Let me preface this post by saying that I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. While I know how to work at home, I do not know how to teach my kids. I also do not know how to work while trying to take care of my kids simultaneously either. This is just an example first grader at home daily schedule that works in our home.
I, like all of you, are figuring it out day by day. I hope this post helps you figure out a schedule for your first grader. Or at the very least, reassures you that you’re not alone, we’re in this together, and I’m probably a hot mess compared to what you’re already doing in your home. 🙂
I can’t believe it, but we’ve been in this new normal for nearly a month. Unfortunately, Michigan is one of the hardest hit states. David’s been on top of the news since the beginning, so we, as a family, started practicing social distancing measures in advance of state mandates.
I cannot emphasize how often I go from highs to lows. I’m trying my best to take things day by day. I’m grateful for how much grace the kids give me throughout our days. And more than anything, I’m so glad that the kids have adjusted to this 24/7 at home life, much better than I have the last few weeks.
The first week of school at home, I kind of winged everything. I tried to squeeze in work when I could and let the kids just play and screen time to their hearts’ desire. It was fine for the week, but not sustainable for the long term.
The second week is when I decided to buckle down and come up with some sort of loose schedule that could work both for the kids’ attention spans at home AND for my work schedule.
This isn’t by any means perfect, nor do we follow it exactly every day. I try to think of it as goals versus an actual schedule that we adhere to every hour. It gives me a doable outline of tasks to get me through my normal work day, while the kids get a few variety of activities, too.
Example First Grader At Home Daily Schedule
7 AM: Wake Up, Brush Teeth, Change Out of Pajamas
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast, Reading, TV Show, Cosmic Kid Yoga
9:00 AM: Reading Hour
10 AM: Snack Time
11 AM – 12 PM: Phonics and Math Hour
12 – 1 PM: Recess
1 PM – 2 PM: Lunch + TV Show
2 PM – 3 PM: Writing + Specials (Art, Music, Gym, etc.) Hour + Snack Time
3 PM is when our “school day” is over, but I still have 2-3 hours of work. So, 3 PM – 6 PM is a combination of more outdoor play, bounce house in the garage, neighborhood walks, TV shows or movie, and/or bath time before dinner.
We usually eat dinner anywhere from 6-7 PM. But, sometimes we’ve been eating closer to 7:30 PM – 8 PM.
All three boys are usually asleep by 8 – 8:30 PM. There have been a few nights that we let them stay up late for family movie night. Or sometimes our schedule runs over and they end up going to bed around 9 PM.
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Real Life First Grader Schooling at Home
Now, let me be 100% honest with you. As a work at home mom, I haven’t been able to oversee or monitor any of the school work. I log him into iReady and AtoZ as needed, but that’s about it. I make sure to divvy up different times throughout the day. But, most of the e-learning in our house is done on the fly.
We have random Zoom Calls that get scheduled by the boys’ teachers. So, we make room for that as they come up. Sometimes they go well, sometimes it’s too much for them. It usually lasts 20-45 minutes depending on the call.
With recent closures for the 2019-2020 school year, next week is when our e-learning will become more structured and mandated to an extent. To say that I’m already feeling overwhelmed would be an understatement. I truly have no idea how I’ll manage it, but I’ll come back here with any updates.
The two things that I focus on is that A is getting daily reading time and outdoor play. The other stuff, I’m going to let slide off our backs. It’s about all I can handle in this new normal.
Example Routine Tips For First Graders
If I miss a time or the “daily schedule” is off, I don’t stress out about it. The things that I try to stay on top of is giving the boys routine with lots of flexibility. All three boys have always had a pretty set sleeping schedule. I try to stick by it because this new normal doesn’t mean we have a whole new sleep routine in our house.
All of them do better when they stick to their normal bedtime, sleep, and morning routines.
We substitute activities as we come across them. If I come across a new craft or activity kit, we do more Art class that day. Sometimes, their moods (and my mood) throws a curve ball and we adjust as we need to. Usually, it means more outdoor and play time versus school work. And that is 100% OK with me.
We try to keep our weekends as is, especially easy for us, since David still works out of the house and weekends still feel like weekends because it’s his only time with us.
Fun Activities for First Graders to do at Home
Some fun things that the kids have enjoyed are:
- Easter / Spring related crafts and activities
- Dance Parties (Great for Rainy Days and before bedtime to get their energy out!)
- Bounce House in the Garage (Life Saver for Rainy Days) LINKED OURS HERE
- Rainbows Over Michigan Window Painting
- Free for All Snack Tray
CLICK HERE FOR ACTIVITY KITS ON AMAZON
I know that things will change as we continue on with our new school / work at home schedule. So I’m keeping myself sane by taking things day by day.
How are your kids doing with school at home? What schedule tips do you have for other moms?
Example First Grader At Home Daily Schedule
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