7 Tips for Scheduling your Homeschool Day
Finding the perfect homeschool schedule can feel impossible. Parents often have to balance multiple students, extracurriculars, and an assortment of other activities. But, scheduling your homeschool day does not have to be a challenge!
Below are seven tips to help you discover the perfect schedule for your family, making each homeschool day a little easier.
• Begin Each Day at the Same Time
Waking up, eating breakfast, and starting school at the same time each day prepares your students for the day ahead. Having a routine will help your students concentrate and prevent procrastination throughout the day.
• Start with the Hardest Subjects
Your students are the most alert and prepared for school at the beginning of the day; this is the perfect time to conquer the most challenging subject! Once they have finished the most difficult subject, they will feel a sense of accomplishment and look forward to completing what remains.
• Get Creative in the Afternoon
Students often become groggy and sluggish after lunch. Combat this feeling by getting creative after lunch! Personalize this time to your students' interests. If they enjoy drawing, encourage them to depict a historic event; if they prefer video games, coding games are a great option!
• Put a Time Limit on Subjects
Often, students spend hours trying to learn one subject, leading to frustration and ineffective use of time. By limiting the amount of time spent on each subject, your students will avoid burnout and frustration. If a student needs to finish a subject after their time has run out, they can come back to that subject when they have completed everything else.
• Incorporate Frequent Breaks
Frequent breaks are extremely important to your students' success. Taking breaks allows your students to rest their minds and prepare for the next subject. Each student should work on a schedule that fits their needs. For younger children, try schooling for 30 minutes before taking a five minute break. Older students should aim to complete an hour of schooling before taking a 15 minute break.
• Plan Family Time
At times you may hear your student say, “All we ever do is school,†or “Does everything have to be a learning experience?†To prevent your students from exclusively seeing you as their teacher, incorporate family time into each day. Having a family game night, cooking dinner together, or going to the movies as a family is a great way to build a relationship with your students outside of school.
• Expect the Unexpected
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when scheduling your homeschool day is to expect the unexpected. Many days will be not perfect, and that is normal! Being flexible allows you to take advantage of whatever situations arise.