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Homeschool Life – A Look at a Typical Homeschool Day
When getting started with homeschooling, parents often have several questions. They are curious to find out how long a homeschool day should be. How many times do they need to homeschool their child? How many hours a week are enough, and the list goes on and goes. Usually, these questions revolve around the typical homeschool life.
In this post, I will share a typical homeschool day of what a typical homeschool mom, whom I shall call homeschool mom Anne, is like based on my research.
But before I start sharing the typical homeschool life and schedule, here is something you should know.
Every homeschool is different. What might work for one person may not be best for you. So know your circumstances, know yourself and your students and then choose the homeschool life you want!
A Look at a Typical Homeschool Day of Homeschool Mom Anne
5:30 a.m. – Start of the Day
I have always been an early riser, which worked as an advantage when I started homeschooling my children. I try and wake up around 5 a.m., but on most days of the week, I am awake around 5:30 a.m. and head to the shower to get started with my day.
Pro Tip: Homeschool parent’s day must start before the children wake up!
6:00 a.m. Get Started with the Day
I start my day with a cup of coffee and my daily planner, and I update all the tasks that I need to accomplish on a given day. And I don’t only make a list; I prioritize the tasks in the same list. I usually read up emails and respond in that one-hour slot for myself.
7:00 a.m. Kids Wake Up Time
I give myself at least an hour before I wake up my kids and prepare them for the day ahead. Having some time for myself provides me tranquillity and peace that I need to go through the day. When my kids wake up, we tidy up the room together and get ready for the day alongside. So while one of the children is brushing the teeth, the other is making the bed, and of course, as a mom, I am the one who is supervising at all times.
Pro Tip: Give your kids enough time to wake up and get ready for the day. Rushing them through this first hour of the day may set the wrong tone for the rest of the day.
8:00 a.m. – Breakfast and Circle Time
This has always been my favorite time of the day. We all have breakfast together, and I do some breakfast prep at night to go on smoothly and have circle time. We always used to have a set of books that was reserved for morning circle times. As soon as we got done with breakfast, we used to jump-start the circle time.
Pro Tip: Reserve a few age-appropriate books that your children can read while the rest of the family can enjoy some time together.
9:00 a.m. – Noon – Homeschool Day
I typically set aside three hours a day for my homeschool five days a week and stick to the 180-day school year.
The three hours can be divided into different courses, depending upon the age of your children. You can check out my previous posts to get more ideas on what courses you can teach at your homeschool and how frequently you plan lessons.
And by noon, we are done for the day!
Pro Tip: When you are done with your homeschool by noon, you will have a lot of time to prepare and manage your homeschool along with managing a home.
Well, by noon, we are done with the homeschool, at least. But then there is a long list of things to do at home, planning for the next day’s lessons, checking homeschool tasks, and the list goes on and on.
Homeschool life is tough, but only when you plan it purposefully and stick to your schedule can you make the most of it.
Homeschool Life – FAQs
Let me answer some of the FAQs related to homeschool life for new homeschooling parents.
How Long Should a Homeschool Day last?
A three-hour homeschool has always worked for me. If you plan purposefully and execute lessons effectively, you don’t need to spend the entire day homeschooling your children.
How Many Hours a Week Do I Need to Homeschool My Child?
If you spend three hours every day, five days a week, you are spending 15 hours homeschooling your children. Of course, you will spend more time when your kids are completing their tasks and assignments, but a 15-hour week is what you should aim for.
Is Homeschool Suitable for Older Kids?
A homeschool is suitable for kids of all ages ranging from preschoolers to high schoolers. Indeed, there is a difference in approach that you need to adopt as you homeschool older kids. They are more independent and take up tasks on their own compared to younger kids. With older kids at homeschool, your role is primarily more of a supervisor.
Does it Work When You Have More than One Child?
Yes! I know moms who homeschool five or more children, and they are doing a great job. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how well you plan. And when you have more than one child at your homeschool, it’s about how you integrate the lessons such that more than one child can benefit from it.
Final Words
Homeschool life is not easy. It comes with challenges and obstacles you never thought you would come across. But then, it also comes with rewards that you never knew existed. When you see your kids growing solely through your efforts, the pleasure is worth all the hardships.
Ashley Yeo
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