Work Cycles in a Montessori-based Homeschool

I have talked in a previous blog about how we do not have a set "school" time. Instead, my children have access to their materials at any time that they are awake. Our homeschooling and open-ended materials are all located in our living room since we do not have space for a dedicated homeschool room. We do a lot of work on the couch, kitchen table, and the floor.

For a long time, I did not think that my son had a work cycle. I think I had some idea that because he wasn't consistently working the didactic materials for two to three hours at a time, his work cycle was non-existent. It was just recently, in the last month and a half actually, that I realized that he does have a work cycle. Since he is homeschooled, his work cycle looks a bit different than it would if he were in a Montessori classroom. I have since learned (thanks to the wonderful Aubrey Hargis of Child of the Redwoods) that a work cycle is when the child is in the same place for three hours at a time without interruption. During that time, the child has the freedom to choose from any of the available materials, do practical life or art, participate in gross motor or pretend play, seek out the guide for lessons, etc.

My mind was blown. Of course we have a work cycle! Since then, I have done by best to try to preserve a 2.5 to 3 hour time block at least five days a week somewhere within the day for a work cycle to occur. At home, this work cycle either occurs in the morning or the afternoon. For example, this morning we went to the park, came home to have lunch, and then put the baby down for a nap. After the baby was down for her nap, the work cycle began. I did nothing to prompt the cycle from starting. It just started on its own. We began by doing some math work, followed by map work and looking at the different flags of North American and Central American countries. Then we did some language work. Following this, my son played on his own doing some pretend play. He had a snack, listened to some music, and then worked on learning the different types of sharks. We spent a long time reading books before and after the baby woke up. He did some matching work of famous landmarks in North America. He had another snack and some water. Our work cycle ended when it was time to make dinner.

At that point, there was a significant interruption in the space. The kids are invited to help me make dinner, but usually they are playing together or listening to music.

I used to feel that a three hour work cycle was too long. But it happens without us even realizing it, in my opinion. We sometimes go through our work cycle in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. The kids are free to also go outside during this time as well, if they want. Sometimes we have an entire work cycle outside at the local arboretum or a playground (social opportunities are becoming increasingly important to my son!). During a work cycle, I usually work on something of my own. I will read a book (yup!), prep materials for the following weeks, write down observations, give lessons, write, etc. I do not do households chores during this time because I want to keep myself available for lessons when needed (unless the children help with them as part of practical life).

I love that we have found a more natural rhythm to our days. Slowing down has helped us a lot and removing a lot of my own expectations that we needed to always have something to do. It's okay for us to have days of just being home. It's okay for us to have busy days. But a good balance of those helps us to find that rhythm and preserve that essential work cycle for my children's learning in the most important years of their life.

Do you do a work cycle in your homeschool? If so, how does it look?