more than one day is an advantage homeschool offers. Stay consistent. Keep it flowing. If you hit a snag. Stop. Reassess later and make any adjustments outside of the heat of the moment.
I’ve also learned that life brings opportunities for reading, writing and arithmetic that are not anticipated.
This occurs in real life, outside the formal lessons, and reinforces what we’ve learned in context to what we are currently experiencing. This gives children real-life application, which is key in absorbing and accessing knowledge.
For example, my children do a lot of coloring and writing by themselves in their free time. They love to read independently – that is because we’ve developed a love of reading slowly over the years as a family trait. Math happens because they are trying to count something, work a puzzle, or picking up and counting to making sure they found everything. They cook with us and help with jobs in the garden – this all requires math to participate. I ask them math questions throughout the day as it occurs to me in relation to what we are doing. I ask them to total purchases before check-out at the store or have them round the items in the shopping basket. Start looking for ways to incorporate reading, writing and arithmetic in the everyday moments of life. Not only will you be skill building outside of the 90 minutes, you will be showing your children how these skills are useful and applicable in day-to-day living.
Don’t forget to check out the second series on this topic (coming soon), where I will be discussing the content related subjects and how they are performed in a 90-Minute School Day.
