Simple Homeschool Schedule 101: A Weekly Schedule to Follow

Are you a new homeschooling parent looking for an easy-to-follow homeschool schedule for your first week of teaching? Imagine having a daily plan that outlines what to do each day, taking the guesswork out of your homeschooling routine. Well, you’re in luck! We’ve got you covered with a detailed schedule to help you start on the right foot. But don’t worry; this schedule is only a guide, and you should feel free to tailor it to your family’s specific needs and preferences. Let’s dive in and get started on this exciting new journey!

Rebbecca Devitt

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to do my course on how to homeschool, click here.

In a nutshell, you’ll find on this page:

  • A Schedule for Your First Week of Home Schooling
  • What about Homeschooling Registration?
  • Tips and Tricks to Make a Simple Homeschool Schedule
  • FAQs about Schedules

Let’s get started!

 

Organize an easy homeschool schedule with this template for multiple ages.

Week 1 of homeschooling can be a bit intimidating.

But it doesn’t have to be. If you follow a schedule using either a paid or free curriculum (see Is A Free Curriculum Rubbish?), your first week won’t be so intimidating!

To get a good headstart, make sure you’ve done a little homework, picked an approach to home education, and set down your philosophy and values.

You can then look at buying a curriculum or getting one for free. But, of course, there are pros and cons to each of these decisions.

For now, let’s get started!

Week 1: Year 1 Homeschooling Schedule

Here is a homeschool schedule you can easily follow. It’s good as a homeschool schedule for multiple ages too.

Linked subjects go to pages that specialize in that subject or keyword.

Monday

9:00 Bible

9:15 History

9:25 Math**

9:35 Break

10:00 Optional^^

10:15 Reading

10:00 Family Reading

10:35 Break

13:00 Optional/Elective

13:30 Optional/Elective

Tuesday

9:00 Bible

9:15 Science and Technology

9:25 Math

9:35 Break

10:00 Optional^^

10:15 Handwriting and Spelling

10:00 Family Reading

10:35 Break

13:00 Optional/Elective

13:30 Creative Arts

Wednesday

9:00 Bible

9:15 Geography

9:25 Math

9:35 Break

10:00 Optional^^

10:15 Reading

10:00 Family Reading

10:35 Break

13:00 Optional/Elective

13:30 Optional/Elective

Thursday

9:00 Bible

9:15 Science and Technology

9:25 Math

9:35 Break

10:00 Optional^^

10:15 Handwriting and Spelling

10:00 Family Reading

10:35 Break

13:00 Optional/Elective

13:30 Creative Arts

Friday

You can either fill this one with homeschool work OR have an optional day off!

9:00 Bible

9:15 History

9:25 Math

9:35 Break

10:00 Optional^^

10:15 Reading

10:00 Family Reading

10:35 Break

13:00 Optional/Elective

13:30 Optional/Elective

Saturday and Sunday*

9:00 PDHPE

Some parents find it easier to put subjects in a homeschool planner.

Others who subscribe to different types of homeschooling styles like to keep things in an online excel spreadsheet.

The decision is up to you!

Simple Homeschool Schedule in a Chart

If you’d like the above information in chart format, checkout the chart below.

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday~ Saturday*
9:00 Bible/Memory Bible/Memory Bible/Memory Bible/Memory Bible/Memory PDHPE sometime?
9:15 History^ S&T Geography S&T History  
9:25 Math** Math Math Math Math  
9:35 Break Break Break Break Break  
10:00 Optional (Op)^^ Op Op Op Op
10:15 Reading*** Handwriting and spelling Reading Handwriting and spelling Reading
10:25 Family Reading Family Reading Family Reading Family Reading Family Reading
10:35 Break Break Break Break Break  
13:00 Op Op Op Op Op
13:30 Op C Arts (Music) Op C Arts (Music) Op

Things to Know About This Homeschooling Schedule

  • ~ (FRIDAY) Think about doing only four days of formal education if you or your children are finding things overwhelming. Just squish your compulsory subjects into four days!

Notes on This Weekly Homeschool Schedule

*(SATURDAY and SUNDAY) You shouldn’t worry about homeschooling, but there is a place here to list regular events. i.e. if your son plays soccer or cricket on Saturday, you might mark off that he has completed his Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education subject for the week.

**It’s good to do maths in the morning as kids are fresh – perhaps not first thing in the morning, but somewhere after 10:30ish if that works.

***Reading, Handwriting, and Spelling are often called ‘Language Arts’. So, if you hear the term, you know what they’re talking about!

^I would encourage a lot of Church history here also.

^^Now that all the compulsory subjects are out of the way, you can put optional subjects in. Some optional subjects are:

  • Nature Walk (~2 days a week)… See Video below
  • Hymn Study (~2 days a week)
  • Foreign Languages (~2 days a week)
  • Picture Study (~1 day a week)
  • Music Study (~1 day a week) – this is different from learning to play an instrument. It’s more focused on learning about the piece or artist.
  • Craft or Art (~1 day a week).
  • Community service (~1 day a week)

If you’re not sure what you need to teach (what is compulsory to teach), check with the education department in your state.

Often, they will have a lot of information on the specifications.

Depending on your children, you can skip the optional subjects outlined in the afternoon and do life.

Or you could put an optional subject in as outlined. Don’t forget. The plan is flexible and very open to being changed!

The other option is to only homeschool for four days of the week.

You could squish all the compulsory subjects into four days (or even a 3 day homeschool week!)and go from there.

You might find this better, especially if you’re finding things overwhelming.

 

Getting a Schedule for Your First Week of Home Schooling. #howtohomeschool #homeschoolshedule #homeschoolroutine

Tips and Tricks to Simplify a Homeschool Schedule

Creating a homeschool schedule can seem overwhelming, especially if you’re new to home education.

Here are some tips to make the process simple and easy:

  1. Start with the basics: Begin by prioritizing the core subjects, such as math, reading, and writing. Once you have allocated time for these subjects, you can add in other subjects like science and history.
  2. Use a template: There are many free templates available online that you can use as a starting point. This can help simplify the process and ensure you don’t forget any subjects. You can also create a template from the graph above.
  3. Keep it flexible: One of the benefits of homeschooling is the ability to be flexible with your schedule. Don’t be afraid to adjust your schedule as needed to fit the needs of your family. One of the reasons I see so many burned-out mothers is because they feel they need to follow the schedule rigorously. But this is too hard to do all the time. You need to learn to become flexible and move subjects around.
  4. Incorporate breaks: It’s important to include breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout (for your kids and you!). Consider adding short breaks between subjects or longer breaks for lunch and outdoor playtime.
  5. Keep it short for young children: Young children should be doing no more than half or an hour of work a day. The idea is to give them a love of learning so they start directing their own education eventually.
  6. Involve your children: Consider involving your children in the schedule-making process. This can help them take ownership of their education and feel more invested in the process.

By following these tips, you can create a homeschool schedule that is simple, flexible, and tailored to the needs of your family.

FAQs on Homeschool Schedules

Here are some common FAQs on homeschool schedules.

When Do Homeschoolers Start School?

You can start a formal curriculum with your children around age 5 or 6.

If they’re not feeling excited about it, I suggest you delay as long as the laws in your state allow you to delay.

Some kids want to start formal learning at age 4 – others at age 7. Try to accommodate them.

You want to help them love learning so it’s not hard in the future. Starting them too early can create big problems and issues that could have been avoided if educator had waited.

When Homeschooling: How Many Hours a Day?

Kindergartners should be doing no more than half an hour a day to one hour.

Middle schoolers can do around 2-3 hours of formal work.

High schoolers can do as much as they want, but a minimum of 4 hours is great.

Are Homeschool Curriculum Accredited?

No. None of them are.

But, if you find a homeschool curriculum that says it’s accredited, you know you’re actually studying with a school.

And that’s okay too.

What Counts as a Homeschool Day?

Some states require you to keep a log of the homeschool days you’re doing.

So, what counts as a homeschool day?

Almost anything where the child is learning including:

  • Sports
  • Reading
  • Music and Art classes
  • Field Trips and Hobby Time
  • and so on.

What Homeschool Curriculum Should I Use?

That depends on what you want out of a homeschool curriculum.

To make things waaaaay easier, I’ve made a special Homeschool Curriculum Finder page, so you can narrow down the curriculum programs into a manageable bunch.

I love BJU Press, especially for kindergarten, and Compass Classroom for high school students.

Where Do I Find Good Homeschool Books for Reading?

There are so many bland and, frankly, bad books out there today.

So, where do you find the good ones?

Any reading list that follows the Classical or Charlotte Mason homeschool methods will give you a good list of books. I’ve made a great homeschool booklist that incorporates books in both those categories that you can find here.

When you write your homeschool schedule, you can put the age-appropriate books from this list into the reading timeslots.

What Are Some Elective Options For a Homeschool Schedule?

Here are some elective options for homeschool schedules, along with a brief description:

  1. Cooking: Cooking classes can teach students important life skills while providing an opportunity for creativity. Cooking blogs, online classes, and cookbooks can be used for learning.
  2. Creative writing: Creative writing can be a great way to improve language skills and develop creativity. Online resources, writing prompts, and local writing groups can be good options.
  3. Theater: Theater classes can teach students how to communicate effectively, think on their feet, and work collaboratively. Online classes, local theater groups, and drama clubs can be good options.
  4. Foreign language: Learning a foreign language can be a valuable skill for students, and there are many online resources and courses available.
  5. Photography: Photography can be a fun and creative hobby that can also teach valuable skills. Online resources and tutorials, as well as local classes or workshops, can be good options.
  6. Robotics: Robotics can teach students about engineering, coding, and problem-solving. Many online courses, tutorials, and robotics kits are available for learning.
  7. Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship courses can teach students about business, marketing, and financial management. Online courses or local business organizations can be good options.
  8. Home Economics: Teach your child practical life skills such as cooking, sewing, budgeting, and home maintenance. These skills will be useful to them for the rest of their lives.
  9. Debate and Public Speaking: Help your child develop confidence and communication skills through debate and public speaking classes or clubs.
  10. Foreign Language: Learning a foreign language is not only useful for travel and communication but can also enhance cognitive skills. Consider learning a language that is spoken frequently in your area or that your child has an interest in. A popular one homeschoolers learn is the Latin language.
  11. Computer Science: In today’s digital age, computer skills are a must-have. Consider including computer science classes or workshops in your child’s schedule.

Remember, these are just a few examples of the many elective options available to homeschoolers. The key is to find what interests your child and aligns with their goals and passions.

Can Homeschoolers Work During School Hours or During the Day?

Absolutely.

One of the best things about homeschooling is you’re not held captive to a schools schedule. You can move everything around the homeschool schedule and fit things in that wouldn’t fit in a schoolchild’s schedule.

However, you may want to reduce your children’s work hours so they’re not cutting their learning short at the expense of their education.

What about Homeschooling Registration?

Sometimes you don’t need to register your child until they are a bit older.

For example, NSW only requires a parent to register their children if they turn six years old on or before July 31st.

In Pennsylvania, you don’t have to register your child until they are 8 years old.

Registering as late as you can is a good move because there’s a plethora of research saying we should be starting our children off with:

  1. fewer hours of formal education and
  2. starting them later in life.

Add Some Fun: Add a Theme

An optional homeschooling theme is a good idea to set at the beginning of your first week.

Some homeschools like to use a theme because it adds variety to their routine and gives them direction with generic content.

For example, when you go to the library, you might look up books about astronauts if your theme for the month is a space theme.

Keep It Simple for Kindergarten

Don’t forget to keep things simple if you’re homeschooling kids who are 5 or 6 years old.

They don’t need as much as older kids.

Check out this post on kindergarten homeschool curriculum and this homeschool kindergarten schedule.

Conclusion: How to Make a Homeschool Schedule

Congratulations, you’ve taken the first step towards homeschooling success! Setting up a homeschooling schedule can be overwhelming at first, but by taking action and diving into the planning process, you’re already on your way to success. Remember, every home-educating parent started where you are now, but with time and experience, they become more confident and their homeschools improve. This schedule is just a starting point – feel free to tailor it to your family’s unique needs and preferences. With a little bit of creativity and perseverance, you can create a homeschooling routine that works best for you and your children. So go ahead, take the leap, and let the adventure begin!

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Rebecca Devitt

Most adults don't particularly want to relive their schooling experience on a daily basis. They would gladly move on to a new life devoid of homework and teachers. Very, very few adults will passionately blog about their schooling some 15 years after graduating. This makes Rebecca Devitt somewhat unique. As it happens, she was homeschooled. And she loved it. Still does. And she wishes every kid could get a taste of homeschooling at its very best. Her website How Do I Homeschool, is a springboard for parents to see what a life of homeschooling could be for both them & their children. When she's not blogging Rebecca is still homeschooling her-adult-self by learning Latin, growing weird vegetables and most importantly looking after her two children Luke & Penny. She has a husband Tristan and is a participant at Wollongong Baptist Church. She's also written a book about why parents should homeschool called 'Why on Earth Homeschool'.

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