Homeschooling is such a joy for us. I love the flexibility it provides for us, and the general ease of being able to do what we want, when we want.
We are year-round homeschoolers. We start our year on August 1st and simply continue until we are finished with that year’s curriculum. When a curriculum is finished, that is set aside until the next August, and other learning, that is child chosen, will occur. By committing to schooling year round, this allows us to take time off during the year as needed, whether for sickness, vacation, or just to take a break.
Our Schedule
We keep a loose schedule during the week where we cover our core subjects (Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies/History). All other classes as by interest and occur outside our scheduled school time. We typically school between 9AM and 2PM, though many days we are done well before 2.
A typical week looks like this:
- Monday: Math and ELA
- Tuesday: Math and ELA
- Wednesday: Math and ELA
- Thursday: Science and Social Studies
- Friday: Science and Social Studies
We use Thursday and Fridays as days for catch up as well. If an assignment was particularly difficult or stressful for a child to complete, we will often finish those then. It is one of the ways we can be flexible and work at our child’s own pace.
This is a schedule that works for us in our current situation. I could not imagine at this time trying to fit in all the core subjects every single day for 4 different kids. While as a family we do science and social studies lessons together, it would be impossible to do that with math or ELA since all 4 kids are on totally different levels.
Homeschooling doesn’t have to Mimic Traditional Schooling
Homeschool doesn’t have to look like regular school, and in my opinion it shouldn’t. There is no reason we have to force all subjects in one day. There is no reason to be in “class” from 8AM to 3PM five days a week. There is no need to follow the public school’s breakdown of what is taught when. (I know those in states that require testing may need to focus on what the test covers).
There are many activities we do outside our normal school times that are still learning opportunities for our kids. There are many ways to incorporate learning into our lives daily:
- A nightly bedtime story counts for reading and listening skills
- A trip to the park is health and fitness
- Playing board games requires reading, math, logic, following directions, taking turns, and problem solving, depending on the game chosen.
- Kids doing chores helps to teach them responsibility and learning to be part of a team.
- Cooking can incorporate both math and science.
- Grocery shopping is something practical that kids will eventually need to do, as well as learning to stay in a budget and work with money. Kids also have to learn to be patient waiting in line.
- Ordering their own food at a restaurant helps with appropriate behavior and speech when outside the home. It allows a child to build confidence in themselves and to make their own choices.
- Volunteering helps to teach empathy, responsibility, and learning to enjoy something that you may not get anything out of yourself.
- Playing sports helps with following rules, good sportsmanship, fitness, and interactions with others.
- And the list goes on!
So much of life can be incorporated into a space of learning. Let’s get creative and think outside the box when educating our kids. We can use a schedule that works for us and teach in ways that best engage our kids the way they learn best.
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