A typical homeschool day

A lot of folks ask how we homeschool, logistically speaking. In all honesty, it’s really not that difficult to do. Homeschooling a large brood requires commitment, discipline and some amount of organization, but that can be said for any full-time job. I admit that learning how to balance our day was not easy, and did require a lot of prayer, thought and planning. After undergoing a huge learning curve myself, I started a whole website devoted to the logistics of what do. It can be done, and I assure you that I’m not “running ragged” by any means. I am busy, but not burdened. Our days are full, but fullfilling. I do a lot, but I love what I do.

I’d like to share a glimpse of our daily schedule. I won’t bore you with the details of when we wake up and brush our teeth, eat dinner or go to bed at night. I’m just going to share the part that most people – particularly people who may be considering homeschooling – are curious about. This part of my schedule is how I juggle homeschooling, homemaking, and mothering many young children.

8:30-9:30

Breakfast. Everyone helps clean up afterward.

Daily chores. We have a chart that gives each child a chore or two for each day of the week.

When breakfast cleanup and chores are done, kids can have free time until school begins.

9:30-10:00

Tutor Sweet Pea in her “Mom School” subjects for the day (Math, English, Compostition, etc.) Please note that Mom School is not the only individual teaching time that I spend with each child a day.  I am accessible to the kids all day long and often checking up with them. This block of time is scheduled so that I am guaranteed an uninterrupted, focused amount of time to spend with each child on those subjects that most require my attention.

Gameboy: Computer School (Typing, Math drill, Rosetta Stone Spanish and  Music notes drill)

Bubbles: Babysit the little ones. All the older ones kids have been trained in how to do this. Essentially, they play with them, make sure they are safe, and come get me when necessary. Usually they are within my eyesight so that I can intervene when necessary.

10:00-10:30

Check on little ones.

Tutor Gameboy for Mom School

Bubbles: Computer School

Sweet Pea: Babysit

10:30-11:00

Check on little ones.

Tutor Bubbles for Mom School

Sweet Pea: Computer School

Gameboy: Babysit

11:00-11:20

Phonics with Happy

Princess and Cutie: Table Time (coloring, playing with cheerios, drawing, puzzles, blocks, etc.)

Older kids work on Independent School (complete writing assignments, reading assignments, piano practice, finish any math pages, do copywork, handwriting assignments, etc.) They have a clipboard with a checklist telling them exactly what to do each day of the week.

11:20-12:00

Household duties for me.

Older kids continue working through independent school.

Free time for little ones.

12:00-1:00

Lunch & cleanup

Recess

1:00-1:20

Story time for little ones

Put Princess and Cutie down for naps

Olders work through their independent school.

1:20-?

While the little ones are napping, we do “Family School.” These are the multi-level subject areas that we do all together. (Bible, History, Greek Roots, Science, Art, etc.) Although we all study together, I do give the children varying assignments based upon their age level. The amount of time needed for Family School varies from day to day.

After Family School, the kids work on any remaining independent school. I check up on their work in between tasks that I need to do. When they finish, they bring me their clipboard. I look it over and sign off on their checklist. Their school day is not complete until their checklist is signed by me.

This is the first year that I’ve scheduled us in exactly this way. It is working out beautifully.

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