Guide to Setting Your Homeschool Schedule

Having a guide to setting your homeschool schedule can be the most useful tool in your home education plan. Following a few helpful strategies can lead to the most satisfying homeschool experience for both you and your child. Traditional public and private schools often operate under a fairly stringent schedule, while homeschooling presents the perfect opportunity for a flexible learning experience. When embarking on the homeschooling adventure, parents can rejoice in the fact that home education is not a “one size fits all” situation. There are many factors to keep in mind when designing a homeschool schedule. Most importantly, remember that there is no right or wrong way to plan the day. Keep your family’s needs in mind and allow time and flexibility for adjustments to determine what works best for your family. 

Tips for creating the ideal homeschool schedule

These ideas are great to consider for your routine: 

1. SET APPROPRIATE TIMING - Plan the school day around your child’s schedule in order to avoid conflict and interruptions. For many families, this may be first thing in the morning. An early start allows time for academics and lessons, while avoiding interference with afternoon activities and commitments. Setting a specific start time of day (e.g., 9:00 am) may also be beneficial. Be willing to invest time in discovering what works best. If mornings are not working, try afternoon sessions. If math is a struggle, try tackling it at the beginning of the day with the incentive of recess immediately following. Get creative. Remember, there are no incorrect approaches! 
2. CREATE TIME CUSHIONS - Do not try to cram six hours worth of learning into the daily curriculum. It is quite possible that unexpected interruptions will occur throughout the day while at home. Instead of becoming stressed over these possibilities while trying to teach a large number of lessons, factor these hypothetical instances into the day. Rather than trying to fit in six hours of school into the day, plan for fewer hours of homeschooling in that six-hour block.   
3. PRIORITIZE - Subjects and lessons can be arranged in any order, but it is worth noting that not every subject needs to be studied daily. Avoid stressing with the idea of trying to fit in everything at one time. Dedicate time on the subjects you intend to prioritize, such as reading and math, to ensure that those specific academics are built into each day. Then, sprinkle in the additional subjects and electives (science, history, art, and foreign language) to complement the daily curriculum. Working on a student’s most challenging subject first may be a good idea in order to make the day run more smoothly overall. 
4. BUILD IN TIME FOR FUN! - One advantage to homeschooling is having the means to be adaptive. The opportunity is present to take a necessary brain break, create an additional outdoor session play session to increase gross motor skill function, or spend one on one time with your child doing a fun recreational activity. Keeping the atmosphere light promotes fun learning and a joy for education. The flexibility of home education is hard to beat, so take advantage and add enjoyment to the day. 
5. ADDRESS YOUNGER SIBLINGS - When homeschooling older children or within a family with multiple siblings, a daily challenge can be tending to the needs of the little ones. One idea to consider is to devote individual time for the young child at the start of the day. This act can create contentment with the child and, thus, eventually lead to independent play and activities. Enable times throughout the day to spend focused sessions with younger preschoolers to meet their individual needs for attention.

As parents, providing the best education for children is so important. Starting a homeschool program can be overwhelming, but it is important to remember that the best schedule is the one that keeps your child engaged, interactive and enjoying the experience. Keep these tips in mind as you create your schedule, and know that the best design is the one that works specifically for your own child. Check in with local preschools and daycares to gather teachers’ opinions on homeschooling routines.