Homeschooling and Homesteading - How do you make it work?

One of the many benefits of homeschooling is the ability to adjust your school schedule to meet the needs of life on a homestead.  That being said, it still isn't easy.  We are on week one, and there are a number of projects that haven't been done.  The schedule we are moving to and looks to work the best for us is this:

8:30 Breakfast and morning chores
10:00 School day begins
12:00  Lunch and chores
2:00  School resumes
4:00  School over, evening chores
6:00  Dinner
7:00  Evening chores, relaxation
10:00  Bed

That schedule looks fairly neat, but so far we have only maintained half of it.  We still are not getting to bed until 11-12 at night.  Each day we get closer, so we will see how it goes.

We are homeschooling three kids with 3 different sets of curriculum.  We looked at one set for all, but the kids are very different people with very different interests and learning styles.  Two of the kids are Autistic and very interest driven; whereas, the other child is Neurotypical and has a variety of interests.  The different curriculum keeps each kid engaged.  I don't know if it would work if the oldest wasn't so self contained and moving on his own.  I check in with him and answer random questions, but he pretty much does it on his own with a specified end goal in mind.  The other two require more hands on teaching, but again, the older of the two is able to work on his own once the lesson is there.  This independence allows me the time needed to spend one on one with the youngest.

When they take their break, I feed them lunch and take a planning period.  Their dad and grandfather take over at this point for chore direction.  It works.  I don't know how it works, but it does.  The weekends are used to catch up on household things not done during the week, cooking for the next week and miscellaneous projects and hanging out.

It is never a dull moment, and my sanity is taking a beating.  However, I think we are going to be fine.  Growing pains and all that.  I DON"T miss horrible food served at schools, buses, endless forms, CORE CURRICULUM, 7:30 a.m. starts, and the $200-300 per year in "fields trips, yearbooks, pictures, fund raisers, ID kits, fees, etc.

The end goal is total self sufficiency with educated, decent and productive kids.  We'll let you know how it goes.  Feel free to send questions or helpful tips.  I know we can use them!

D