Your schedule will be a guide you will follow in your efforts to meet your goals — when things go as smooth as a well-oiled engine…and when the train runs off the track! Creating a workable schedule takes planning, perseverance, and flexibility; but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Table of Contents
Where to Start
So all of the materials you purchased arrived in the mail. Now what? Give yourself time to sit down with pencil and paper and create a schedule. Whereas “record-keeping” refers to documenting events that have already occurred, for our purposes a schedule is a timetable created in the planning stages to meet your goals.
If you haven’t considered what you hope to accomplish — your goals — we encourage you to go back to the planning stage by developing your approach.
In addition, keep these “schedule keepers” in mind:
The Habit of Routine
Schedules are much simpler to keep when everyone knows in advance what to expect. Once your children are accustomed to starting at 8:00 a.m. each day, for example, it will be much easier to avoid disagreements and balking each morning.
The Unanswered Phone
Nothing can throw off a schedule faster than an extended, unplanned telephone conversation. (And this would include “conversations” on other devices.) Ah, yes, the joys of voice mail!
A Can-Do Attitude
Someone didn’t get enough sleep the night before? Your child have a bad case of the tired-and-grumpies?
Rather than let a sour attitude prolong math, which drags into language, which flounders into history, before finally sinking into science — address it! Encourage the discipline of a “can-do” attitude.
Reasonable Boundaries
What are your lesson hours? Determine the times you would rather not be interrupted and let friends and relatives know. Most will be happy to call or visit during more convenient times.
The Unplanned Moments
Some of the best educational moments are those that were unplanned. While a schedule helps us stay on track for meeting our goals, the most useful schedule is a flexible one that allows for children to be children, moms to be moms, and homeschools to be homes.
“What is really worthy of your time? If you can answer that question honestly, then look at how you are actually using your time on any given day. This will give you an assessment of whether you are walking the walk or just talking the talk. If you say that Christ is the center of your life, yet you spend no time with Him, there is incongruence. If you say that family is the next most important thing in your life, yet you spend only a minimal amount of time with them, you are not being true to your convictions.”
Christine M. Field, Life Skills for Kids
Yearly Scheduling
When you schedule, begin by taking a look at the “big picture.”
Know Your State Homeschooling Requirements
Most states require a homeschool to operate a minimum number of days per year. Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) provides the homeschooling requirements for each state.
Plan For the Unexpected
Over the years we have had illnesses, deaths in the family, and out-of-state job transfers. Those extra weeks we plan into our schedule each year have provided a great deal of relief and have prevented added stress.
Take Into Account Your Family Interests
Perhaps you enjoy winter vacations. Schedule your weeks off during those times.
Hobbies, contests, or conventions require travel during the year? Include those in your schedule.
If you have children enrolled in any type of outside-the-home classes, be sure NOT to schedule your days off during that time. You’ll want to use those days to help you meet your state’s requirements.
All Year Long or Summer Break?
There are 365 days in a year. On average, most states require homeschools to be in session at least 180 of those days. Typically, when you schedule those 180 days is up to you. (Again, check the homeschool laws for your state.)
We are all familiar with the nine-months-on/three-months-off formula. We are also familiar with the review that subsequently needs to take place when we resume! While having the summer off may be reason enough to adopt the traditional schedule, there are other schedules that work great for home educators. Here are a few examples to consider:
- Rearrange the three months off. For example, take June, December, and April off instead of June, July, and August.
- Six-weeks-on/One-week-off. In this schedule, there will be ten unscheduled weeks remaining which can be distributed in a variety of ways to accommodate the unplanned, as well as provide breaks at Christmas and during the summer.
- Ten-weeks-on/Two-weeks-off. In this schedule, the year is divided into quarters with four unscheduled weeks remaining.
- Variation of above. Obviously there are many variations on these examples. You might start with a six-weeks-on/one-week-off schedule and adjust to a longer or shorter time “on” depending on your family’s needs.
Monthly View
For many of us, our schedule will look the same from month to month. However, now is the time to look at any items that might be added to a monthly-view calendar; such as the Christmas unit study you have planned for December, once-a-month field trips, the travel plans discussed earlier, or ice hockey lessons from January through March. Any known item that doesn’t fit the normal routine can be accounted for here.
Weekly Scheduling
Now that you have a yearly and monthly structure, it is time to break your schedule down further by looking at those things you will plan to accomplish each week. Here are a few things to consider when creating a weekly schedule:
Basics First
Particularly during the lower grade levels, the basics are the most important. Learning to read is the foundation for studies in most other subject areas. Don’t overload your youngster’s schedule with “extras.” There will be plenty of time for those later. Besides, he will probably learn more science and history during your read-aloud time than he would using a prepared curriculum!
Extracurricular Last
Don’t fill your schedule with extracurricular activities. You will find it hard to accomplish the basics if you are running to and from events all week long. Rather, schedule the extracurricular activities on one or two days per week at most. Perhaps take Friday afternoons off to allow for field trips, support group events, and outside-the-home lessons.
Subject Days
Not all subjects need to be covered every day of the week. Some popular math texts assume a four-day-per-week math schedule. Many curricula suggest alternating science and history/geography during the week. Subjects such as art and music can be covered once per week.
Look over the materials you plan to use. Determine the number of lessons you plan to cover during the year. Divide the number of lessons you plan to cover by the number of weeks you plan to school during the year to determine the number of lessons you will need to cover each week. Then determine on which days you will cover each subject.
Coordinating Schedules
When scheduling for more than one child, it becomes crucial to coordinate their schedules. With a weekly viewpoint in mind, this means coordinating their history and science to occur on the same days so that it can be a family activity, for example. The same is true for physical education, music and art appreciation. This saves Mom an incredible amount of time.
If limited resources are involved, make sure to alternate the days each child will have access to those resources so not everyone is vying for their use at the same time. Be sure to coordinate all outside activity to occur at the same time.
“A peaceful and well-managed homeschool begins with a commitment to plan. You can’t invest too much time at this end of the spectrum. Long-range planning and weekly goal-setting will eliminate unnecessary day-to-day decision-making and give you confidence. It will also give your children direction….”
Debra Bell, The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling
Daily Scheduling
You will be living with your daily schedule on a…well…daily basis! Don’t be surprised if the final outcome doesn’t look a whole lot like your initial plans. Rather than chisel your schedule in stone, you may want to pencil in a daily plan. When it comes to daily scheduling, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Start the Day Right
Devotionals are a great way to start the day. Praising God and giving thanks to Him helps us keep things in the proper perspective. When things don’t go exactly as we planned, they will see us rely on the One who can best help us. And when things do go well, our children will see us give Him the glory.
Further Reading
- Bible Study Tools
Complete list including devotionals.
Schedule in Blocks
In a homeschool environment scheduling in hourly increments may not be the best solution. First, subjects rarely take an hour in a tutorial environment. Second, as we work at the student’s pace, a subject that takes thirty minutes one day might take sixty the next.
Instead, schedule in blocks of time. For example, use the morning for “one-on-one time,” the afternoon for “group time.” The key is to schedule the progression of events rather the time in which they are to occur.
Further Reading
Determine Your One-on-One Time
As mentioned previously, unless you are very brave you will be teaching some subjects to all of your children at one time — whether through a literature approach, unit study, or some other method. Other subjects will require you to spend one-on-one time with each child. Math for an older student may be as simple as tutoring them in the day’s lesson, working sample problems with them, and then sending them off to work the practice problems. Our younger children will need our undivided attention during their phonics lessons.
Determine which children will need one-on-one time and in which subjects, and schedule those times so as not to overlap. Remember, in a tutorial situation, one lesson does NOT mean one hour.
“Don’t be afraid to revise the schedule! Most schedules will need some fine-tuning once they have been put into use. Give your full schedule two or three weeks, and then evaluate rough areas that may need changing. Your schedule is a tool not your slave driver. You must be willing to adjust it to meet your needs and the needs of your family.”
Steven and Teri Maxwell, Manager of Their Homes
Multitasking
One of our favorite terms! In homeschool lingo, multitasking means every child is working on something productive at once. Imagine the flurry of activity. Imagine the productivity. Imagine Mom with more than a single pair of hands!
So how do you incorporate this time-saving mechanism into your homeschool?
Let’s start with an example: You spend the early morning with Student A working through spelling words, language, and perhaps math. Student A takes his work and moves to a different location to finish the lessons. In comes Student B with whom you spend time in phonics and language. Student B moves to another location to practice math facts on a computer. Student A returns. You go over Student A’s work with Student A, making corrections and suggestions. Then attack math or reading with Student A. Student A moves to the computer to practice math facts while Student B returns to do math. When finished, Student B moves to a new location to work on a project. So forth and so on!
The objective is no child left behind…, without something productive to work on.
Further Reading
Assignment Lists
As you work with your older children have them compile a list of assignments that they can work on independently, including an additional assignment should they finish all the others before you are ready for them. This will prevent them from standing around waiting on you.
Enlist the Skills of Your Older Children
Older children can practice their oral reading skills on the younger children. They may even be able to help younger children with some of their projects or assignments. (Just remember, you are still the one in charge….)
Make Use of “Reading Time”
Reading time gives Mom and the children an hour or so to take a break and regroup. Older children can use the time to read literature selections. Younger children can “read,” color, or listen to audio tapes. After reading time and perhaps a snack, everyone will be ready to move on to the next project.
Make Productive Use of “Play Time”
Have your child make a list of projects he finds interesting. Then during his free time ask him to work on an activity or project from the list. He can always add to the list. This prevents the “I don’t have anything to do” syndrome. It is also a good way to discover his interests and encourage them.
Further Reading
Be Flexible
Your first schedule will almost certainly not be your last. As you may have realized, there are many variables:
- How long will my child need for math?
- How long will it take to go over science?
- What if one child doesn’t finish before the other is ready?
Start by implementing one child and one subject at a time. As those plans become workable, add children and subjects until your schedule is fleshed out.
Particularly in the beginning, it will be important to tweak your schedule as needed. By the end of the year you should have it down perfectly!
Schedule Helps
You will find a wide variety of planners and organizers available to homeschoolers, many designed by homeschoolers themselves. We are certainly an innovative group! Sometimes your favorite schedule help may simply be a blank sheet of paper! Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
First decide whether you prefer a paper or digital planner. When looking over your options, make sure the planner you choose does things your way. Are you going to have to change your method to fit the planner? If so, find a new one!
Other questions to ask:
- Is it overly complicated?
- Will it be a burden more than a help?
- Is it reusable each year?
- Does it fit your lifestyle? (If it fits in a binder and you prefer to carry it with you…there’s a problem!)
Homeschool Planning and Record-Keeping Apps
When we first started homeschooling, there was one tried-and-true record-keeping software program. Wish it were still around!
Now the options are limitless. Most of these programs combine the tasks of scheduling/planning and record keeping.
Make sure the program doesn’t require you to enter information that doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Most of these programs need to be compatible with the laws in all fifty states. Some of the states require keeping track of the number of hours you homeschool, for example. If that is not the case for you, make sure the program you will be using doesn’t require you to enter that information.
Paper Planners
These can range from black-line masters you copy to elaborately bound planners rivaling some of the office planners on the market.
In keeping with our DIY Homeschooler mentality, our favorites have been those that are more open ended — lots of space to write down all of the things that happen in a day right along with the skills we are developing.
There are far too many options to list; however, check your favorite homeschool supplier for a wide range of planners to choose from.
Free Online Forms
We are all so unique there is probably a unique planner for each of us. So if you are ready to build your own, download the free resources at these sites…then tweak!
- Teacher Planning and Organization Forms
Free planning forms from Highland Heritage.
Further Reading
6 Tips for Creating a Workable Schedule
A schedule is only as good as the thought behind it. 6 tips to help you create a workable schedule that will fit.
Scheduling
Reviews, articles, how-tos, and other scheduling helps.
Yearly Schedule
Helpful form at Highland Heritage.
Monthly Calendar
Another helpful form at Highland Heritage.
Summer School for Mom: Creating a Schedule
More ideas!
Managers of Their Homes: A Practical Guide to Daily Scheduling for Christian Homeschool Families (MOTH) by Steven and Teri Maxwell
The book includes a scheduling kit that contains all of the forms or worksheets that we need to create a schedule for our families. Read our review.
Getting Things Done by David Allen ~ Review
Great tips that can benefit any type of homeschool mom!
