Schedule vs. Routine: Which Will Work for Our Family?

Ask any homeschooling parent what is the most challenging aspect of teaching their children at home, and most will tell you that it’s finding a way to stay on top of all the things that clamor for attention: meals, lessons, activities, chores, church, family time, and of course, time for rest too!  

In homeschooling, multitasking is the name of the game. One key strategy for success is to be aware of what needs to be done and when. That’s where schedules come in! 

Schedules help you organize all the things you’d like to accomplish in any given span of time—whether that be a day, a month, a year, or four years (like with high school plans).  

Block schedules 

Block schedules are very structured, with each block of time broken down into increments and slots for each activity. Most block schedules contain academic subjects, extracurricular activities, and free time.  

You can make a block schedule for each of your children individually or one that you all follow together. 

Parents with students that are active in sports or the arts find block schedules to be a time-saver, as they can help determine what to prioritize so that all the things get done!  

Also, block schedules can be essential if you live in one of the states that require you to provide evidence that instruction was provided for a specific number of hours per day, or per academic year. You can check your state homeschool law to verify the homeschool requirements in your state. If you’re an HSLDA member, you can contact us with any questions you have about hours of instruction. We would be happy to help you!  

Loop schedules 

Loop schedules are more flexible than block schedules. You only have to plan out an order of academic subjects that you cycle through, with no specific timeframe constraints. 

Let’s say that you plan to get through math, science, history, English and geography in one day, but due to a series of interruptions, you barely get past science. No problem! You simply start with history the following school day. This prevents you from going too many days without doing any one subject, as you will loop through each one in regular intervals, and it prevents the feeling of defeat you might sink into if interruptions happen repeatedly.  

This type of schedule works well if you like to keep the end goal in mind, moving more to the beat of your students’ pace and your family’s needs and less by the clock or calendar. This enables you to focus on the big picture and allows for the inevitable interruptions of family life. You can learn more about loop schedules here. 

Routines 

And there are those who find any type of schedule to be too much of a “taskmaster” in their homeschool. They find comfort in the idea of cultivating predictable routines instead of fixed schedules.  

With routines, parents and students know the order of tasks throughout the day, but there is no specific time that it has to be completed by. This allows everyone to know what comes next, while avoiding the feeling of always being “behind” or of rushing to check off one box after another.  

For example, you may decide that you have a morning routine that involves eating breakfast together, doing a read aloud, and then starting math. However, this routine could happen at 8 am, 9:30 am, or any time in between—it doesn't matter when, just that it happens in a consistent order and manner, creating predictability. 

This is the most flexible method, as it enables you to move freely to the rhythm of your learners and home environment, but you are still able to provide the structure that is needed for your students to make progress in their studies. 

Whichever method you choose, keep in mind that you can embrace the freedom you have as a homeschool parent. Your schedule or routine can fit your family’s unique needs and goals. Just like curriculum, schedules are a tool, not a master.

Some families decide to school all year long, planning longer breaks and giving themselves a wide margin for any interruptions, while others want to keep a tighter schedule that is predictable and consistent.

In summary: what works for another family may not be a good fit for yours, so take time to figure out what will work for your unique family!