Homeschooling 101

Lesson 5: Record Keeping and Scheduling

Scheduling Your Day

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Most homeschoolers find they are most successful when they have spent some time thinking about how to spend their day. (Not many people are successful at what I refer to as “by the seat of your pants” homeschooling.) Being a new homeschooler, planning might scare you. After all, you have never done it… how should you know how to plan it?

There are two very successful ways to plan your day. Both start with the same basic steps.

1. Decide what you want your child to learn this year.
   By now, you should have decided what your goals are for the year. Take the time to figure out what you need to do to reach those goals. This alone will dictate how your schedule looks more than anything.

2. Take the time to figure out how long you want to spend on each subject.
   I know, you are saying “Sheesh! I am new at this! I don’t know!” But think about it. Do you want to spend four hours on math every day? An hour? Half an hour? You want to allow enough time for your child to “get it”, but not so much they are bored out of their minds, and lose interest in ever learning math again!

3. Design or find a scheduling form
   This can be as simple or as complex as you choose. You can use a piece of notebook paper, divided into half-hour increments. There are many free homeschool scheduling forms available on the Internet. You can even buy computer programs made just for homeschoolers!

The next step you take will depend on which method you choose.

Method One: Mom Does It

With method one, mom decides what will be taught when. Some children thrive in a very structured environment, and this method might be just what they need to succeed.

Once you have decided what you will teach and how long it will take you each day, you are ready to go! Start by filling in when you plan to take a lunch break. Do you want to take a “recess” break? Do you have a previously scheduled activity that needs to be taken in to account? Will you school five days a week? Some families plan schooling only four days a week and reserve the fifth for field trips, park days etc. Some families simply mentally adjust their day to fit around the scheduled activity. Still others plan “light” days so that they can be finished with schooling in time for the activity. It is completely up to you. Make note of the times on your form, and schedule your academics around your “set” schedule.

Method Two: The Kids do It

Now, by saying the kids do it, I don’t mean they have free reign over what they do all day. (My kids would choose to major in “Cartoon Network” if given the choice.) I mean that with gentle guidance from mom, the kids have a “voice” in deciding when they will study math, science etc.

If you are homeschooling one child, there are just a few steps you need to take beyond the ones you have already completed. First, fill in your lunch break and any other previously scheduled activity. Then, explain to your child any guidelines you have. For example, explain that school will start at X o’ clock, and will end at X o’clock. Sit with your child and say “For math, we have decided that we will spend one hour a day. Where do you want to put math?” and continue until your day is scheduled.

If you have more than one child to schedule, you will need to decide which subjects need to be taught together. If you are all using the same history multi-level history book, and one child schedules history for 9am and the other for 2pm, there will be problems! Have your children agree on a scheduled time for shared activities, and then continue on with the steps mentioned for one child.

Remember, you as the parent have the final say. But giving your child a choice might give the unmotivated child the encouragement they need to crack the books again!

Which Way Is Better?

We have used both methods. I won’t tell you which one works best for us, because I want you to find the method that is right for your family!

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