Image: Alex Martinez
I can't pretend that my homeschooling schedule is representative of all homeschoolers -- you?have to take into account the number and ages of the children,?style of homeschooling, and needs of the?family. For me, I have two kids, a first grader and a toddler. I have an eclectic approach to homeschooling, meaning I don't follow a specific curriculum, but teach my daughter the essentials using a little bit of this and that, while helping her develop and follow her own interests. Additionally, we have a special focus on teaching my daughter to speak Spanish -- we have relatives who she otherwise wouldn't be able to communicate with.
When people ask me, "What do you do with your kids all day?" I usually try to give them a quick run-down of a normal week. Read on to see if you can spot the similarities?and differences from your own homeschool, or, if you're curious to learn more about homeschooling and just want to find out how we spend those hours each week.
Monday?
After our morning routine of making beds, getting dressed, and eating breakfast, we prepare?for our friends to come over for the art co-op I lead. For two hours I teach a small group of girls?about famous artists like Seurat, Michaelangelo, and M.C. Echer. We make animals out of dried?leaves, sew felt finger puppets, and create awesome origami projects.?
In the afternoon, while my son goes down for his normal two-hour nap, my daughter heads off to a friend's house?where her mother teaches them geography and language arts. This is when I fit in time to write, get a head start on dinner, or prep for next week's art class. During the after-school hours, my daughter attends a local Boys and Girls Club where she takes classes like Sign Language and Spanish. ?
The end of each evening is the same -- and to allow for plenty of time to read as a family and talk?about our day and feelings, we start our bedtime routine at 7 p.m. Once the kids are in bed, we?sing and pray before goodnight kisses.?
Tuesday?
My dad picks up my son after breakfast for a morning at the park with grandpa. My daughter and I have until noon to spend one-on-one time learning together. We may play a matching game in Spanish to?build her vocabulary, complete a science project, or sit with one of her many workbooks. She?also reads aloud to me -- noting difficult words in a notebook that we turn into her?spelling list for the week.?
When her brother comes home, we eat lunch together and put him down for his nap. Then we snuggle on the couch and I read to her for an hour. I am working through the Classic Starts books, which include simplified versions of?stories like Anne of Green Gables and The Swiss Family Robinson. We discuss her favorite characters, stop to?explain difficult words, and reenact scenes we particularly enjoyed.?
I use the second half of nap-time to call out spelling words while I cook, quiz my daughter on math facts while folding laundry, and dust as she practices piano. Since Tuesdays are my "home day", I also let the kids watch a little bit (about 45 minutes) of TV while I wash the floors or clean the bathrooms. I try to get as much household stuff done on this day because we are out of the house on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The after-school hours are reserved for a half-hour piano lessons, one-hour gymnastics class, and then playtime with friends from the neighborhood or at the Boys and Girls Club. My daughter is engaged in activities for about three to four hours that don't require either my presence or attention, and I use this opportunity to spend quality time with my son.
Wednesday?
Since Wednesdays are an on-the-go day, we do quite a bit of carschooling as we either drive to and from a fun field trip, or to our local church where I volunteer. We leave by 9 a.m. with flash cards, audio books, snacks, and?other learning tools on hand -- we hit the road ready to learn. My son is happy to have his own set of sturdy flash cards, board books, and toys, making him feel just like his big sister. He even has his own lap desk for the car!?
In the afternoon we stop by our local library where both of my kids sit in on a Spanish storytime -- taking free classes at the library is one great way homeschoolers can save money. We make it home in time for dinner and still have about an hour of playtime before it's time to start our bedtime routine.?
Thursday
This is another out-of-the-house day, and by 9 a.m. we are on the road. I lead a women's group where about fifteen friends of mine gather to discuss topics like parenting, the Bible, or our latest book-club selection. We offer support and encouragement, and pray for one another. The children, who either run around in the yard or enjoy the mounds of toys in the playroom under the watch of a babysitter, love having two hours of uninterrupted playtime with friends. This day provides my?children with lots of opportunities to interact with children (both homeschooled and not) and adults in all different age groups-- one?of the many social benefits of homeschooling.?
Each Thursday afternoon a friend whom I found through a homeschool support group?and I take turns teaching our daughters. First they spend two hours at her house cooking and baking, then they are dropped off to my house where I teach them?math. I then bring my daughter to the Boys and Girls Club where she spends three hours participating in activities like Photography Club and Gardening Club, all while making new friends and gaining independence.?
Friday?
We meet grandpa at the park for an hour of tennis each Friday morning. Both of my kids have their own racquets. I play with my little one, and work hard to keep him out of the way, while his sister has her lesson in the next court over. We usually end up hanging out at the park or in a nearby nature preserve until noon. I plan this weekly outdoor time so that both of my kids have time to run around and be physically active. It's also a great way to observe nature, make science connections, and spark their curiosity about nature.
During naptime my daughter will practice piano, complete other bookwork that I have set out for her, and help me straighten up the house. Once my son wakes, we hop onto?our family tandem bike?-- turning a few heads along the way -- and ride over to the library. We?borrow books about subjects my daughter has expressed interested in; this week for example,?she wants to know why blimps float but don't fly away, what each of the five Olympic rings?stand for, and how sharks breathe.
Fridays are a great day for playdates, so we try to keep our after-school hours open for these. My daughter and I also especially look forward to Friday nights because she gets a movie night with her grandmother, and I get a date night with my husband.
Saturday?
Our weekends probably look a lot like yours -- soccer practice, family parties, afternoons at the beach, concerts at the park, or a weekend getaway. But in our house, weekends also mean time for Dad to pitch in with homeschooling. My husband is especially good at math and science, so he will jump right in with fun projects or activities. He is also an excellent athlete, and my kids love when he assumes his natural role as "coach". He teaches them skills and drills to work on their hand-eye coordination and plays games that will improve their overall athleticism.?
Sunday?
Our day of rest! Mornings are spent at our local church and then afternoons are often?unscheduled and filled with fun or relaxing events -- sometimes a much needed nap.?
Our days are certainly full, but the thing is, they are not at all overwhelming to us -- and?I haven't even mentioned many of the?other fun things that we do, but I had to stop somewhere.?Plus homeschooling is so flexible and forgiving that if things do get too hectic, we can simply cut back. And we often do deviate from our schedule if an opportunity to travel?arises, we are experiencing a sick day, or a specific book or project grabs our attention.
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