What does a typical home schooled day look like?

Question

I have 3 sons and another on the way I am thinking of homeschooling and have gotten my education plan approved by the state but what should my childrens schedule look like.
My sons are 5, 7 and 9.

Answer 1

I don't know why you need an "education plan" approved by the state, but maybe your state is different though. Check out www.hslda.com to make sure that you understand the laws. It will save you from extra work that is not necessary.

Our schedule varies, But here is an example:

7:30-8:00- Kids up, breakfast, morning chores
9:00-9:30- Devotions and handwriting
9:30-10:30- Math
10:30-11:30- Language Arts
11:30-12:30 Lunch and exercise
12:30-1:30 Science or History
1:30-2:00 Spanish


After that, they catch up if things aren't finished with or get ahead on the next days work. They do a lot of reading as well on there own and do their individual interests.

Answer 2

Ask 100 homeschool parents and you'll get 100 different answers. That's the great thing about homeschooling - the individual attention and scheduling freedom.

That said, I've heard some people use the 1/2 hour rule - 1/2 an hour of school each day for every grade (i.e. 1st grade=1/2 hour per day, 5th grade=2.5 hours of school each day).

A lot will depend on what you want to accomplish. My 1st grader spends about 2.5 hours each day on actual school (not including the time he spends goofing off!) My 6th grader spends about 4 hours.

I would advise you to work with them together on as much as you can. Things like science and history can be done as a group, just ask the 9yo to do more than the 7yo and 5yo (he could write about whatever you're discussing or experimenting with).

There are several books that detail the lives of different homeschool families, their schedules, and philosophies. One is by Lisa Whelchel (former star of "The Facts of Life" TV show and current homeschool mom). Another is by Rhonda Barfield. Or you could ask at your local homeschool support group meeting or park day.

As I said in the beginning - every homeschool family is different, with different goals and different challenges. You should decide what is right for your family. Then homeschooling will be MUCH easier.

Answer 3

I'm 16 and homeschooled and my day basically looks like this. I wake up about 7 and eat breakfast, and then I wash my face (I take showers at night cause there is absolutely no time during the day lol) and then I start school and I do the subjects I like the least or that takes a long time first and so my schedule for that is Geometry, Biology, Bible Study, Etymology (study of words) and English. In the end I finish around 11 to 11:30 and then I go on the computer and check email.

Answer 4

When my kids were that age usually they'd get up and get dressed and play awhile, then during breakfast [sometime between 8-9] we would start school with my teaching them from the Bible, then we'd do all the other subjects in a few hours. My sister had told me that IN GENERAL kindergarten would take about an hour [at the MOST, and that is if you do extra stuff!!], then you'd add about 1/4 - 1/2 hr each year up to a certain point. That was pretty much how it was for me when my kids were smaller. Your oldest son sounds like he is going into 4th grade, and [according to my mother who has looked into a lot of educational things] 'every' curriculum gets harder in grades 4, 7, and 9. I found that school got much more serious when my kids hit 4th grade. Now they are in grades 7 & 8, and I had decided a number of years ago that we WERE going to be done with school by lunchtime, and lunchtime is no later than 12:30. We start probably on average at 8:45, and that does include a break on the trampoline during agreeable weather. We do year-round schooling, and do one year's worth of work in one year. There are plenty of weeks that we do less than I just described - we've been doing this a looooong time, and although my general principle is that we WILL do school, the other thing is, one advantage of hsing is that you make your own schedule, so on weeks we have more 'other stuff' to do, we do less school. It all works out. At this point in the year, with the loose schedule I just described, we are done with science, history, lit, spelling, writing, geography, penmanship, editing, and have just a few weeks left in math and a few days left in grammar. It will take us another month or so to finish Bible, music, Spanish, logic, Bible memory, and Current Events. So - we're doing a lot of subjects, but it really is not that hard at all to get a year's worth in with a relaxed schedule.

Answer 5

I'd recommend the book Patchwork of Days by Nancy VanLande (there is a sequel too, don't know the title). I'd also check out the HomeEducation Magazine site for state laws. I don't know why you'd have to have an education plan approved by the state, I don't know any state (even PA) where that is the case. Someone may be giving you bad information - and believe me, many of the education professionals don't know squat about homeschooling laws and will have you jump through many unnecessary hoops!

Good luck - read anything by John Holt to get additional ideas.

Answer 6

Do you have to supply a schedule? If you don't, don't worry about it. There are no shoulds. Every family finds something that works for them. And sometimes the kids have vastly different types of schedules/routines.

Most homeschooling families I know do not have a strict schedule, more of a routine.

As for our 'schedule', we get up, the kids often pick something (on their own) to do before they're even dressed, they then get dressed and eat and do some more. We do not follow a strict schedule. But we're usually done formal stuff by 11:30. Afternoons are more relaxed.

Answer 7

I do certainly each little thing! My hubs is interior the Marines and is not any longer abode lots. while he's abode he leaves at 0530 and gets abode around 1800. So he does no longer something. lol. At abode a minimum of. Anyday he has off I additionally take off while it is composed of cleansing and he respects that. If we've travellers I nevertheless sparkling nevertheless. I save the abode exceptionally lots spotless. My daughter is 4 months so she will't tear it up. and that i sparkling incredibly primary so that is hassle-free to maintain up with. My recurring is guard toddler, while she sleeps I pump and then sparkling. interior the afternoons I additionally attempt to squeeze in a walk. additionally I certainly have a school degree. worked my way by college doing no longer so super jobs and worked at OSU college of drugs after college. Being a SAHM is the toughest interest i've got ever carried out. you haven't any longer have been given any weekends or trip trips. No time for your self. you will desire to be very proud and comprehend which you're doing a no longer hassle-free interest. Pat your self on the back! Tabitha- I pay attention ya on slacking lol. while my hubs is on a DET I so throw cleansing out the window except it should be carried out until eventually a week earlier he's due back. lol. My hubs is leaving shortly for a month DET. instead of asserting aw guy he's long previous. i check out the marvelous element. sure! i'm getting to slack. lol (deployments completely different nevertheless. lol)

Answer 8

Homeschooling can look however you want it to. You should check your state laws and see what they require. Each state is different. In Az, it is very easy, we just have to register.
I have high school kids to preschoolers and they each work at different paces/schedules. When they are younger, we did a lot more "fun" type schooling, learning from the world around them. As they get older, I find myself turning to the more structured curriculum.
None of my kids spend as much time schooling at home as they would in a public school. Their curriculum (for the older kids) automatically is set up on a 180 day school year as that's what the state requires. Depending on their work for any particular day (some days being harder), they rarely are working more then 3-4 hours.

Answer 9

It depends if you are single or married. My ex-boyfriend in high school lives in Glendale and has a teaching credential. His wife is also a teacher. The have a son and a daughter. And they are also expecting another baby. He basically stays at home and takes care of the kids. They have a great life. So really it us up to you. He has a website www.ragarcia.com Check it out and good Luck

Answer 10

Depends! Since you have three kids I would say it would start early. You don't have to spend a percentage of time on one subject you know. If they get the lesson in 5 seconds you're free to stop that subject for the day or go on further in that subject at your discretion or do the next lesson! It will vary on your kid's learning style and how organized you are as well. I would plan on a 3-5 hour day.