Now that you have a better idea about which kind of schedule will work best for your family (check out part 1 of this series if you’re not sure!), it’s time to start crafting your own.
Don’t worry if it feels like you can’t keep your head above water at first. Nailing a schedule on the first try is not easy. With these scheduling tips in hand, you’ll feel more equipped in no time.
6 Scheduling Tips & Tricks
1. Find something to write your schedule in
Though self-explanatory, you can’t make a schedule if you don’t have somewhere to put it!
Do you prefer a paper schedule that you can mark up and the children can easily access? Or do you like a digital schedule that enables you to manage multiple pieces of information and allow for quick updates across multiple devices?
We have a paper schedule template HSLDA members can download below, or you can check out this article for more paper & digital options.
2. Put in your big commitments first
When building your schedule, remember that outside commitments to things such as co-ops, online classes, sports, and oversight programs will determine how much time you have for your schoolwork, other extracurriculars, and even free time.
Add all your big commitments to your schedule first and then fit in everything else around it. (This means you need to be careful what you commit to! There are endless opportunities as a homeschooler, so you need to be wise what you add into your schedule.)
3. Adjust based on the age of your kids
You may need to be more or less structured depending on the ages of your children, how many you have, whether any have special learning needs, or whether you are a working parent.
Enable your middle school and high school children to develop time-management skills by giving them increasing responsibility for their own schedules, being sure to monitor their progress.
4. Utilize group studies
If you have children of various ages, consider a group study where you teach the same subject at the same time but give individual assignments that match each child’s abilities and interest.
Say, for example, you teach a history lesson to all of your kids about the Middle Ages. Your 7th grader could write a 5-paragraph essay on a book they've been assigned to read, your 4th grader could give an oral report on their favorite thing they learned, and your 1st grader could draw a picture of a medieval castle.
This works great for content-based subjects like history and science, and is a great time-saver in your schedule! (The same is true for activities such as meal prep and chores.)
5. Consider the needs of each child
It’s fine to have a block schedule for one child and a more flexible schedule for another. It’s also fine to reassess if you discover that your son isn’t a “morning person” and isn’t at his best for math first thing in the morning. Or you might sense that your daughter needs more breaks to keep her level of motivation high. As a homeschool teacher, you get to create a custom schedule that fits your family and each kid well.
6. Be flexible!
All sorts of things can pop up that require a change in your schedule: unexpected sickness, the birth of a new baby, or a cross-country move due to a new job or military reassignment. The beauty of homeschooling is that life events like these don’t also have to cause a major change in schooling.
You can take time off if you need, adjust your schedule, and move forward!
On a smaller scale, make sure to leave room for spontaneity in your schedule, for when fun opportunities like unplanned play dates or snow days pop up!
At the end of the day, don’t allow checklists or routines to distract you from the importance of the relationships that you are building as you move through your kids’ schooling. Let your schedule/routine model the balance between effort and ease, by cultivating self-care practices and a grace-filled mindset.