Scheduling Your Homeschool Day

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Is there one best way to schedule and plan out your homeschool day?

I don’t think so, but I do believe we should have some kind of direction, plan and or schedule laid out for the days activities.

“He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life… But where no plan is laid… chaos will soon reign.”  -Victor Hugo

The days where I have not taken the time to set out a plan or use our schedule quickly become chaotic, stressful and unproductive! A well-ordered homeschool day (even loosely ordered) brings peace and a sense of accomplishment.

My first attempt at scheduling (a few years back) started out with a 15 to 30 minute interval scheduling plan, by the end of the week I was ready to pull all the hair out of my head and throw “scheduling” out the door for good! My scheduling woes were not for a lack of trying but more so for a lack of “fit”. The scheduling plan I was using was not the right fit for my family for the time and season of our lives. I felt as though I was constantly rushing and as if I were punching a clock.

I may revisit that form of scheduling in years to come but for now I am using a very simple block schedule. Block scheduling is very conducive to a home with lots of littles, which means lots of little interruptions! Block scheduling has allowed us to have a calm, unhurried homeschool day, one where we really can enjoy the journey and not get stressed by time-lines that are not being met.

We simply break our day down into 2 to 3 hour blocks, Block 1 starts at 7am, Block 2 starts at 10am, Block 3 at 1pm and so on…

Our schedule is the map for our day but as with any map there is more than one way to get to our destination! We can always take a surprise turn or veer off the road for unexpected detours. We do attempt to stick to the schedule as often as possible and our boys know the schedule, so there is no squabbling or whining about what to do when.

A few helpful tips for successful scheduling…

There are many reasons why our schedules fail us… lack of discipline, disorganization, procrastination, laziness, over scheduling, under scheduling, and or no motivation. Unfortunately, I have learned this through my own personal struggles.

• I believe many fail to plan primarily due to pure frustration and the feeling of defeat from previous attempts.
• Be sure to work some flexibility into your schedule. Be flexible!
• Don’t set yourself up for failure with unrealistic expectations.
• Examine your day and seek the Lord for direction, allowing Him to order your days.

“Let all things be done decently and in order”. 1 Corinthians 14:40

The last tip I would like to share is one that helps me accomplish a great deal throughout the day’s many stumbling blocks… keep moving!!! Make your schedule work for you by going about your day with a skip in your step and joy in your heart!

When I start to slack, feel lazy and/or lose motivation, I think of this poem…

From an old English parsonage, down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration – “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Many a question, many of fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from
Heaven, Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all resultings, “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee, “DO THE NEXT THING.”

(Author unknown)

If you’re planning on revamping your schedule mid-year, I pray the Lord will give you the wisdom and direction to fulfill his perfect plan for your family!

Tiany Davis is a homeschool mom to 4 little boys ages 8, 6, 4, 2 and wife to her best friend Troy for 14 years! She is an LSU Tiger fans living in Louisiana and founder of The Homeschool Lounge. You can also visit Tiany at her blog, Less of Me, More of Him.